The French House - Crystal Palace

France Gall. Françoise Hardy. Sylvie Vartan. Brigitte Bardot. Anna Karina. French cultural mastermind Serge Gainsbourg. These figures of the yé-yé pop phenomenon yé-yé and the upstarts of the nouvelle vague form the backdrop – and the soundtrack – to London’s swinging restaurant and bar The French House, whose second outlet (the other’s in East Dulwich) is set to bring bagloads of Gallic charm to the Crystal Palace triangle centred on Westow Hill, Crystal Palace Parade and Anerley Hill.

In proper French cafe tradition, you can rock up to The French House’s Westow Hill address for simply a pint of beer (all sourced by crafty co-owner Robbie O’Neill) or a glass of wine, or indulge in co-owner and executive chef Audrey O’Neill’s native Alsace cuisine, whether for breakfast or a typically late London brunch, a long and languorous lunch or dinner. All the gastronomic action gets served up on communal wooden, farmhouse-style tables, making The French House’s social vibe all the more enchanting and adding a certain amount of rural French character to dining at this unique Crystal Palace venue.

Breakfast at The French House is classic petit dejeuner. Croques monsieurs et madames, savoury and sweet tartes, or a simple French brekkie of croissants and coffee are set to be a hit among Crystal Palace locals looking for something a little more refined than the English counterpart. Late on in the day when the restaurant opens up for lunch and dinner, London’s fans of Gallic gastronomy can have themselves charcuterie and fromage in a degustation format, classic French entrees and plates, or – the specialty of the house – Alsatian tartes flambees matched with Les Princes Abbes riesling from the region. With a backing band of French pop stars of yesteryear, The French House is French dining a la mode.