After a joyous hour or two discussing the merits of Zadie Smith’s White Teeth, I was in need of substantial sustenance, not least in an attempt to chase away an incipient cold. Accordingly, I headed for Le Sept, in the hope that some rustic French cuisine would hit the spot.
Interior
Le Sept is really a couples place. It has a kind of down-at-heel romance about it that lends itself well to lingering looks over candlelight.
As a solo diner, this evening, I was aware that its charms in this regard were being wasted on me, but I found the surroundings very pleasant, nevertheless.
Scallops
Service was welcoming and prompt, throughout. The menu had me seeking advice, which was forthcoming, helpful and accurate. A starter of queenie scallops was followed by daube of beef, served with buttered penne pasta.
The starter quickly appeared and looked smart. The accompanying blue cheese sauce had a good light tang, and worked well with the sweet scallops. Simple salad crunch rounded out a nicely judged dish.
Beef
The main was of similar quality, with real care and attention evident in the rustic beef tenderness that topped the beautifully buttery pasta. It occurred to me that this really was the ideal dish to have in preparation for our upcoming Thames walk, so I was somewhat tempted to get them to whip me up a batch to takeaway!
The cheeseboard that followed featured a good selection of French cheeses, but had sadly had a far too recent an acquaintance with the refrigerator, which was rather disappointing.
Cheese
But overall, I found Le Sept to be charming and elegant, with a welcoming ambience. If you’re looking for a romantic spot to impress your significant other, this would be high on the list of places that will garner you significant brownie points.
Scores
Blythe scores Le Sept
4/5 for food
3.5/5 for presentation
3.5/5 for setting
3.5/5 for service
giving an overall 14.5/20
Today’s quester was: Blythe
I ate: queenie scallops in blue cheese sauce, daube of beef with garlic buttered penne, cheeseboard
I drank: merlot, water, espresso
I wore: brogues
Total bill: £35
