L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon

L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon Review

A few doors down from The Ivy and arguably one of London's least publicized best restaurants, L'Atelier attracts both glitterati and food cognoscenti to sit side-by-side at the ground-floor open-kitchen. This is the seductive staging post of French non-plus-ultra superchef Joël Robuchon and the lure is being able to graze tapas-style on his famous creations. Framed with a green-leafy wall, James Bond lighting, and signature red glasses and raised counter seats, this space is custom-made for those who want to splurge on an unparalleled orgy of exquisite French tapas—from frogs' legs and egg cocotte to foie gras, pig's trotters, scallops, langoustines, and roast quail with buttery truffle mash. The £129 eight-course "decouverte" menu is a wanton way to blow the bank, but the £28 and £33 lunch and pre-theater deals are an altogether more sensible way to go. There's a formal restaurant, La Cuisine, on the first floor, and a cozy, open-fire snug bar, too.