Galvin Bistrot & Bar is our go-to – it’s the kind of place that feels like a second home, where the food is consistently excellent, and the service never falters. Some things don’t need reinventing; they just need celebrating. Part of the Galvin brothers’ Michelin-starred empire, this bistro is the one that should always be in your little black book. And what better time to visit than Galvin Restaurant’s 20th anniversary?
We kicked off with the Limousine veal tonnato, delicate and silky, and the Cornish mackerel ceviche, a fresh, zesty hit with a smoky eel twist.
For mains, a long-time signature dish, the slow-cooked pork cheeks and belly – rich, melt-in-your-mouth, and paired with boulangerie potatoes and Savoy cabbage – reminded us why classics stick around. Meanwhile, the Hereford beef sirloin, cooked to a blushing medium-rare, with crisp fries and a knockout peppercorn sauce, was steak frites at its best.
And then came dessert. We got lucky, managing to sample a little of everything – from the tropical tang of passionfruit and mango pavlova to the buttery richness of apple tarte tatin with Normandy crème fraîche. But if you have to pick one? That tarte tatin is an all-time great.
Wash it all down with a crisp Pilsner from the gleaming copper tank, a glass of something French and fabulous, or a perfectly made cocktail. However you celebrate, just make sure you do – 20 years in, Galvin Bistrot & Bar is still an essential part of London’s dining landscape.
Galvin Bar & Restaurant
Entrance on Bishops Square, 35 Spital Square, London E1 6DY
galvinrestaurants.com
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