Terroirs

http://www.terroirswinebar.com/

What Terroirs says:

Terroirs is a wine bar and restaurant situated in the heart of the London’s West End, a stone’s throw from Trafalgar Square and adjacent to Charing Cross station.


The wine bar seats 45 covers with a further 12 seats at the zinc top bar (which are non bookable). Open from 12pm till 11pm Monday to Saturday serving Charcuterie, Cheese, Bar Snacks, Small Plates and Plat du Jour. A reduced menu is served between 3pm and 5.45pm. The full menu is then available from 5.45pm until 11pm.

The concept derives from the Parisian natural wine bars with their emphasis on superb, rarely-seen wines, informal yet informed service, and excellent, hearty food.

What I say:

Cracking spot in an otherwise touristy area. The excellent wines by the carafe wonderfully presented and successfully emulate the Parisian vibe they are aiming for (indeed at times Terroirs reminded me greatly of L'Ecluse  http://www.lecluse-restaurant-paris.com/).

The charcuterie hit the spot perfectly for two- generous portions of cured pork, terrine and a coarser pate served up with cornichons and crusty bread would certainly make for an excellent pre/post theatre repast.

For the main event we opted for two french brasserie mainstays, bavette du boeuf and corn fed chicken with lentils and lardons- both were exemplary. The bavette was served simply seared and sliced, the chicken, a dish which can be as inspid as an evening with Ed Miliband, lent its rich and salty stock to the puy lentils and had a beautifully golden crispy skin.

Such was the generosity of the portions that the dessert escaped appraisal- however if a passing creme brulee tasted as good as it wafted then I would not hesitate to rubber stamp the Terroirs experience.