The French House

Located in bustling Soho, just off Shaftesbury Avenue , The French House is a compact yet charming pub with a distinct old-world atmosphere. Space is tight — a few window seats and several small tables towards the back — and the narrow staircase leading up to the intimate first-floor dining room adds to the cozy, almost Parisian feel. The room itself is warmly decorated, with red walls, black-and-white photos from the past, and white tablecloths on tables set close together. There’s also a small bar at the far end and light streaming in from the windows on the right. Despite not booking, we were lucky to get a table; the room was nearly full (about 80% occupied, with just eight tables in total). I started with the Irish rock oysters with mignonette (£4.50 each). These were a little underwhelming — small in size, with average flavour and one noticeably meagre in meat. The calves’ brain with capers and brown butter sauce, however, was outstanding. Delicately cooked, it had the lightness of white fish like cod but with a firmer texture. The sauce carried a lovely hint of vanilla, and the accompanying sourdough bread was perfect for soaking it up. A real highlight — and very reasonably priced. Service was warm, personable, and efficient. We were in and out within an hour, feeling very satisfied. Overall, The French House offers a distinctive dining experience — interesting, well-executed food served in a wonderfully atmospheric setting.A Soho gem worth visiting, especially for those who enjoy something a bit different.