Miz En Bouche

Get to know traditional French cuisine without the weight at Clerkenwell’s favourite bistro-style eatery, Miz En Bouche. This works two ways. The first is to dispense with the Julia Childs’ paradigm of soaking everything in duck or goose fat. Alright, sure, we have to admit that a considered lathering with duck or goose fat goes a long way to a happy diner, but at this St John Street eatery, fresh is the focus. The second is to dispense with the trappings and pretension associated with French dining in London. Miz En Bouche’s formula is for fun, with a relaxed vibe, all day brunches, and sharing plates for a less-than-usual take on the French bistro experience.

Miz En Bouche’s co-owners Pedro and Jean Michel have hit the nail on the head when it comes to casual French dining in London. Recognising a need for a chilled-out place where diners can sample French cuisine without the fretting over cost or couture, the entrepreneurial duo decided to open up a place along Clerkenwell’s St John Street, close to Islington’s Sadler’s Wells Theatre, that would never compromise on quality (these guys have cheffed French for years in many restaurants), but to keep it eclectic, family-friendly, and totally unpretentious.

The result is now a (humble, yet powerfully popular) force in London’s French dining scene. Their cosy Clerkenwell premises are divided into two sections, meaning it’s perfect for a gathering of friends or an intimate dinner date (and of course French bistro-style cuisine is synonymous with romance). And they’ve put a spin on things down St John Street, offering not only an all-day breakfast that draws a horde from all over London, but a kind of French tapas – wild mushroom and Laguiole cheese tarts, confit of Barbary duck leg with braised radicchio, celeriac puree and a red wine jus, or a Bavette steak with homemade fries, Portobello mushrooms, and peppercorn sauce, just for example. It’s also the ideal spot to grab some dinner before the show at the nearby Sadler’s Wells Theatre in Islington.