La Petite Maison London W1 Restaurant Review

Top French Food, Fun Chic Celebrity Dining, Lunch & Evening Mayfair

Jun 22, 2009

What a pleasure it is for the Mayfair locals to have such a delightful eatery as La Petite Maison. Here friendly foodies share fine French Cuisine in a relaxed ambiance.

Hidden in Brook Mews off Bond Street behind an unassuming facade is one of London's most celebrated French Restaurants: La Petite Maison a favourite haunt for lunches and dinners of well-heeled Mayfair dwellers and financiers and a London celebrity hangout and daytime drop in for upmarket West End shoppers who want to enjoy the best French Provençal Cuisine in an informal, laid back atmosphere.

Diners Share DIshes at La Petite Maison Mayfair

Lunches at La Petite Maison are as long and breezy as the light-filled airy room. Everything is cool in this classy eatery where food is encouraged to be shared. On view is an open salad bar where the young kitchen staff chop and slice the colourful legumes with the precision of Samurai warriors.

Bond Street shoppers can drop in to this easy eatery and share delicious hors d'oeuvres from the à la carte menu which arrive in a staggered procession when ready. As diners are seated they will notice on the table two plump sweet vine tomatoes, a lemon, and a bottle of olive oil to be enjoyed whilst pondering over the menu.

Starter Menu at La Petite Maison Mayfair

A Tapenade arrives: an onion tart with minute particles of anchovy on slivers of thin pastry and a black olive in its centre. Although light and delicate it is definitely for those with a sweet tooth. However an excellent NV house champagne Ruinart Brut balances the flavours.

Diners can choose from an imaginative menu including salads of crisp green beans with cubes of foie gras, parsley, tiny pieces of tomato and balsamic vinegar; fresh and invigorating to the pallete. Then perhaps a crab and lobster salad with a light mayonnaise to ease the acidity of the first taste sensation. One of the dishes to fighting to the last morsel is the salad of green lentils with the softest white balsamic vinegar and a hint of spring onions tomato and fennel. However if in a group, to avoid any hostile confrontation perhaps it might be best for diners to order two.

The excellent head waiter's recommendation of warm Burreta, the finest imported mozzarella scattered with tiny Daterinni tomatoes, basil, olive oil and sea salt is simply sensational. Leaving just enough room before the main course is a perky sweet beetroot salad, banana shallots, finely chopped parsley with an orange juice and cherry vinegar dressing bursting with sunshine Mediterranean flavours.

Although there is a selection of twenty five starters on the menu; possibly the longest list in London those who are not that hungry or indeed females wishing to hold fast to their size eight could indeed just choose one to share with their partner. Nice's signature dish, Salad Niçoise served in a large bowl is both delicious and diet conscious.

La Petite Maison Restaurant may be in London's West End but eating the crispy coz lettuce, tuna, tomato, egg and anchovy sans potatoes washed down with a fresh, fruity 2008 Le Secret Chateau Loebe, Sirah based Rosé de Provence whilst basking in the summer sunshine on the restaurant terrace might not be in Nice but it's certainly very nice!

Main Courses at La Petite Maison Mayfair

Just enough time for retrenching appetites and the main courses arrives. A succulent salt baked fillet of line caught Sea Bass fresh, soft and tender flesh with artichokes and tomatoes. Hopefully this fish will never become extinct, though judging from the numerous plates sporting this delectable fish it is rather a worrying thought. Another glass of the delicious Rosé and carpe deum, tomorrow never comes.

For the partner, lamb cutlets grilled to perfection medium rare. Four little flavorsome marvels served with the crispest steamed broccoli and a further glass of the beautifully ripe and fruity Pinot Noir 2008 Chorey-Les-Beaune.

Desserts at La Petite Maison Mayfair

There is absolutely no point in skipping the puddings at La Petit Maison. Better for weight conscious diners to fast the next day than miss the highly recommended creme brulee, meltingly light vanilla scented creme with the crispest willow-the-wisp coating of burnt sugar. Gone are any inhibitions and this reviewer and her partner now lay siege to the velvety warm chocolate mousse and home-made pistachio ice cream.

Inspired Chef Raphael Dantoye transferred by owner Arjun Waney from his hugely successful restaurant Zuma in Knightsbridge, heads the kitchen. This landmark London restaurant is indeed eponymously named after the original La Petite Maison in Nice a Provençal legend both for the wonderful food and lively personality of the ubiquitous owner Nicol Rubi who has visited the Mayfair namesake many times. Although the menu in France is entirely different to the Mayfair establishment the spirit of the quintessential original still pervades and both have their own individual charm.

Price per person £50 plus service charge. Diners sharing a Salad Niçoise and a couple of other starters approximately £50 for two plus service charge.

The copyright of the article La Petite Maison London W1 Restaurant Review in European Culinary Travel is owned by Nina Saville. Permission to republish La Petite Maison London W1 Restaurant Review in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.