Clos Maggiore

The restaurant formerly known as Maggiore’s may have been given a new French name & menu but it’s held on to the sophisticated, unpretentious atmosphere that has always set it apart from the usual riff-raff of eateries around the Covent Garden piazza. The brief menu of elegant, modern French fare might include meltingly tender char-grilled scallops with crispy pig’s trotter tart, succulent treacle-caramelised duck breast with Armagnac sauce, & a fantastically luscious apple tarte tatin for dessert. Unhurried service ensures there’s plenty of time to enjoy the six-course tasting menu & to explore the award-winning, 90-page wine list which focuses on France but also offers good worldwide coverage. The front of the restaurant is better suited to business dining, with its rich wood-panelled walls exhibiting a rare selection of brandies & Cognacs (acquired from the Duke of Windsor’s private cellar), while the beguiling faux blossom-filled conservatory at the back is ideal for candlelit romance. The dimly lit, traditionally furnished private dining and wine tasting room, meanwhile, makes a cosy setting for an intimate dinner or cocktail party.