Le
Deuxième
65a
Long Acre, London WC2E 9JH
Tel: 020 7379 0033
Le
Deuxième is a very chic establishment
offering a relaxed and convivial
atmosphere for its patrons. The dining
room has a contemporary feel with
its glass walls, subdued lighting,
and an elegant white and beige interior.
The tables are well spaced with crisp
white linen and sparkling cutlery,
whilst the service is professional
without being intrusive.
The
menu is European with a good selection
of fish and seafood throughout. My
starter, Escargots Bourguignon, was
well flavoured - heavy on the garlic,
and with a good, chewy bite. I tried
an accompanying glass of Semillon,
which was rich and full bodied. My
guest’s pan-fried foie gras with
raisin and walnut bread and caramelised
shallots scored very high marks indeed.
He selected a glass of dessert wine
that is so well suited to foie gras,
a Chateau La Tomaze, 2002, with its
strong flavours and ability to cut
through the richness of the dish.
To
follow, I tried the noisette of lamb
with grilled kidney, puree of roasted
sweet potato and mint and parsley
gremolata. The lamb was sweet, fresh
and tender with a minty flavour and
served with a rich gravy. All the
flavours on the plate were complimentary,
including my side order of sautéed
spinach and Petit Pois a la Française.
My guest selected a char grilled
rib eye of Scotch beef with pommes
frites and béarnaise sauce, ordering
it medium/rare. It was perfectly
cooked, the meat being tender and
well flavoured. To drink, we tried
a bottle of Burgundy from Santenay,
2002, which was an excellent example
of a fine vintage. It was full bodied
with complex tannin overtones.
To
finish, I tried the lemon tart with
crème fraiche, which was sharp with
intense flavours and very, very good
- the crème fraiche offsetting the
intensity of the tart. My guest is
predictable when it comes to puddings;
he likes only crème brûlée and the
plainer the better - if it has accompanying
fruit or sauces he’s just not interested!
Happily for him it was of the plain
variety and it came in with very
high marks.
Le
Deuxième is the sister restaurant
of the much acclaimed Le Café du
Jardin. It is right around the corner
from The Royal Opera House and Covent
Garden itself, making it perfectly
located for a theatre outing or pre/post
evening at the opera or ballet.
Louise
Elgin. May 2006
A
three-course dinner with wine and
water is about £100 for two.
Set
menus are available daily for lunch
or pre/post theatre 2 courses & coffee £10.95
3 courses & coffee £14.50
Le
Deuxième, 65a Long Acre, London
WC2E 9JH
Tel: 020 7379 0033 Open 7 days
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