Ian's Reviews

Terroirs from the outside looks like an ordinary wine bar (and indeed in its previous incarnation as the Tappitt Hen was just that, pretty ordinary), but once you get to the food and wine, it turns into something very different indeed, an outstanding venue in every way. We went to celebrate my wife's birthday and enjoyed a truly impressive meal with glasses of sparkling rose and moscato followed by an excellent Muscadet sur lie and an equally quaffable Bourgeuil Cassiopee (from an extensive list of wines by the glass), all for less than £90 including the (optional) 12.5% service charge.

But it was the food that really stood out. For a starter we shared the charcuterie selection for £12.50 which included a superb pork and pistachio terrine, melt in your mouth duck rillettes (both home made, our charming French waiter informed us) and a saucisson sec imported from Lyon, served with very good bread. There are also small plate options, but we plumped for two mains, a delicious wild sea bass a la plancha (with spicy chick peas) and beef bavette, cooked to perfection hence with a grilled crust and rare inside. My wife enjoyed a panna cotta whilst I had to have some of my favourite cheese, Comte (one slight note of disappointment – not served with crackers or bread, although a generous portion).

The service as I said was charming, slightly slow but it was a very busy Saturday night. The unprepossessing outside belies a restaurant/wine bar with a clear ethos of providing a limited menu to an extremely high standard, alongside a wine list of breathtaking variety. You could go just for a drink (there is a bar area), small plates or a whole meal and I am sure you will enjoy it – highly recommended.