French bakery PAUL is my ‘go to’ lunch spot when I’m craving a taste of Paris, whether it’s a classic Croque Monsieur, Éclair or one of their perfect little Canelés.
Le Restaurant de PAUL in Covent Garden, however, takes it to the next level with a brasserie menu of regional dishes, sharing boards and classics such as Entrecôte, Duck confit and Coq au Vin. The bakery leads on to an elegant, relaxed dining room with cosy velvet banquettes and wall murals that remind me of Angelina in Paris. Interestingly, the Bedford Street restaurant was also the first branch of PAUL to open in the UK 18 years ago.
Bringing an extra touch of indulgence, Le Restaurant de PAUL has just launched a new Bottomless Afternoon Tea – a French twist on the English classic with plenty of bubbles. I enjoyed a preview of the afternoon tea in the restaurant’s cosy conservatory and was greeted with a typical apéritif of Kir Royale.
Our afternoon tea was served on a traditional three-tier stand with a glass of aromatic, refreshing sparkling vin mousseux from Ky Procco by Alain Gayrel. Starting with the savouries, the trio of lightly-toasted sandwiches were simple and high quality – Poached salmon and horseradish, creamy Camembert and my favourite smoky Chicken with tomato, mustard and mayonnaise.
I was initially hesitant about the replacement of scones (a time-honoured afternoon tea staple), however the fluffy, buttery sweet brioche was just as satisfying, especially when smothered liberally in whipped cream and strawberry jam.
The sweets were a real highlight and the selection was perfectly-chosen. The Gâteau aux carottes was moist and nutty with a smooth cream cheese ganache and I loved the delicate and light Fraisier with Genoese sponge, mousseline cream and fresh strawberries finished with bright green marzipan – a perfect dessert for spring.
As a fan of PAUL’s mini macarons, I was pleased to see them make an appearance on the afternoon tea in six different flavours – we enjoyed chocolate and lemon.
Afternoon tea at PAUL is a real treat if you love classic French patisserie and it’s great value, particularly with the free-flowing sparkling wine. It’s definitely one to add to the list for a decadent teatime in Covent Garden.
Afternoon tea with free-flowing Ky Procco by Alain Gayrel at Le Restaurant de PAUL Covent Garden is priced at £24.95 per person and Afternoon tea with a hot drink of your choice is priced at £14.95. Served from 2.30pm to 5.30pm on Saturdays and Sundays. For more information and booking, visit: www.paul-uk.com
Chérie City was a guest of Le Restaurant de PAUL
All photos by Chérie City
