La Poule au Pot, Belgravia review
We like nothing more than finding a wonderful neighbourhood restaurant that is so good it is worth travelling to even when you may not live in its environs. La Poule au Pot (est 1962) is such a restaurant. Not only that, it may save yourself a trip to France. From the same restauranteurs that brought us the sorely missed Maggie Jones in Kensington (which shut due to an electrical fire in 2023) you can just imagine the interiors are as utterly charming and cosy and will make you want to organise a clandestine evening toute suite. But I digress we were here to explore their terrace which comes into its own in summer. Their location sits on Orange Square adorned with two iconic red London telephone booths and in front of a statue of Amadeus Beethoven regally overlooking the square from his plinth. On Saturday’s if you venture here, you will also have the added bonus of an excellent Farmer’s Market.
La Poule au Pot, Belgravia. Image credit Natascha Milsom
Our afternoon lunch meant we could dine alfresco on the terrace and admire the stunning interior design related boutiques which have congregated in this area and a spot of people watching. Mainly dapper elderly couples strolled through in the afternoon before they all disappeared around four o’clock, perhaps for a little afternoon nap I am imagining. A routine I would be perfectly happy with when my twilight years arrive.
La Poule au Pot, Belgravia. Image credit courtesy of La Poule au Pot
Thibault & Lionel run a tight ship here taking care of their guests with French charm. The menu is filled to the brim with classic French dishes such as Onion Soup, Coq au Vin, Boeuf Bourginon, Ratatouille and Steak Frites as well as a few specials offered daily, offering additional variety to their regular customers.
La Poule au Pot, Belgravia. Image credit Natascha Milsom
Before sitting outside we looked around the interior of the restaurant, which is a mad, glorious jumble of French rusticity with multiple nooks and crannies, exposed brick walls, antique wooden furniture, dry flowers, lace curtains and iron railings to separate dining areas. Tables are laid with clothes and brown paper, with a pop of colour from the mini flowerpots and a single candle stick, all so very warm and inviting. Everywhere you look there’s a kind of gentle, bourgeois clutter that says: yes, this is a restaurant, but also maybe someone lives here. It’s not cool, not slick, and that’s exactly the point. There’s no Instagram sheen—just atmosphere, in generous, wine-splashed servings. In my mind I will definitely head back here for an evening dining inside.
La Poule au Pot, Belgravia. Image credit Natascha Milsom
On the outdoor terrace, while we perused the menu we were brought slices of baguette and two circles of good quality butter (refreshingly with no olive oil in sight). The menu is split with a small à la carte choice as well as a selection for their Table d’hôte at a set price of £41.95 for 2 courses and £47.95 for three. We began with green Asparagus with Hollandaise (there is a healthier version served with vinaigrette) and the Tarte à l’Onion (Onion tart) on the waiter’s recommendation, as we were also tempted by the excellent reputation of their French Onion Soup. Each dish delightfully arrives on mismatched antique plates.
The Culpeper Rooftop. Image courtesy of The Culpeper. Image credit Ola Smit.
For mains I went a la carte choosing L’Escalope de Veau aux Champignons (veal escalope with mushroom sauce) the sauce was delicious and recommend saving some baguette to mop up the delicious sauce. For vegetarians the main choice is simple with an excellent hearty vegetarian Cassoulet (a traditional French stew), but alternately there is abundance of vegetarian entrees to choose from. Additionally, we had sides of garlic mushrooms and petit pois à la française (peas with onion and diced ham).
The wine list is exclusively French with eight wines by the glass and smartly, seventeen half bottles for those not wanting to get too carried away at lunch.
Rooftop Mess, The Culpeper Rooftop. Image credit MTotoe.
For dessert it was hard to choose from the classic favourites of Crème Brulèe, Tarte Tatin and Mousse au Chocolat. (There is also sorbet & ice cream for the summer days ahead.) I had the Tarte Tatin. The apples were perfectly caramelised and came with a generous serving of whipped cream. My partner ordered the Crème Brulée. The creamy custard base was unctuous but the caramelised sugar topping was much too thick and should be brulèed just before serving creating a thin glass-like top which should easily crack with a light tap of a spoon, but I comically attempted this three times each time more forcefully than the last and gave up eventually having to aggressively stab it from a great height.
La Poule au Pot is quintessentially French, and you will feel like you are in France without even having to cross the channel. Bring your mother, bring your date or bring a mate for an all-round crowd-pleasing dining experience à la française.
Location: 23 Edbury Street, London SW1W 8UT Open: Daily, Noon -9pm. Website: pouleaupot.co.uk Instagram: @lapouleaupotrestaurant
Review by Natascha Milsom
