Gauthier Soho

Summer tasting 

 

Charentais melon

This is my 4th visit to the ever popular French restaurant Gauthier in Soho, dining at Gauthier is one kind of a special experience that you can't find elsewhere. The cooking is classic French in principle but with small elements of contemporary touches, spreading across three floors with 5 private dining rooms, this is one of the cosiest fine dining restaurants you can find in London with a warm ambiances and top notch service to match. To celebrate five years since it was launched at its current location in Soho, the restaurant has come up with a pretty special treat for its email subscribers which is a two for one offer for its summer tasting menu.

Orkney scallop, sage tempura, tomato fondue

Italian summer truffle risotto

Orkney scallop, I particularly enjoyed the crispy element of the sage tempura, the grassy and light citrus notes worked rather well with the sweet freshness of the scallop. Gauthier's signature risotto once again was a delight, the bold and powerful aroma of the summer truffle greatly enhanced the flavours of the savoury Acquerello risotto. The mint rubbed Welsh lamb was served two ways, the lean loin was cooked to perfection and moist in texture, but perhaps just needed a touch more seasoning as the fennel and salty elements were under performing on the palate for me. 

John Dory, purple artichoke, courgettes

Minted rubbed Welsh lamb

St Nectaire & Cantal

The pre-dessert of strawberries acted as a wonderful palate cleaner, the refreshing coolness of the elderflower granite had a lovely floral aroma with a mild sweetness and just a hint of sourness from the fresh Oakchurch English strawberries. The final course, the Gauthier's classic Golden Louis XV was as magnificent as it has always been, bold and rich smooth dark chocolate mousse with a crunch nutty praline, a pure chocolate heaven.

strawberries & elderflower granite

Louis XV

Dinner at Gauthier Soho as expected was nothing short of quality, fairly consistent in terms of flavours using in season ingredients. While the presentations of each dish are fairly standard as far as fine dining goes, they are tidy and straightforward which tells you exactly what you are going to get on the dishes. I would go as far as suggesting that it is the best French restaurant in Soho, better value than the likes of Social Eating House and L'Atelier De Joel Robuchon nearby. Along side Five Fields, Gauthier is perhaps one of the best fine dining French restaurants in London without a Michelin star.


Food 4/5

Executive chef: 
Alexis Gauthier

What I paid: 
£59 pp with wine

Average cost without drinks and services:
£25 lunch menu
£75 tasting menu

21 Romilly St, London W1D 5AF
http://www.gauthiersoho.co.uk/