London’s Southbank is one of my favourite places in the capital. There are few places nicer to go for a stroll. With the river besides you and the city’s most iconic landmarks on route, with the weather on your side it’s a wonderful afternoon.
I found a new spot along my beloved ramble recently. In the shadow of Tower Bridge is a French restaurant, bar and bakery called Le Pont de la Tour. It’s styled in Parisian 1930’s decor and has a lovely terrace peeking out over the river (with heaters if you get chilly). I headed there for lunch one day to check it out.
The menu has a mix of starters, mains, desserts and small plates. It’s not the cheapest place in the world. Starters begin at £8.50, with cocktails at £11, although the mains begin at £14 which is more or less standard for a London restaurant. The quality is good however. That was clear from the bread which was utterly top notch. Unsurprisingly since they have an onsite bakery which sells baked goods and other deli items from a little shop on the back.
To begin we tried the beef tartare (obviously) with toasted sour dough. I love beef tartare and always order it – this was an excellent one. The right balance of sour, savoury and salt. I also tried their seared yellowfin tuna with puy lentils and sweet roasted peppers. This was generously portioned, for a small plate, and the fish was plump and pink. Both initial courses were very well executed and made all the more enjoyable for mopping the plates with that cracking, cracking bread. I know it’s the second time I’ve mentioned it but….it was just that good.
Mains followed similarly well. I had calves liver, cooked pink and soft, with sage and rosemary and a side of potato puree. Calves liver is another favourite and I’d cry if it was butchered or, even worse, overcooked. Luckily this was really well executed and the potato puree was exactly as it should be; laden with butter and properly salted.
I also tried a main of monkfish tail with baby squid, sweet peppers, capers and basil. The presentation on this was impressive; it arrived whole with an attractive black char from the grill, topped with tender swirls of squid and red brunoises of pepper. The fish was firm and meaty and the capers added a good zing.
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For dessert I had to order the creme brulee. It’s my benchmark for a
French restaurant and it proved my opinion for Le Pont. It was a proper one: thick, creamy custard, crisp shell, tonnes of vanilla…yum. If you’re going to order the cheeseboard, dine inside. They didn’t bring the cheese trolley out to us and that’s always the best part of ordering this for dessert! The selection they brought us of hard, mostly British cheeses was decent but just not tailored to my, somewhat runnier, cheese tastes. I also always prefer French bread with my cheese rather than crackers and for the first time, that stunning stunning Le Pont bread was absent.
French restaurant and it proved my opinion for Le Pont. It was a proper one: thick, creamy custard, crisp shell, tonnes of vanilla…yum. If you’re going to order the cheeseboard, dine inside. They didn’t bring the cheese trolley out to us and that’s always the best part of ordering this for dessert! The selection they brought us of hard, mostly British cheeses was decent but just not tailored to my, somewhat runnier, cheese tastes. I also always prefer French bread with my cheese rather than crackers and for the first time, that stunning stunning Le Pont bread was absent.
Asides from the food, the rest of Le Pont is also interesting. The cocktails are truly excellent and the list is inventively crafted. One page covers their ‘Shad Thames Signatures’ and is a nod to the district’s Victorian history of spice trade – it’s where all the trade ships came and docked to unload their exotic cargos! Each cocktail is named after a different spice, for example the Vanilla and Sesame Court of rum washed cashew nuts, sesame oil, Fair Belize rum and lemon juice, with a vanilla foam. This was, simply put, delightful. Really special. The venue too is lovely and has a number of different bespoke spaces in the bar, terrance and restaurant area.
Le Pont de la Tour is a lovely lunch spot in a great area along the Thames. The food is really pleasing and the cocktail list, if you don’t mind dropping a few bucks, is excellent. I’d be interested to see how it transforms at night, with low lighting and moonlight glinting off the river, but for a lunch spot with drinks…spot on.
7.5/10
www.lepontdelatour.co.uk/
36D Shad Thames, London SE1 2YE
020 7403 8403
