Chez Bob - Whetstone

Combining the bistros of Paris and the diners of New York and importing the lot to two locations in London, Chez Bob is a restaurant where laidback dining with inspirational and affordable food and forgotten favourites is the motto. Out here in Whetstone, north of London, Chez Bob’s breakfast and brunching options are indispensable for locals, while for the health-conscious subset there’s a gluten-free and vegetarian menu. The pattern continues through lunch and dinner – and there’s even a business lunch deal for hungry suits looking for a graze on the High Road.

Undoubtedly one of Whetstone’s favourite breakfast and brunch spots, Chez Bob’s premises on the corner of the High Road and Athenaeum Road are regularly packed mid-morning, even though this delicious day-starting selection is available until a generous 4pm. From the breakfast-brunch menu the Madame Bob’s is a spin on the classic French croque madame, there’s a full English, a Mediterranean-Middle Eastern red shakshuka, or a simple organic porridge. From there the menu opens up in a fashion familiar to those who frequent London’s bistro-style restaurants, with light mains as well as heartier options, a fixed price menu, New York burgers and more.

Chez Bob’s business lunch deal is valid in the middle of the restaurant’s opening hours, from noon until 3pm and allows diners to match a main course with a soft drink for a great price – a supreme raclette cheese burger that does Chez Bob proud by matching French and New York-style cuisines in one big stack is our recommendation. Even more convenient for Whetstone’s gluten-free and vegetarian population is the menu that brings together all the many GF and veggie dishes that the restaurant serves, making choosing easy. The pan-roasted sea bream is fantastic, as is the spinach and ricotta ravioli. A top notch option in north London, Chez Bob deserves an advance table reservation.