I love Galvin Bistro de Luxe in Marylebone for its convivial atmosphere, its professional service, and its bistro classics served at reasonable prices. So when Galvin La Chapelle recently opened just a few steps from my office, I disregarded this negative review and, last Friday, dragged my friend BK there for lunch.
This post should be taken with a bigger grain of salt than usual because I tried only one dish, but here are my impressions anyway:
- Prices at Galvin La Chapelle are noticeably higher than they are at Galvin Bistro. Although the gorgeous, soaring-ceiling interior of La Chapelle sets it apart from the cozy, homey interior of Galvin Bistro, I recognized one or two dishes on La Chapelle’s menu from Galvin Bistro’s menu. For example, both places offer the Dorset crab lasagne, but La Chapelle’s version costs about 20% more (based on what I remember from my last visit to the Bistro two months ago).
- The service at Galvin La Chapelle was gracious and friendly. I initially felt slightly out of place among the business-suited crowd eating leisurely lunches, but our server chatted us up and made us feel quite welcome. BK and I had to get in and out at a reasonable hour, so we skipped starters and shared one dish: the roast cote de boeuf, truffle macaroni and Hermitage jus for £53.
- The beef was sliced and served tableside, perfectly medium-rare. It was all quite a to-do. The slices of beef were juicy to begin with, drizzled with the intense jus, and served with gelatinously-fatty bone marrow and sweet, creamy roasted garlic. The watercress was there to make us feel less unhealthy, I suppose.
- The accompanying truffle macaroni, which I’d expected to be a throwaway item, was all comfort and earthiness. I loved the combo of bite from the cheese and the smooth cream, and I could actually taste the black truffle. So for once, the truffle wasn’t just for show.
Our lunch cost about £31 a person for just a main course and a drink, which made for a rather pricey lunch. I can’t say the meal was good value, but I also don’t feel ripped off. Our cote de boeuf was delicious and filling with the well-executed sides; the room is beautiful; and the service was fast and friendly. I’ll keep La Chapelle in mind the next time I’m in need of an elegant meal out, but I suspect my next lunch is more likely to be at the cheaper Cafe de Luxe next door.
Galvin La Chapelle, 35 Spital Square, E1 6DY; 0207 299 0400; closest Tube station: Liverpool Street
The waiter chatted you both up!?
The pictures look delicious, but it does seem pretty pricy. I’ve not been to any of the Galvins, but I imagine the Cafe would be more suited to me!
It looks amazing from the pictures. I am quite a fan of Galvin Bistro de Luxe since you and Krista introduced me to it so maybe I will have to find an occasion to have a splurge at La Chapelle….
Lizzie – Why is it odd that the waiter chatted both of us up? He pegged us both for American tourists, which was mildly entertaining.
Gourmet Chick – La Chapelle is sans doute one of the prettiest restaurants I’ve seen in months, but upon further thought, for the price, I’d splurge at Launceston Place again before returning to La Chapelle.
Pricey. But it looks good. Nice pictures. The setting appears to be pretty impressive.
Interesting to see the mixed reviews this place has been getting. I absolutely love Galvin Bistro, so think I’ll stick with that one for now and maybe try out the cafe at some stage. The room does look beautiful though.
Greedy Diva – I think that if you live or work near Galvin Bistro de Luxe, there’s no need to cross town to Spitalfields to try out La Chapelle. Since I work so close to La Chapelle (and am relatively far from Baker Street), I’ll give La Chapelle another go, along with the less expensive Cafe de Luxe next door.
I cant wait! I’m going to Europe on my Honey Moon in May. Can anyone recommend a must eat in Paris
[…] Galvin La Chapelle served me a superb bone-in rib eye. I loved everything from the accompanying bone marrow and black truffle macaroni and cheese to the the over-the-top tableside presentation. I haven’t eaten anything else at La Chapelle, but based on how consistently good Galvin Bistro de Luxe is, I’m hoping Galvin La Chapelle will turn out to be just as good. […]
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