Le Cafe Anglais, London W.2

Once again this restaurant is not in the smartest part of town.   You will come across several graceful tree-lined squares but unfortunately edged with a lot of backpacker hotels and every nationality in the world jostling on the streets.  But it is a vibrant, busy area and every few yards you’ll cross little groups of tourists/students staring fixedly at their maps trying to find their hotel or hostel. There is a small shopping mall at the bottom of Queensway,  which has been built in the old Department Store Whiteleys with its beautiful soaring glass roof,  and has most of the usual high street shops.  And out on Queensway itself there are a variety of ethnic restaurants of varying quality.

In the middle of this scene sits the elegant Cafe Anglais, which is a restaurant and oyster bar, located on the first floor of  the building  but accessible by lift.

The dining room is very large with picture windows and an attractive bar and the seating is  pastel grey banquettes wbich creates a pleasant, relaxing atmosphere.   The restaurant offers  an extensive menu, starting with an interesting selection of tapas which you can mix and match.  The main courses are fairly classic dishes – I  started with fried squid, followed by generously- portioned braised lamb shanks with white beans, which was absolutely delicious.  We did not have wine but I had a Marguerita en aperitif- which I later discovered cost £8.00 – so avoid the short drinks!   The desserts were fairly limited but there was a good selection of teas and infusions.

Prices a la carte were in the mid to high range, but they also offer a lunchtime menu of two courses for £18.50 or three courses for £23.50. There is however a cover charge of £1.85 per person, which is fairly unusual in restaurants of this type in London,  but they did give us a bowl of crisp radishes with farmhouse butter and a large basket of home-made bread as recompense!

The room was full with well-heeled tourists and business men, so despite the area, the restaurant has deservedly succeeded in making itself a place on the London dining scene.

I must mention too that right next door there is a rather exclusive-looking American-style bowling alley/restaurant but my grandsons, one of whom lived in student digs around the corner for two years (which is why we discovered the Cafe Anglais!) assure me that they did let them in and they had a great time bowling, though the drinks were expensive.   Now however they offer a package deal: 2 course meal, a drink and bowling for £26.