Galvin La Chapelle

This Grade II listed building might look like an old church, but it began life as the gymnasium in a Victorian school. Usefully located close to Liverpool Street Station, everything about La Chapelle, from the curvaceous, chocolatey leather seats to the soaringly high arched and beamed ceiling, makes this is a properly stunning location. With its sophisticated, almost masculine feel, it is the perfect setting for the spot-on classical French cooking. Food is taken seriously here, and service is reassuringly charming, knowledgeable and attentive. The wine list is a mighty, French-led affair, and there’s a champagne trolley if you’re in the mood for fizz. Menus range from a la carte (featuring Galvin classics) through five- and seven-course tasting options, and there are both vegan and vegetarian menus too, as well as a set lunch that’s really rather reasonable for the location and standard of cooking. They’re open for Sunday lunch, too, should you have a hankering for Suffolk crackling porchetta followed by (what else) tarte Tatin. If you’re after something more elegant you might begin with a beautifully balanced starter of Dorset crab raviolo, served with a delicate dashi beurre blanc and braised fennel topped with Primeur Baerii caviar, perhaps, or you might plump for cured stone bass with watermelon, smoked eel, water kimchi and nettle oil. Beautiful Wye Valley asparagus comes with seaweed emulsion, 36-month-aged parmesan, and black truffle. Main courses run from Cumbrian beef fillet, teamed with barbecued baby aubergine, Guinness-poached Porthilly oyster and pistachio, to Lozère lamb with smoked sardine, miso, black olive oil and courgette escabeche, or barbecued Cornish monkfish with artichoke barigoule, sea herbs, and a vin jaune velouté. Desserts are equally delightful – perhaps a baba, with Amalfi lemon, passionfruit and olive oil sorbet, or a delightfully light Gariguette strawberry soufflé, with fermented strawberry, basil, and elderflower.

Awards, accolades & Welcome Schemes

3 Rosette Award for Culinary Excellence

AA Notable Wine List