Cafe Du Marche

Fantastic ambience, amazing food (cote de boeuf in particular!), great house wine, and a pianist to top it off. Highly recommended.

Wow, just wow. I haven’t had a meal in a long time where I was greatly impressed from start to finish.
This place was absolutely romantic and charming. When I arrived, there was a pianist and a double bass player playing beautiful music. The tables were candlelit and you could see plates of delicious food at patron’s tables.
I ordered the Provence vegetables with mozzarella and I am so glad I did! Fresh veggies and cheese with a light dressing. Perfect appetizer!
For my main I ordered pork chops, and oh my goodness, they were divine! Highly recommended if they are on your menu!
For dessert, I asked for the apricot tart and it was delicious as well.
Everyone gets pomme frittes (chips) on the side and they were the most amazing fries I have ever had.
I’m sorry that this review is so vague, everything was so amazing and it’s hard for me to describe everything I had. The menu changes every so often anyhow. Just whatever you order, it will be the best thing you have ever eaten ever! Seriously, you have to try this place! Bonus points if you take someone here on a first date!

Excellent old-​school French fare in a tiny, out of the way location. Bonus is that you get to learn the meaning of the word mews.

Tucked away down a cobble-​stoned archway you’ll find Café du Marche. A lovely French restaurant set over 2 floors and popular with the legal professionals who live and work in the area.
The interior has that simple, French, rustic, pastoral feel. A bit like Le Pain Quotidien only better.
Downstairs was packed out so we were redirected up stairs, where the rustic wooden look continued on into the roof slats.
Our waitress seemed a little moody and distracted but the food was excellent. I had the Beetroot and Goats cheese which was delicious and beautifully complimented with hazelnuts, I had the special for main, a wonderful light and fluffy Plaice served with a lemony Hollandaise sauce. Mains came with fries and salad. The salad was disappointing and uninspiring, just a bunch of mixed leaves in a bowl, no dressing. To drink we had a lovely, light red called Savigny — Le — Beaune.
In general the atmosphere was warm and inviting, and had a good buzz.

Tucked away in the Mews right off Charterhouse Square, Café Du Marche was the perfect spot to hide away from the cold and rain. Great atmosphere that was cozy and warm complimented by some relaxing piano music.
We went with the American Express restaurant festival menu for 30GBP which included champagne, starter, main, salad, fried dessert, coffee/​tea, and petit fours. The food was excellent. Super tender beef, fresh fish and a giant pot of very crispy french fries!
Soupe de poisson
Assiette of charcuterie and crudite
Poisson du jour
Onglet of beef, shallots, garlic and parsley
Salad/​Fries
Sorbet ou Glacé
Chocolate pot, hazelnut biscotti

Great location, I really love it. You know what I also love? Their amazingly delicious ice cream. Without a doubt 5 star worthy even if service is a bit off sometimes. Without a doubt worth a visit if you are still wondering, it is even worth a second one.

Just had lunch here. Was not full but sill good atmosphere. Great location and building. Very traditional French bistro feel but quite authentic. Good menu and interesting specials. Absolutely love it.

In order to feel the exciting French atmosphere, you can go to this restaurant and try one of the dishes. The place is stylish and pleasant. The prices of some of the meals are not so low, but it depends on your choice. So choose carefully and be ready for an excellent dining experience.

I would agree with reviews written so far. It’s not cheap, but the food is consistently excellent, staff lovely and altogether very French. Currently rates as my favourite London restaurant.

En étant à l’hôtel Malmaison à Chaterhouse Square et étant fatiguée le soir de mon arrivée, je suis allée dans ce petit restau qui, de façade, n’avait pas l’air de casser 3 pages à un canard
Je rentre à l’intérieure, ambiance tamisée et nappe blanche, bref, un restau français.
J’ai commandé un pot au feu et je peux vous assurer que c’est peut-​être le meilleur pot au feu que je n’ai jamais manger. La viande était d’une tendresse surprenante, elle fondait dans la bouche. Les desserts sont délicieux et le gros avantage c’est que la plupart des serveurs sont français donc c’est pratique, le sommelier nous a extrêmement bien conseillé en vin.
J’y suis retournée deux jours plus tard et cette fois j’ai pris une côte de bœuf, la viande était rarement bonne, meilleure qu’en France.
L’addition était salée, comme dans tous les restaurants qui sortent des sentiers battus à Londres mais qu’importe, c’est la qualité qui compte !

Down a small, well-​lit alley in London’s Smithfield there is a small piece of land that belongs to France. On it exists a café with wood beams, waiters in white aprons, a piano and double bass combo with food that will have you breathing sighs of pleasure. Escargot with wild mushrooms, pheasant, filet mignon with foie gras, and a small but excellent carte des vin that will wisk you out of London and into a side street of an Arrondissement. The service is friendly, the waitresses are beautiful hard working girls, and you will feel taken care of. A secret in London for now…

Was lucky enough to go here yesterday for lunch. Hidden away, this place is a secret from the start, and a real treat.
Basic decoration, with beautiful art and a busy service, I warmed to it from the moment I stepped in. Surprising to see so many suits though ;)
I had a caramelised onion & goat’s cheese tart to start, which was absolutely divine. Just thinking about it is making my mouth water actually. I’d go back just for that. Looking around, the pork rillettes also look really nice — but I always have that, so thought I’d mix it up.
For main I had the roast duck special, served perfectly pink with red cabbage, fried and dressed green salad. Utterly lovely.
Left feeling satisfied but not overfed. Will definitely be back.
Service is exactly quick though, so maybe good for an afternoon or an evening.

Une cuisine vive, inventive, toujours en recherché de cette petite note qui démarque.
Il s’amuse, invente, détourne afin de vous faire déguster une cuisine inspirée, toujours en mouvement et très excitante.
Vraiment exceptionnel sur Londres
Je recommande !!!

There are few things I love more than wine and cheese, so when I heard that Qype was organising a tasting event at Le Café du Marche, in combination with the Cheese Celllar and Great Western Wines, I was quick to sign up. I’m pleased to say it was everything it promised, with a fantastic setting, an extensive range of truly excellent wines and some the tastiest cheeses I have ever encountered. A special mention should of course go to cheese-​master Tom from the Cheese Cellar, who made the evening particularly enjoyable.
The wine and the cheese ensured the evening very good indeed, but what made it great was the absorbing and intimate atmosphere of Le Café du Marche. Hidden away on a cobbled side-​street with wood-​beam ceilings and a rustic chalet feel, I could quite easily have been 500 miles away in the French countryside.
For excellent food and fine wine in a unique and romantic setting, I heartily endorse Le Café du Marche.

Located down a narrow alley off Charterhouse Square, this restaurant is very central yet intriguingly tucked away. However, while narrow alleys may be a typically London feature, Le Café du Marche is a little piece of France. Rustic without being twee, it made the perfect location for the Qype cheese and wine tasting.
The fabulous cheeses and fact-​packed yet entertaining commentary came from Thomas Badcock of the Cheese Cellar; Joel Lauga of Great Western Wine paired a range of interesting wines with them and gave us real insight on how to match cheese to wine. Not only did I eat and drink a lot, I also learned a lot, as well as having great fun.
What also shone through, though, is that this restaurant is well worth a return visit. Service was exemplary, and we had enough of their food to gain an impression of its quality. Alongside charcuterie (I loved the excellent home-​made pork rillettes) were delicous salads including beetroot spiked with horseradish and the best remoulade I’ve had. Afterwards came a memorably good rhubarb sorbet. A treat for the eyes in rose-​pink, it was even better to taste: that perfect blend of sweet-​and-​sour that only the best rhubarb dishes achieve.
After an evening like this, one thing is certain: I’ll be back soon!

1ère visite, 5 étoiles
OK, l’endroit n’est pas évident à trouver mais croyez-​moi, il vaut la peine !
Un petit morceau de France à Londres, mais tenu par des Anglais, qui ont tout compris de la douceur de vivre à la française. Amis de la bonne chair et du bon vin, welcome !
Entre la salle d’en bas (le Café) et celle d’en haut (le Grenier), ma préférence va à la seconde pour la magnifique charpente. Mais côté menu, grillades en haut et cuisine plus tradi en bas, je crois que je préfère le RdC.
Je suis allé au Café pour une dégustation de fromages et de vins. Et à ma grande surprise, j’ai appris beaucoup de choses sur les fromages français. Que j’ai pu comparé à de nombreux homologues étrangers, en particulier britanniques. Et chauvinisme mis à part, hmmm, les français tiennent vraiment le haut du panier. Comme en a d’ailleurs convenu notre hôte-​conférencier, British et impartial.
J’y retourne à la première occasion pour tester le reste de la carte. Vous aussi, si vous passez dans le quartier, cool & branché par ailleurs, faites-​vous plaisir et passez au Café: j’attends vos appréciations de la cuisine «française» de l’endroit ! :-)
2ème visite: 2 étoiles
Et bien voilà, j’y suis revenu pour déjeuner et au Café cette fois, au rez-​de-​chaussée. Accueil et service charmants, décotrès sympa, carte intéressante mais… En entrée, «Mussels poulette», un bol de moules mi-​à la crème, mi-​marinère; malheureusement pas assez cuites et caoutchouteuse… En plat, de la pieuvre au chorizo, accompagnés de riz. Avec une sauce trop liquide, épicée et «à la provençale» côté herbes, complètement loupée. Le chorizo lui-​même n’étaot pas fameux. Et en sus, une salade, très fraîche, au vinaigre de vin, mais littéralement noyée d’huile… Bref, pas un plat né mérite la oyenne. Je me suis épargné le dessert, mais l’addition a quand même dépassé les 30 livres, en comptant l’eau et le service (12,5% suggérés mais pas obligatoires). Expérience TRES décevante, d’où la réévalutation de ma note à seulement 2 étoiles…

If there’s one thing better than cheese it’s cheese followed by a nice glass of red wine, so from this I knew that the cheese and wine pairing that I was invited to via Qype was going to be my kind of event. Located next to the Malmaison, Le Café du Marche is set down a cobbled street and this paired with the wooden beams and rustic décor makes it seem a world away from London.
The staff were incredibly helpful and at the door I was greeted by one staff member with a glass of champagne, while another dealt with my coat.
The evening was superb and whilst the cheeses were fantastic, it was Tom, from the Cheese Cellar’s enthausiasm for his product that really made the evening memorable. We tried a wide variety of different cheeses from ancient sheep’s cheese which hasn’t changed its recipe in thousands of years to the fantastic Lancashire bombers — a cheese that is literally made in a nylon stocking, but comes with a kick.
The wines were also fantastic and we got to try a formidable selection from all over the world. My favourite was the Pinot Noir — but it was fascinating how drinking a particular wine at the same time as eating a certain cheese could change the whole taste of the cheese. I had a fantastic time and will definitely be back to try some of the full meals in the restaurant.

The wine and cheese pairing event at Le Café du Marche was out-​of-​this world good! The service was incredible, atmosphere: gorgeous, food: cheesy deliciousness, wine: mmmmm, company: lovely!
I think all the reviews below say it all, but I definitely want to come back as the tastings were got were fantastic and being in there was like being a little chalet with servers happy to be there for you.

You know you’ve had a good night when you wake with the cheese sweats at 3.45am the next morning. Luckily it was totally worth it.
Last week I attended the very special tasting event with Qype hosted by Le Café du Marche restaurant in partnership with Cheese Cellar and Great Western Wine.
This fantastic, romantic French restaurant is tucked away in the alleys off Charterhouse Square and offers a different place in time — a traditional brasserie-​style dining with rustic ambiance. The night started well — champers on arrival in the private room upstairs and then 20 dedicated qypers sat down to be educated.
The inimitable Tom from Cheese Cellar started us off on which cheeses not to love, before passing around amazing platters of cheeses starting from ancient sheep’s cheese to the lactic Cirencester, old and rich gouda, acidic and moist Lancashire, pungent Mont D’Or, and finally my favourite, the strong agressive blues of the Roquefort and Gorgonzolas.
Coupled with these presented by Joel from Great Western were different wines from all over the globe, including prosecco, Gewurtztraminer, a Bourgogne Pinot Noir, Spanish Rioja, Trinity Hill Syrah from Hawkes Bay and a Castera Cuvée.
After the tasting finished I tried a few charcuterie platters and fresh-​baked breads before heading home to dream of goats rolling cheese in ash.
I really want to return soon to try the full a la carte menu as the food we did have was sublime.
Best quotes from Tom the chhese-​man:
”In the Pantheon of cheeses, roquefort and gorgonzola are at the pinnacle — the Holy cheeses of Zeus himself”
‘Wensleydale is effectively failed roquefort”
‘The Swiss version of Mont D’Or killed more people than any other cheese”
‘Let me demonstrate milk proteins on my fingers if I may”
‘Ironically, hatred of your neighbours is responsible for some of the best cheeses”
Never has delicious cheese been presented in such a knowledgeable and acerbic way.

Last Thursday’s cheese and wine tasting at Le Café du Marché was exactly what was needed to slough off the late-​January blues.
The restaurant is hidden down a cobbled alleyway just off Charterhouse Square: one of those charming surprises that London tucks away in odd corners. It’s in a converted Victorian warehouse — all huge windows, profusely flowering window boxes, white-​painted brickwork and pretty signage. Our event was up a spiral staircase in the upstairs room — featuring very handsome exposed beams, warm brick and delightfully French decorative touches.
I immediately sensed I was in good hands with the staff, who briskly whisked away my coat and proffered a welcoming glass of sparkling rosé. After a brief chat to meet the other Qypers present we all sat down to the main event.
Tom Badcock of Cheese Cellar and Joel Lauga of Great Western Wine had prepared an amazing evening of cheese and wine pairings. Tom especially is a fabulously over-​the-​top cheese genius (I grew up on a farm milking goats), and I scrambled to type notes on my iPhone as Joel’s parade of wines took swift hold of my freshly-​detoxed January brain:
Cheeses are dynamic — they move;
Thistles are coagulants — hence milk thistles — but the ancient Romans used snails to coagulate their cheese;
Swiss Vicherin killed more people than any other cheese (Tom was particularly strong on European cheese culture wars);
And perhaps the comment of the night:
The best Roquefort is put down a cave and stroked for six months by French troglodytes.
Tom explained that blue cheeses only go with sweet wines, and illustrating the point perfectly was Joel’s choice of 2008 Domaine Castera Cuvée Privilège — a divine wine which is definitely going on my must-​buy list.
Another stand-​out pairing for me was the 2009 Gewürztraminer Classici DOC, Alto Adige, Colterenzio with lactic goats cheeses. I also loved the Rioja with the Vicherin (Mont d’Or).
Cheese-​wise it is unfair to expect me to pick a highlight as anything cheesy rocks my world, although I came away with a firm resolve to eat more Vicherin (in season NOW) and to hunt down a Lancashire bomb.
Our hosts at Le Café topped the evening with more Rosé and a wonderful spread of charcuterie and crudités. To finish, a fudgy and deeply flavoursome rhubarb sorbet. What an amazing restaurant — I highly recommend a visit; in fact I am planning to go back for my birthday next month.
Thanks Qype for arranging this truly stunning evening.

I’ve been wanting to come here for months and months and months. And then I saw Chris was doing an event here and basically badgered him until he let me come and play.
He’s now my favourite person.
Café Du Marche is very tucked away, looking all super cute and French, in an alley between Malmaison and the wonderful Fox and Anchor. Staff were friendly, despite me looking dishevelled after running across half of London because the underground failed me. I was greeted by friendly people wanting to take my coat, pouring me drinks, finding me somewhere to sit, giving me food. Yep, I like that kinda service. Everything was done with a smile. Even though I was late I felt instantly at home.
We were seated in the private room upstairs and it’s very beautiful. All open plan and you can spy into the kitchen (which meant I spent a lot of the evening eying up the cheese and ham). The charming guy telling us about the cheese was so utterly fascinating I’d have happily listened to him for two more hours. He jumped about at one point just because cheese is that yummy. I want to get that excited about eating something! To be fair, he was dishing up some excellent samples so it’s understandable. Including one that tasted so rich it was like eating chocolate. I was in cheesy heaven. And more than made up for missing the first few samples.
The wine was excellent (although I’m still never going to be a sweet wine kinda gal, even with a harsh cheese to go alongside it). I understand a bit more about why you pair some wine with certain cheeses. And I need to get me a Lancashire bombe as well.
But as is often the case, I fell in love with the meats more than anything else. Excellent terrine and Parma ham really made the evening for me. But more than that, they’ve made me decide that I should stop typing this review and go and book me a table in the restaurant. This is a gem of a place and you should all go immediately.

I have to agree with Carolina below — this is a really well kept secret. It’s small, hidden away and I’m only the second review.
A group of us dined at Le Grenier, the «cabin» upstairs. It had a very quaint and homey feel and the service was friendly. You choose between 2 and 3 courses (~£30 for the former and £40 for for the latter). The steak was a good pick and so was the pork belly.
Although the food was tasty, the price was a little steep for what you got. That’s my only real gripe about this place.

This is a really nice venue with very friendly staff.
I’m afraid I cannot comment too much on the menu as was here for a party with a set menu but the food choices we did have were all excellent and the house wines were a cut above what you usually get with house wines.