Magdalen

 

An absolutely charming man called Roger Faulks co-owns this much lauded restaurant, universally loved by restaurant critics - even the picky ones. Roger had watched as his son James (the other co-owner) worked his way from The Fat Duck in Bray on to La Trompette and through the hallowed doors of The Anchor & Hope. When James met, then married Emma (a great pastry chef who's worked at The Mandarin Oriental) a winning team was beginning to take shape. When they were joined by David Abbott, previously at Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons, the Magadelen was born. The menu and ambiance combines everything that's good about traditional English and French Bistro style. The brief to designers was 'no chrome, no fur and no plastic' so the place has a wonderful feeling of warmth, with soft edges, wood, leather and warm colours. The neutral background cleverly lets the food do the talking with a menu that changes for lunch and dinner every day although never dramatically. That means you might be lucky enough to choose the wild seabass or the slow cooked shoulder of lamb. Whatever is on offer, you can be confident that it's been hand picked for its quality fresh from the farm or market (a great deal is sourced from Borough Market). The perfect way to run a restaurant? We think so.