The concept fuses East Asian and French cuisine.
It’s lunchtime on a Tuesday. It’s the kind of time when Pret A Manger should be busy, not a fine dining restaurant in Mayfair. Located on Albemarle Street, Bar des Prés by Cyril Lignac is buzzing with activity. Every velvet booth and marble countertop spot is taken by a classy crowd, but FACT has secured a seat – and you should, too.
On paper, Bar des Prés by Cyril Lignac shouldn’t work. The concept fuses together East Asian and French cuisine. In reality, however, it’s a superb success. In 2016, the first restaurant opened in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Paris. It can also be found in ICD Brookfield Place in Dubai, and here in Mayfair.
Cyril himself says: “I have always adored London – it’s culture, energy and lifestyle. I naturally wanted to open a restaurant in London and integrate myself into the community, discover a new way of working, a different sensitivity and a new type of creativity”.
Bar des Prés by Cyril Lignac’s staff are warm, welcoming, and knowledgeable about the local as well as international iterations of the restaurant. The gold embossed menu spans maki rolls; sashimi; raw and marinated; leaves, crispy and hot; land and sea; sides; and desserts. Plus, the signature dishes have made their way across the cities.
While the menu is great for groups, the dishes are on the smaller side. Each one comes beautifully prepared, and many sit on pretty crockery – a seashell-shaped plate, anyone? Starters include California Rolls in eight crispy pieces, and Spicy Tuna Tartare that soaks up the soya sauce. One of the signature dishes is the Crunchy Crab and Avocado Galette Madras Curry, which is a celebration of influences. Linger on the layers of avocado atop delicate crab, and relish the acidic aftertaste.
Mains range from fish to meat. The Black Cod is fresh and flaky, and served with baby spinach. The simplest dishes get an upgrade, as the sides include the creamy concoction of Vanilla Mashed Potatoes. Desserts are on the decadent and desirable side. The waiter tells us that the Apple Tart is (wrongly) ignored for fancier dishes. It hits our comfort food spot, and comes with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Bar des Prés by Cyril Lignac prides itself on its beverage menu, which combines inspirations from its surroundings. The signature drinks include the Mayfair Sour with Yamazaki whisky, lemon, ginger, coconut batida and tonka bean. Cocktails range from the aptly titles Albemarle Spritz to Westminster Fall. Each drink shows off the mixologist’s magic, even when it comes to our non-alcoholic orders.
On a street with high-end, MICHELIN-starred restaurants, there is stiff competition. It’s refreshing to see a restaurant experiment with unexpected combinations, and create truly original dishes. Bar des Prés by Cyril Lignac is raising the bar.
GO: Visit www.bardespres.com for more information.