Chez Gerard At The Opera Terrace
French Restaurant in Covent Garden
Chez Gerard are a chain of brasseries offering a menu of French style cooking. This busy Parisian 1930's conservatory restaurant has a large terrace overlooking the bustling Covent Garden Piazza. Situated in the heart of Theatreland and next to some of the best shops in London, Chez Gerard At The Opera Terrace is famous for its steak-frites and award-winning French wines. Relax in the restaurant or grab a quick bite in the cafe.
An extensive menu, a good wine list and the frites are fabulous!
"The best steak frites this side of Paris” they say. Well, say I, “That depends”. It’s certainly a good place for steak frites although I did have one occasion when my steak was distinctly tough and inedible. Whilst I didn’t make a fuss, the staff were mortified that I hadn’t eaten it and asked why I hadn’t complained – they offered me an alternative which I declined and they removed my main course from the bill without me asking.
However, apart from that bad experience I do like Chez Gerard. Mostly I frequent the branch in Chancery Lane – rather formal but good for business lunches. Mind you, the al fresco area is a bit of a disappointment there – practically a walled yard.
Occasionally, I go to the one on the South Bank near Waterloo – which is huge and canteen like. And with a really diverse clientele – foreign tourists, business people, couples having supper before or after the theatre, shoppers, teenagers, older couples. And I used to be practically a regular at the Opera Terrace in Covent Garden (great location – especially if it’s a warm evening and you do sit out on the terrace, lapping up the ambience of the busy piazza below although it does tend to get rather warm inside when the weather is good).
I like that each of the restaurants is a little bit different. It makes it less like a chain. There is an extensive menu – and a good wine list – although I nearly always have a steak. And, apart from the occasion mentioned above, is usually cooked rather well. And the frites are fabulous.
There is a good selection of starters. I usually have the crab and brown shrimp timbale (although sometimes it is so cold that the taste is affected) at £7.95, the gravadlax (£6.75) or the goat’s cheese (£5.95). All delicious. One of my dining companions had the snails once (portions either £4.25 or £7.95) although I can’t say whether they were good or not. Whilst there is a good choice of fish and vegetarian mains (for a French restaurant) I always go for a steak. Either the onglet (£12.95) or sirloin (£18.50). I rarely have room for a dessert (eat too many of those delicious fries and sides) but it’s a mouth watering selection and I admit that on one or two occasions I have given into gluttony for the crème brulee.
Reviewed by KimT
Published on Aug 5, 2008
Enjoyed my experience throughout. Food, table and the service were really good. Would go back again for special occassion, business lunch, family dinner or to simply treat my wife. The menu had alot to offer and had dishes of very good value and interesting selection. A bit for everyone. Wine: We ordered the Errazuriz 1870 Merlot from Chile – reasonably priced.
Food: My wife and i decided to share the Chateaubriand 18oz, it was cooked to perfection and ample for two to share. This come with 3 different choices of sauces as well as Maris Piper potatoe Frites, new potatoes or a side salad. We also ordered spinach and french beans. Dessert: We settled for the fruit sorbet as we were full from the meal.
Service: The service was excellant, wine arrived within minutes, the food was served promptly, the service was not intrusive.
cleanliness: the restaurant was clean from the entrance to the restaurant internally as well as the toilets which were checked very 15 minutes (there was a tiolet checklist with signatures on the wall).
Could not fault this restaurant at all.
I've to Opera Terrace for a dinner with my fiance.
The food was great! I have asked for a Steak and my fiance for a Duck and it was amazing!
The service was really good! Really friendly waiter, but when I was supposed to enter my pin number on the credit card machine it was asking me if I would like to add gratuity and 12,5% was included on the bill.
I asked if 12.5% wasn't enought and the waiter told me that the service charge goes to the restaurant and they (staff) just get a small percentage of it.
So I have asked the manager to take it off because I would like to pay the service to the waiter and not to the restaurant!
So I recommend you to do the same!
Apart of it, everything was great!
