Le Garrick has the perfect atmosphere and back story for a romantic dinner, the couple who owns the restaurant now actually met here! Set over two floors the ground floor is rather unassuming compared to the cavernous nooks and crannies in the basement. Service was nice and attentive and there is a homely atmosphere to the place. It’s obvious the staff enjoy working at Le Garrick.
Apologies for the photo quality, candlelit lighting in a “cave” does not lend itself to good quality photos!
We started with the Escargots de Bourgogne and Cassolette de Calamars au Piment D’Espellete. This being my first time trying snails, though I had no problems with it at all. Both were amazingly moreish, topped with the soft fresh cut bread, I could have ate this all night! The snails cooked perfectly and smothered in the garlicky buttery sauce, each morsel as flavorsome as the next. This was slightly topped by the squid, potentially the most addictive French dish I have tasted. Anything with coriander scores plus points for me. The sauce with the hint of chilli worked amazingly with the seafood and made for perfect bread dipping.
Maybe Le Garrick put itself on too high a pedestal with its starters and therefore the only way was down but they went down like a lead balloon. The beef bourginon just didn’t work. The flavours were authentic though almost too salty yet overall bland but my main quip was the toughness of the beef. It was not the fall off to touch I was expecting. Whilst large portions are normally very welcome in my book it became a chore to finish because of the toughness of the beef and lack of interest in other ingredients. The duck confit also was a big plate of blandness and the skin just not crispy enough to really give this plate of food any interest.
Le Garrick could have excelled but it let itself down with two weak mains and therefore with a heavy heart I can’t give it more than what I have. But I absolutely recommend the snails and squid and if I could I’d have these as mains with the bread and leave feeling like I’ve just had the best french meal I’ve had in a while!
Address: 10-12 Garrick Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 9BH
Telephone: 0207 240 7649
Mind the Gap:
Mon – Sat 12pm – 10:30pm
Sun: Closed
/10
Panda ate, shot and left.
PANDA EATS LONDON 
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