Colbert has quite the prime location in London’s fashionable Chelsea. Urban legend has it that the freeholder of this prime real estate walked into what was formely Oriel’s for lunch, found it not to his tastes and promptly shut it down. So they really had to come up with something quite legendary to replace it. Cue the brains behind The Wolseley to create Colbert and watch the (orderly – it’s Chelsea darling) queue form.
The French brasserie has become terribly trendy in the Capital this year with the exquisite service and simple fare working very much to our tastes. Inspired by the Parisian less-is-more strategy the menu reminds us of the days when Café Rouge was en vogue. Crab salads, croque monsieurs, French onion soup and cassoulet de Toulouse all feature although we prefer the modern twists (Croque Provençal teams grilled courgette, aubergine and goats cheese under the grill).
Reservations are definitely required; the French service is a particular highlight and the wine list holds its own. A great one to impress the parents.
