L'école des Amis is a French restaurant in Credenhill, just outside Hereford, serving a menu inspired by classic French flavours and traditional dishes.
The setting is striking. Owners Bruce and Cedric embarked on a 12 month restoration of an old school house to bring their dream restaurant to life. The original building dates back to 1885, and the pair have lovingly retained many of the site’s original features, including external stonework, arched windows, and the magnificent vaulted ceiling, which towers high over the dining room.
The pair both spent considerable time in France, and that’s reflected in a menu that celebrates classic French bistro cooking. Whilst the lunch menu comes a la carte, the dinner menu is a three-course prix fixe in the classic Gallic tradition. Dishes on offer across both include escargots, gooded in garlic, shallot and herb butter, twice baked Ossau Iraty cheese souffle with Bechamel sauce, roast duck breast with roasted pears, puy lentils and duck jus, and roast lamb saddle with green olives, sun dried tomatoes, and chicken mousse. For dessert, what else but a tarte au citron brulee, or a clafoutis with seasonal fruit.
L'école des Amis is a restaurant that keeps an eye on the small details too: the team will check if you want your cheeses room temperature, for example, and offers a good selection of aperitifs, digestifs and a regional French wine list.
The restaurant also offers an excellent continental breakfast too, with drinks including a range of teas and coffees, as well as cold drinks. Choose from a range of croissants and pastries, or enjoy a half baguette with butter and jam, or cakes from the specials board.