So nice I’m going twice! A recent visit to Clapton’s newly opened French eatery, The Bonneville, resulted in such a lovely experience for Kemey and me that we’re heading back ASAP for a repeat – this time with another couple in tow to whom we’ve raved about the place.
The Bonneville is just a short stroll from my flat (but I reckon I’d hanker for the place even if it was farther afield). My ice cold and non-pineapple-ized or otherwise unjustly augmented Mai Tai was expertly mixed and packed a wallop as an aperitif. And the food was an absolute treat!
Boudin noir with grilled chicory and radicchio (£6) was a flavoursome and substantial starter while fennel gratin with walnut and pickled tomato salad (£11) satisfied big time as my plat principal. Kemey’s extra chunky bouillabaisse (£14) of sea bream, sea bass, mussels and clams pleased as well (and had me stealing more than a few cheeky bites). An ample side of superbly cooked frites (£3.50) subdued any potential greedy longings for more to nibble.
For afters, an all French cheese plate (£7.50) did it for me to such a degree I recommend popping round if only for it while a glass of wine (from an especially smart wine list I might add), while a mega melty moelleux au chocolat with milk ice cream and cherries (£7) was as decadently oozy as Kemey had hoped.
All this yum amid a backdrop of distressed walls, a massive installed skylight, the odd pieces of taxidermy here and there (a rhino’s head?) added up to a mega win of a way to sip and sup.
Oh yeah, when you go be sure take a toilet break for a creepy if in a somewhat kitsch – dry ice and freaky audio – and rather gratuitous sort of way. There’s a whole other world to explore when heading down the stairs to the loos.
Gratuitous design shenanigans aside, I found The Bonneville to be a little more grownup and down to earth than some of the other eateries and watering holes to have sprung recently round this neck to fastly gentrifying woods. Hackney folk: do yourselves a favour and spend your time and money here. Everybody else: if you’re wondering why there’s so much racket at the moment about Clapton being such a snazzy part of town, here’s a good place to start understanding. See you there?
The Bonneville is located at 43 Lower Clapton Road, E5 0NS. Find out more at thebonneville.co.uk.
That all sounds yummy if im ever your way I’ll definitely try it out Almost as cheap as chips too
Yummy? Very! Cheap? Well, a *little* pricy for the area but great value, and it’s certainly easy to spend a lot more for a meal in London.
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