Le Pont de la Tour Bistrot

Le Pont de la Tour’s adjacent Bistrot retains much of the charm of the venerable older sibling, but with slightly less formality. We say slightly - fine dining in London gets more casual by the month, but Le Pont de la Tour Bistrot’s immaculate white-shirted brigade seem determined to buck the trend. That’s not a bad thing - most who come to Shad Thames expect a certain vibe and Bistrot delivers that, complete with live acoustic guitar and acapella romantic ballads on some evenings.

The inside is stylish, if a little unremarkable. Navy banquettes run the length of the restaurant, and the floor is interspersed with polished wooden tables and chairs. The riverside location makes for particularly good light, especially on summer evenings when the last of the sun beams into the restaurant.

Bistrot promises classic, regional French cooking at affordable prices and it does a very fine job of that. Comte gougeres are liberally filled with cheese mousse and come in at £4 for six, which feels very reasonable. A steak frites plate of Cumbrian bavette, frites and Cafe de Paris butter is also fantastic value at £21 - the steak is perfectly cooked and seasoned, and a bountiful portion of chips are crisp with fluffy innards. The same can be said for a dish of grilled plaice, steamed potatoes and hollandaise, where the kitchen sends you a whole fish to crack on with. It’s generous cooking given the prices and the location. The wine list is also very accessible, with glasses starting at £6. Bistrot does a fantastic job of making dinner feel like an event, without hitting you hard in the wallet.

Pont de la Tour Bistrot gets most of the big things right, but the devil is in the detail as they say. The gougeres are predictably tasty but they’re a bit limp, lacking the crunch of a good, fresh choux pastry shell. The Cafe de Paris butter that comes with the bavette had likely come straight from the fridge, and therefore it failed to melt over the steak. If Bistrot can iron out a few creases, D&D will have a thriving little riverside gem on their hands.

Le Pont de la Tour Bistrot is the younger sibling of French riverside restaurant Le Pont de la Tour. It's a slightly more informal affair, however, designed to replicate classic French bistros and brasseries and with a menu designed by executive chef Tony Fleming. Taking over the original restaurant’s former bar, the bistrot offers 32 covers inside as well as an extra 24 seats available on the outdoor terrace.  

Completing his training under none other than the esteemed Marco Pierre White, Tony Fleming went on to win a Michelin star at seafood restaurant Angler in 2012. Joining Le Pont de la Tour Bistrot in 2020, Fleming has designed a menu inspired by French classics but with a more relaxed and pared-back approach to the original restaurant. A generous selection of entrees includes warm comte gougeres, mussel and saffron soup and pig’s head terrine, while diners can also choose from a selection classically prepared oysters and shellfish if they prefer.  

Main courses are divided into ‘Plats du jour’ (with a different dish available every day of the week) and ‘Plats Principal’. Look out for duck confit with peas a la francise, honey and Madeira, morel omelette with fines herbs and petit salad, and saddleback pork belly with boudin noir and white asparagus. Examples of daily-changing ‘Plat du Jour’ include slow cooked lamb shoulder with Indian-spiced aubergine relish and minted sheep’s curd, and rabbit parmentier with pommery mustard, tarragon and carrots. 

To conclude, traditional French desserts feature tarte au citron, crème caramel, sorbets and a selection of French cheeses. 

Head Sommelier Michele Orbolato has curated the wine list which includes a concise selection specifically designed to complement the food. Discover both French and world wines, many at a reasonable price, as well as a collection of signature cocktails, beers, ciders and digestifs.