La Trouvaille, Soho, London

A cracking little French restaurant/bistro/wine bar on the back streets of Soho (just off Carnaby Street), that will really bring the gastronomic, wine-glugging, carnivorous Frenchman (or woman) that’s hiding inside of you.

A nicely traditional menu which feaures dishes like rabbit and pigeon; a really good wine list, knowledgable and friendly staff, and a very relaxed atmosphere all go into making this somewhere I’d go back to in a heartbeat… PLUS you can have two courses for under £17. Brilliant.

I went for their smoked haddock starter and Special fish dish of the day (I was on a very sad and distant no meat patch so options were limited but c’est la vie). Both were extremely tasty, though the main could have come with more veg - arrived with a dollup of basil mash and the fish. I would have welcomed some extra steamed veg or a salad or something. But this really is nit-picking as in London’s standards this meal was very good and entertained a whack of flavours which had me smiling the rest of the afternoon. Well that and of course the wine. The waiter was very competent in his knowledge of wines and their history and geographic homes and suggested a brilliant bottle. French menu and comfortable simple ambience that puts the fine back into dining.

Book yourself a table and tuck into tasty cuisine including rabbit and pigeon (not of the Trafalgar Square variety I’m assured), your partner will be 'well’ impressed.

Right, I have a bit of a confession to make; I am a real Francophile. I holiday in the South of France every year, the merest hint of alcohol will have me spurting GCSE standard French at any given opportunity, I can’t play rugby any more and I did once, by accident, set fire to a sheep. So, I feel somewhat qualified to offer my humble opinion on La Trouvaille, which really is a french expereience.

Let’s start with the food. Fantastic. Starter of Dandelion Salad with confit Rabbit and pomegranate jus. Wallop! Main of roasted pigeon breast, confit leg, pea puree and liquorice sauce. Howzat! Dessert of crepe with chocolate and banana. Whammo!

Let’s move on to the wine shall we? Exciting, delicious and dedicated to the Languedoc and Rousillon regions. Ok so I did know a couple of these (see reference to holidays in South of France), but was expertly and enthusiastically advised by the sommelier to plump for something new, taking into account our budget for the day (I was choosing for a client, rather than paying myself) and of course the various dishes we had chosen. Howitzer! What a wine.

Shall we talk about the cost? Well seeing as you ask. Very little. Seriously. 2 courses for £16.50 and 3 courses for £20. That’s £20 for 3 courses of some of the finest food in London. Total bill for an enthusiastic table of 4 on a friday lunchtime with 2 bottles of wine and coffees (not to mention the complimentary digestifs dispatched with further gusto) was £125. Which is a steal.

Downsides. Er, not many. Perhaps that it is difficult to leave. Perhaps that there is the risk that you will bump into me. But that’s about the worst of it.

Perhaps the best sign is that it is frequented by French expats who sit in the ground floor wine bar drinking the amazing wine list and enjoying the Tapas menu on offer.

Basically, it’s great. You should go. Really, you should. In fact, you should take me as well. It’ll be fun. Whaddya say?

A very nice place serving French gastronomy in 2006 by a great French chef name Patrice Yango ( he have got almost the same name!!) who worked for Michelin stared chef Alain ducasse, in Paris and for Nico Ladenis in London .

They where challenging to get a Michelin star as they had a 3 forks in the Michelin guide with a french pan-asian cuisine
But Carnaby Street wasn’t prepared for such a challenge.
Now Patrice Yango left la Trouvaille following is dream.
Now at la Trouvaille you can find a very classic French cuisine very comfortable at healthy price.
The wine menu is GREAT.
Go and try it with a guest if you want to impress
Success guaranty!

Y.P

Sweet, nervously attentive waiters, lovely wine and a menu that included duck leg and steak - the place is authentically french. Go for the set lunch during the week to get two or three reasonably priced courses away from the bustle of the rest of Carnaby street.

V. true Shopaholic, a great French flavour in the West End.

The menu changes daily and in the main, the food is great. That said, the offer of sea bream with dark cherry sauce sent the wrong kind of shiver down my spine - a shiver happily dispelled with a super rare steak and chunky potato chips . . . . followed by lovely chocolate mousse.

Get there early, chocolate mousse is made fresh daily and in limited quantities.

Oh, and the staff are really lovely - helpful and charming to the max! Typical three course lunch with a glass of wine will cost £30, less if you stick to a main and no pud . . . .

. . . . . did I mention the chocolate mousse?