Smithfield is home to a French secret you’ll find hard to keep. Hidden away from the hustle and bustle, in a converted warehouse on a quaint cobbled street, discover Le Café du Marché – one of the City’s oldest gems.
A historic treat
The fine dining restaurant has achieved the ultimate goal for establishments of its kind: understated luxury. But then again, isn’t that what the French are famous for? Other than their wine and cheese of course, but don’t worry, there’s plenty of that here, too. The venue has a lot of history, it was formerly used for stabling, housing Charterhouse officers and to store medical supplies for St. Bart’s hospital. At one point, it was even a corset factory, a fashion product famously invented by the French.
Let’s talk about #foodporn
But, what makes Le Café du Marché shine above all others is the mouth-watering morsels created by its chefs. If you’re wondering where the expression #foodporn first came from, we’d bet good money it was here. So, jump off your January health wagon for a moment and indulge, because kale really isn’t all that tasty and we all know it. The restaurant is also launching its new menu next week, and One City has been given a sneak peak!
Prepare to drool…
They say too much of a good thing can be bad for you, but Le Café du Marché obviously doesn’t agree, there’s oh-so-much-goodness. Start your evening with a light Crotin de Chèvre, pear, chicory and hazelnut salad or homemade Pâté de Campagne with pistachio, apple and quince chutney, and crispy sourdough toast. Fancy something fishy? Sample the sautéed calamari, served on a bed of blood orange, avocado and fennel, with a just hint of chilli to spice things up.
For mains, may we recommend the Lozère leg of lamb, served with wild mushrooms, Dauphinoise potatoes and Madeira sauce. Or perhaps the salt beef brisket, served with pickled cabbage, carrots and horseradish crème fraîche? If you’d rather play it safe, there’s the classic Côte de Boeuf too, and fish of the day. The beauty of dining here is that although it’s definitely an opulent experience, all mains are served with sharing-style bowls of chips and salad on the side.
Ask the sommelier to help you with the best choice of wine for your dish, there are over 45 bottles to choose from..
Don’t skip dessert
Ever seen the restaurant date scene from the movie Remember Me? Emilie de Ravin’s character Ally famously asks the waiter to serve her dessert before the main course, and when questioned about it, proclaims “I just don’t see the point in waiting”. Having looked through the dessert menu at Le Café du Marché, we completely understand where Ally was coming from. There’s Chocolate mousse in a chocolate tulip case with orange sable biscuit, Apple and blackberry crumble with Calvados ice cream, French cheese served with quince jelly, apple, biscuits and warm baguette slices, and much, much more.
Open for dinner Monday – Saturday, 6pm to 10pm. Top tip for your visit? Don’t wear tight jeans.
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