Toasted Sourdough
Maison Francois

Maison Francois

34 Duke StreetSt James's, London, United Kingdom, SW1Y 6DF

Pub • Wine • French • Brunch


"Bit of mixed evening slow start and bad ending. BAR Great decor but perhaps as we came earliesh (5pm? was not fully staffed so had to flag down the server to take our order.  OK cocktails but nothing special.  No bar snacks.  We felt ignored.  FOOD  Absolutely great brasserie cuisine.  The chops especially nice as seasoned to perfection and sliced off the bone.  Fun retro (1980s desert trolley with drawers.  Again excellent food all around. WINE Charming sommelier who listened and recommended a surprisingly and smashing white!  STAFF Heaps of them but not sure they are very well organized.  Friendly but cater and pander (very very obviously to regulars and celebs.  Made us feel abit 2nd class honestly and we definitely were not the staff's priority.  DOG POLICY  None on website BUT a medium/large poodle nearby us was allowed and it barked and barked loud enough for the entire dining room to notice. The owner nor the staff took any proactive action to resolve this.  Our dessert course was absolutely ruined for 30 minutes.  We did mention to manager and he said he would look into the policy but did not take any action at the time.  We love animals but they belong at home not in a restaurant we paid nearly £300 for dinner!  Utterly unacceptable.  Per Covid this would never happen.  RECOMMENDED Absolutely NOT unless you are a dog lover, lesser royal, cast member of Made in Chelsea or a posh regular who lives round the corner "

The Butcher & Grill

The Butcher & Grill

39-41 Parkgate Road Battersea London, SW11 4NP, SW11 4NA, United Kingdom

Meat • Steak • English • British


"Was the second time I had eaten here but had a lovely Sunday meal here last Sunday courtesy of Flatmate. Butcher and Grill (situated on the formersite of Cafe Rouge) occupies a great, imposing site. The Butchers shop welcomes you as you walk in- to the right a lovely array of meat and to the left a delicatessen/grocers selling a selection of organic produce. The split-level open plan restaurant is to the back. A heavily stocked bar located to the left, high ceilings and exposed brick work give the place a sophisticated yet homely feel. Flatmate and I, starving as ever, eyed the menu and decided to forgo the starters (pretty unexciting) and dive into the mains to stop ourselves drooling onto the table. We excitedly ordered plates of the rib eye steak. Sides as do the sauces, come separately so we ordered some green beans, mash, dauphinoise potatoes, mushrooms and green peppercorn and red wine sauces.Before I was about to chew Flatmates arm off it all came thick and fast and we were very excited. Meat looked good, potatoes looked good. Veg looked ok but mushrooms a side does not make. HmmmmAmyway, it was great. We loved the organic rib eye fantastic and flavoursome though a touch overdone. Nevermind we said, we were too hungry to care and i was upset when the last mouthful had gone. Flatmate pushed the boat out and ordered us puddings cheesecake and an apple thingy. In preparation, we had to unbutton the top of our jeans to make room. Can't remember but i think they were nice the steak just keeps coming back to me steak cheesecake? steak apple thingy? Not sure how much it all came up to as lovely Flatmate paid (thanks Nic). But it was a great hearty, winters meal perfect for a cold Sunday afternoon. P.S. The first time I came here I came with my Dad who wanted to order off the menu so we wandered down to the Butchers and he got the Butcher to cut him a hefty slab of rib eye must have weighed about a pound! Seriously my dad was eating long after mum and I had finished but he eventually did I was so proud and he was happily full!"