Little French

Aptly named, Little French is an intimate neighbourhood restaurant nestled on Westbury High Street, serving decadent plates of French-inspired food.

The decor departs from classic French bistro - foliage hangs from the ceiling and glittery be-crowned swan heads twinkle on the exposed brick walls. It’s cosy and welcoming, with clusters of tables illuminated by golden orbs of light.

Expect a warm welcome from one of the black-clad members of staff, who waste no time in offering drinks and bar snacks. There's a sense of celebration from the offset. Golden, softly bubbling glasses of Champagne complement Porthilly oysters, which are clean, fresh and sharply sweet thanks to shallot vinegar. Alongside is chewy-crusted sourdough and soft goat’s cheese with bitter olive oil and fresh oregano.

Best known for their scallops served in pools of garlicky butter, generous helpings of cote de boeuf and gooey, golden aligot, Little French do the classics very well. We opt for a mix of the well-known and our server’s recommendations. The scallops live up to their name - delicate, sweet and buttery. The stars of the show though, are the kidneys. Meltingly soft and accompanied with a cognac and cream sauce that’s good enough to lick off the plate.

It’s one of several beautifully rich and well-balanced sauces that showcase the skill in the Little French kitchen. The soubise with chicken supreme main is buttery and silky, accompanied by an earthy mushroom and armagnac jus and truffle. Prune and armagnac brings a sweetness to tender braised iberico pork cheek with pomme puree. The dishes are elegant, decadent without being over-facing.

We don’t need the aligot, but we order it anyway. Stretchy strands of silky potato puree do not disappoint. Sharpness to cut through the richness comes with the recommended glass of light-bodied Gamay and perfectly acidic anchoiade on the january king cabbage side.

The ending is simple and sweet - a snappy, light chocolate mousse, and a well-curated cheese board that does justice to France’s fromage obsession. Wherever you look, Little French excels. C’est parfait.

Little French is a quaint, family-run independent restaurant in the heart of Westbury Park village. The French restaurant is a local gem with a daily changing menu, curated by chef Freddy Bird.

The charming French restaurant interior manages to seamlessly merge its bricks and mortar location with its cuisine, to create a classy yet contemporary feel.  The crockery and ceramics, which are all handmade by chef Bird’s wife Nessa, are featured throughout the restaurant. While the blue banquette seating and exposed brick channel some French bistro vibes. The atmosphere is friendly and buzzy, thanks to the hands-on approach from the family.

The restaurant takes an informal, casual approach to dining and really lets the food do the talking, with lunch and dinner services throughout the week. While you can’t expect the menu to be the same every time, the menu offers dishes such as duck rillette with mustard, pickles and sourdough and wood grilled pyrenean lamb leg with onion puree, boulangere potatoes and anchioade.

Little French is suitable for individual eating or for sharing, as it also does larger plates of wholesome dishes such as guinea fowl or cote de boeuf. You’ll want to stick around for desserts such as prune and Armagnac tart and mousse au chocolat, too. The food at Little French is regularly extolled by regular patrons for its great service and exciting take on dishes – offering authenticity with a modern refresh. There is certainly an atmosphere of passion for good food.

The restaurant has also been featured on several shows, and as Bird’s first solo restaurant it gets very busy, so it’s best to book in advance to get a slice of Little French’s offering.