Eat & Drink
Originally published on Thursday, 16th May 2013
BRASSERIE CHAVOT
Banging Brasserie
40 Conduit Street, W1S 2YF | 020 7183 6425 | @brasseriechavot
Location
The lower end of Conduit Street, basically no man’s land for food. Vivienne Westwood is your only excuse for being right here.
Vibe
This is not where you come for a raucous evening, but we liked the atmosphere — chic, friendly and laid back. Any place where you leave knowing more about the chef than your ex–boy/girlfriend is okay by us (Eric, the Michelin starred head chef here — aka Eric Chavot — shot off his two toes, killing dreams of a military career, hence the chef whites). We liked it even more when the lights went down, music was turned up and voices were raised.
Flavours
We were going to a brasserie, yes, but our mantra was no bread, frites, cheese or red wine because of the fact we were trying to (quickly) train for a Nike 10K. All four of those were shot from the moment we sat down… and then some (Tempura! Dessert! More bread!). We went off–piste, but it was well worth it. The surprising thing here is that for French bistro cuisine, everything was actually light. Highlights included the soft shell crab with whipped aioli (a serious stand out, this dish had memorable flavour), the sea bream with tapenade and fennel and the selection of French cheeses with walnut bread. We’ll be back for the peanut and praline croustillant, more frites and the grilled tiger prawns and chorizo.
Decor
This restaurant is attached to the Westbury Hotel, but you’d never know it. This dining room is classic, but refreshingly different. The red chairs are similar to the green ones at Cecconi’s, but the high–backed half booths, the layout, the multiple chandeliers and the tiling all feels fresh — we like.
Upshot
This is a great place to catch up with an old friend, or have a business meeting. The tables are spread out, the service is slick and unassuming and the food is simple, but delicious.
