Galvin Bistro offers credit crunch lunch

If you're sick of the same ham and cheese sandwiches you keep bringing in to the office, you're not alone. Not if Galvin Bistrot de Luxe is anything to go by -- packed with business diners on a recent Wednesday lunchtime shirking the credit crunch for a superb-value set lunch.



Offering a three course set lunch Monday through Saturday for £15.50 plus service, this is classic French bistro dining at a fraction of the price. The eponymous French bistro of Galvin brothers Chris and Jeff has won awards and favourable reviews aplenty -- Winner of the Drinking Out Excellence Awards "French Wine Restaurant of the Year 2009" and "French Restaurant of the Year" at the London Restaurant Awards last year. But more importantly, they've won over cash-strapped customers. Granted, these are business-class diners eating out on expenses, but they're doing so at economy seat prices.

The set lunch on my visit gave a choice of ballotine of ham hock and lentils or veloute of wild mushrooms to start with, followed by Barnsley chop with roasted potatoes and grilled tomatoes or Cornish pollack with Meditteranean vegetables. The ham hock was similar to a terrine, with a refreshing puy lentil aioli, while the pollack was a whopping piece of dense white fish accompanied by, amongst other things, a zippy olive oil marinaed. All superbly cooked, immaculately presented and personably proffered by the native French staff. Dessert choice was a homemade rhubarb panna cotta or Brie de Meaux with walnut and raisin bread. The panna cotta was an excellent palate cleanser after a hefty meal (not to mention the £21 bottle of Le Saboutin Rhone...)

With wine and service you're nudging £20 per head but with such quality cooking in a relaxed environment, it's something of a bargain.

Restaurant details:

Galvin Bistrot de Luxe

66 Baker Street

London

W1U 7DJ
United Kingdom

T: +44 (0) 20 7935 4007

F: +44 (0) 20 7486 1735
E: info@galvinrestaurants.com

Map & Directions: Click here

Opening hours:

• Lunch: Monday – Saturday 12pm – 2 30pm (last orders)
• Lunch: Sunday 12pm – 3 30pm (last orders)
• Dinner: Monday – Wednesday 6pm – 10 30pm (last orders)
• Dinner: Thursday – Saturday 6pm – 11pm (10 45pm last orders)
• Dinner: Sunday 6pm – 9 30pm (last orders)