Galvin La Chapelle

French restaurant · Spitalfields

Galvin La Chapelle

French restaurant · Spitalfields

3

35 Spital Square, London E1 6DY, United Kingdom

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Galvin La Chapelle by null
Galvin La Chapelle by null
Galvin La Chapelle by null
Galvin La Chapelle by null
Galvin La Chapelle by null
Galvin La Chapelle by null
Galvin La Chapelle by null
Galvin La Chapelle by null
Galvin La Chapelle by null
Galvin La Chapelle by null
Galvin La Chapelle by null
Galvin La Chapelle by null
Galvin La Chapelle by null
Galvin La Chapelle by null
Galvin La Chapelle by null
Galvin La Chapelle by null
Galvin La Chapelle by null
Galvin La Chapelle by null
Galvin La Chapelle by null
Galvin La Chapelle by null
Galvin La Chapelle by null
Galvin La Chapelle by null
Galvin La Chapelle by null
Galvin La Chapelle by null
Galvin La Chapelle by null
Galvin La Chapelle by null
Galvin La Chapelle by null
Galvin La Chapelle by null
Galvin La Chapelle by null
Galvin La Chapelle by null
Galvin La Chapelle by null
Galvin La Chapelle by null
Galvin La Chapelle by null
Galvin La Chapelle by null
Galvin La Chapelle by null
Galvin La Chapelle by null
Galvin La Chapelle by null
Galvin La Chapelle by null
Galvin La Chapelle by null
Galvin La Chapelle by null
Galvin La Chapelle by null
Galvin La Chapelle by null
Galvin La Chapelle by null
Galvin La Chapelle by null
Galvin La Chapelle by null

Highlights

French/Italian cafe with classic dishes & modern touch  

Featured on Michelin
Featured in Eater

35 Spital Square, London E1 6DY, United Kingdom Get directions

galvinrestaurants.com
@galvinrestaurants

£100+ · Menu

Reserve

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35 Spital Square, London E1 6DY, United Kingdom Get directions

+44 20 7299 0400
galvinrestaurants.com
@galvinrestaurants

£100+ · Menu

Reserve

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Aug 20, 2025

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@michelinguide

Galvin La Chapelle

"It might be smaller than the glass-fronted office buildings that surround it but this red-brick, Grade II listed former school certainly holds its own. The magnificent vaulted room lends itself effortlessly to its role as a glamorous brasserie and the atmosphere is buzzy without being overly loud. It’s a family affair, with Jeff Galvin in the kitchen and brother David responsible for sourcing produce at the market. Cooking is classic French with a light, modern touch, and there are no unnecessary fripperies – just reassuringly familiar combinations with the emphasis on bold, harmonious flavours." - Michelin Inspector

https://guide.michelin.com/en/greater-london/london/restaurant/galvin-la-chapelle
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@eater

Michelin Star Restaurants in London | London’s 2023 Michelin Stars | Eater

"Chris and Jeff Galvin’s Spitalfields restaurant in the former hall of St. Botolph’s church has one star." - Eater Staff

https://www.eater.com/maps/michelin-star-restaurants-london
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@michelinguide

Stay Eating Out in September

"Enjoy classic French cooking with a light, modern touch in this magnificent open space. They are offering 50% off food and non-alcoholic drinks up to £10 per diner (with a max. table size of 6), Monday to Wednesday during September." - The MICHELIN Guide UK Editorial Team

https://guide.michelin.com/en/article/features/stay-eating-out-in-september
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J Earl

Google
I had the 7 course + 1 tasting menu with the wine pairings. I have gone to many restaurants in my time and I would have to rate this one among the best. The vegetarian tasting menu was inventive and decadent. I thoroughly enjoyed every single thing. The service level was world class. Absolutely breathtaking building. Go there now.

TY C

Google
We had a birthday Sunday lunch here. The appetizer was exceptional, and we especially enjoyed the seabass. The sourdough with lemon and pepper butter was also delicious. However, the main dishes were just fair. They were tasty, but we expected more from a Michelin restaurant. We were pleasantly surprised when the restaurant offered us a birthday dessert. Lovely!

Christakis Psyllides

Google
It's easily one of the most beautiful interiors of any restaurant i have eaten in. A fine dining 1* Michelin experience from the moment we came into the building. The a la carte menu looked very enticing, but as it was lunch, we made do with the set lunch menu at 3 courses for €55. Add a little wine and an Aperitif we ended at over double that. This is not too unexpected as the wine list is very Michelin indeed. Every single course was exceptional, and bearing in mind this was "just" the lunch set menu, this is very high praise indeed. There were 4 of us, and we ended up with a wide variety of dishes in all 3 courses encompassing most of the menu. The fact that we didn't have one weak dish says it all. I can not emphasise how fantastic the entire experience was. The atmosphere was casual and elegant. The service was faultless, and the food was one perfectly cooked dish after another. Maybe the best Michelin 1* restaurant i have been to, and it was refreshing to see people comfortable in that category and not trying too hard (as some Michelin 1* often do to earn that elusive 2nd star and the dishes suffer and become to experimental for my tastes). Highly recommended, and if the price of €100 each does not scare you, this is a must visit. Fantastic.

Sakura Momoko

Google
Nice restaurant with good service - though someone felt it was a bit rushed for the service. That was why four ⭐️ here…. Personally, I think I just enjoy more casual or non-Michelin-star food. I’ve been to three one-star Michelin restaurants recently, in both London and DC, and honestly, I wasn’t that impressed considering how much they charged. I did like their high ceilings and the vibe. Enjoy the quietness ambience while eating. I enjoyed more of the food next door from the bistro - they belong to the same owner- especially the escargots and the lamb dishes. Still, totally worth it for the good memories and sharing a fancy night with someone special! Recommend for this purpose:-)

NIGEL G MARDEMOOTOO

Google
A truly exceptional wine tasting experience at Galvin La Chapelle. The setting is breathtaking elegant and timeless, with stunning vaulted ceilings that make the whole evening feel special. The sommelier was incredibly knowledgeable and passionate, guiding us through a carefully curated selection of wines that complemented each other beautifully. Each pour was introduced with insight and care, adding depth to every sip. The service throughout was seamless, and the attention to detail truly elevated the experience. A perfect evening for wine lovers highly recommended!

Rob

Google
Fantastic food. Really exceptional quality, which I suppose is to be expected given the prices. The scallop lasagne to start sounded so different I just had to try it and it did not disappoint. The duck for main course was delicious, they said it was served medium rare but seemed more medium to me. The eel part of the dish was not what I imagined at all and went well with the dish. The sides were small portions but this is not the place to come for stuffing yourself, it’s for the high quality dining.

Joann Robertson

Google
A lovely evening, superb venue, service and food. The vegan menu catered well for my daughter while the wider menu was appetizing for the rest of the family. The chateaubriand and duck were of special note - delicious

Remy V. O.

Google
My partner and I had the immense pleasure of celebrating our two-year anniversary at Galvin La Chapelle, a truly unique and breathtaking venue nestled in the heart of the City of London. This Michelin-starred restaurant seamlessly blends the grandeur of its historic architecture – boasting magnificent high stone ceilings and large arched windows – with modern French fine dining, creating an absolutely perfect backdrop for a special occasion. From the moment we arrived, the service was nothing short of exceptional. We were treated with incredible care by all the waiting staff, who were attentive without being intrusive. As someone with lactose intolerance, I am often apprehensive about dining out, but I was genuinely impressed by how effortlessly and willingly the team at Galvin La Chapelle adjusted the menu for me. There was no hesitation or question, simply a genuine desire to ensure my dining experience was the best possible, which truly made me feel valued. Our culinary journey through their modern French menu with European influences was nothing short of exquisite. We started with the delicate duck liver royal, a sublime opening to the meal. For our main courses, the slow-cooked beef brisket was a standout – tender, flavourful, and perfectly prepared. Each dish was not just delicious but also presented with an artistic flair that made every plate a visual delight. To accompany our meal, we chose a velvety French red, the Malbec 2022, Clos de Gamot, which was an excellent recommendation. The staff's professionalism and knowledge truly shone throughout the evening. Our waitress was incredibly knowledgeable about the menu, expertly guiding me through the lactose-free alternatives. The waiter checked on us regularly, ensuring we had everything we needed, whilst the sommelier paid meticulous attention to our wine, making sure it had breathed perfectly. The seamless and attentive service contributed significantly to the overall enjoyment of our evening. As our celebratory dinner concluded, we were presented with a lovely "Happy Anniversary" card and a delightful Signature apple tart Tatin, a sweet and sophisticated end to a memorable meal. I wholeheartedly recommend Galvin La Chapelle to anyone seeking an elegant, delicious, and truly artistic French dining experience. It's a place where old-world charm meets culinary innovation, and where every detail is considered to ensure an unforgettable occasion. We look forward to returning.
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Morgan C.

Yelp
We dined here for a client meeting & it was nice. The ambiance of the restaurant is great. It appears to be inside an old building & is a beautiful building. The entrance is really welcoming with lots of flowers. Service was very attentive & great. The food was smaller portion sizes but definitely still enough. I enjoyed it & would be back.
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Dan A.

Yelp
At Galvin La Chapelle I experienced the worst service of my life. After being seated, a waiter did not come to our table for 50 minutes. We ordered the 7 course tasting menu and didn't receive the 3rd course until after 2 hours of being seated. The entire meal we were neglected by the waitstaff, which included a buffoon of a sommelier who spent more time coughing all over our table than he did describing the wines. When he finally made a wine recommendation, the wine that showed up was sickeningly sweet and tasted nothing like his description. The 3 dishes that we did eat were mediocre at best, and far below the "Michelin" caliber we expected. I will never come back here and advise you to spend your evenings and money elsewhere. A true embarrassment to fine dining.

Hubert V.

Yelp
what's not to like about this establishment? Certainly delivers on its 1 M star. We intended to do the tasting menu, but then decided against it as there were several shellfish items that I couldn't have - and I didn't want the veg substitutes. Besides, the a la carte menu had several of the items we wanted to try anyways - so we decided to go with that option - and get 6 items that we could share. Drinks were excellent! The food even better. Beautifully laid out, and delightful to taste. The only gripe would have, if you could call it that, is that the steak dish just had a bit too much going on on the plate. While the steak was amazing, and paired well with the foie gras, there were just too many additional flavors of the sauce (loved it!) and the individual vegetables. The additional, small beef tip piece completely stumped me - though I enjoyed that as well. Service was impeccable - attentive, but not overbearing, nor intrusive. Couldn't fault them on this front. Certainly well worth the visit.
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高

Yelp
My husband and I went to la chapelle last night for our anniversary dinner. We were looking for vegan tasting menu and they are probably the only place that offers it in east London. The ambiance of the restaurant is elegant but warm. High ceiling, modern chandelier and friendly staff. The tables may be too close to each other during covid though. We ordered one regular tasting menu and one vegan set. We both enjoyed the meal a lot. And I would say without hesitation that I had the best risotto at Galvin. Also, the olive oil they provided for my bread is superb! It's so fresh, rich and aromatic. And the mocktails we had were nice too. Will definitely go back again soon!
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Christina M.

Yelp
AMAZING Michelin star restaurant offering separate vegan and vegetarian menus. They also offer a vegan and vegetarian tasting menus. Of all the Michelin restaurants in London offering vegan options, this is probably my favorite. They always offer a rotating vegan velouté and risotto, which I love. I am consistently blown away at how they make vegan versions of French food so delicious. Check out my photos, words just don't do any justice here. Service is always impeccable.
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Adam P.

Yelp
Overall pleasant experience but something lacking. The appetizers were strong and entrees fell flat. Wine list could use some work. Ambiance was nice.
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Tori U.

Yelp
Once a chapel, now these vaulted ceilings and Corinthian columns house one of the restauranteer-ing Galvin brothers' Modern French dining creations. Sister to Galvin Windows, La Chapelle is the more old fashioned and sensible sibling, featuring a more demure outfit overall. We came here for the set menu of £35 for 3 courses, plus a cocktail 'Menu du Chef', an impressive stretch of resources and a mystifying move by the Galvins. I recognise that this is truly a bargain and that the food won't be of the same haute standards as a tasting menu or a la carte. However, it was still rather mediocre and the service was elementary. The servers were not very attentive and I sincerely hope it wasn't due to our special set menu. My companion was loosely kosher (ie no pork or shellfish) of which they were informed of weeks in advance but they didn't seem to know what that entailed in terms of dietary requirements. They took away the ham and replaced it with a vegetarian alternative but then didn't really carry through the theme into the next dish which had pork portions in it. The starter was parma ham with tomatoes in drizzled oil. So, yea. That happened. The main was a rosy and well cooked chicken with 5 gnocchi. Humdrum pairing and run-of-the-mill in flavour. I always get shirty when I feel like i can recreate a dish...particularly so if it's at a Michelin starred restaurant. Dessert was a creamy Brilllat savarin. So, overall, wallet intact but a bit disappointed.
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Tom J.

Yelp
Ordered the dinner 7 course tasting menu for two. The interior and service are very impressive. All of the dishes, however, were too sweet for my liking. I would prefer more savory than sweet. The dry aged beef was too tough for chewing also. For a Michelin star, I expected a bit more. Dessert and cocktails were amazing though. 3 1/2 stars in my book.
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Clèm B.

Yelp
A beautiful and original restaurant closed to Old Spitafields market ! The place itself is wonderful: a former chapel changed into a restaurant ! The decoration is a mix of modern and old objects,perfect! No complain about the service which was great, very professional and friendly! But most important: the food! We skipped the appetizers and started straight with main dishes: I ordered the wild mushroom, parmesan and truffle risotto. It was divine! The texture, the flavors were perfect. Also, the quantity was just enough and not too much. We ordered some red wine ( amazing choice of wines by the way) which was a French one (perfect) Finally, we finished with desserts: the apple tatin pie for me. A classic but it was very good. I agree it's a pricy place but, the price worth the service, the quality and the quantity. I recommend this place for special events if you want to celebrate by enjoying great food !
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Bill G.

Yelp
Beautiful interior. Atmosphere is relaxed but very classy. The food is very good. Try the crab lasagna, it's delicious. Great business dinner destination.
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Merijn H.

Yelp
La Chapelle is just wonderful! The building is unique and beautifully restored and redecorated. The staff is extremely attentive and friendly and our sommelier especially fun, not the boring serious type at all. And then the food and wine .... amazing really. We had a 5 course set menu, booked in advance via their own website and everything was just so good, tasty and beautiful. The wine suggestions were excellent and we especially all loved The Oddity white wine from Hungary but also the Banyul red dessert wine with the best dessert ever. Want to come back soon!
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Karin P.

Yelp
Classy, beautiful and sophisticated are the first words that come to mind when I think about this place. This remade old church is spacious & well designed. The service was brilliant and really made our visit memorable. The waiters were extremely professional and friendly yet with a personal twist & sense of humor. We had a three course dinner, with an interesting mackerel starter, a delicious trout for main course and their signature dessert tarte tatin. The tarte tatin was just perfect, sweet, fresh and crispy. To top it all of we were treated with some minimacarons & chocolate truffles. I do have some constructive feedback and that is that the bread could need some more flavour and that the timing of the serving of food respectively wine can be slightly improved.
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Karen G.

Yelp
I'm sorry to say this was by far one of the absolute worst dining experiences I have ever had. It's especially disappointing because we were so excited to dine here. We walked over from our hotel, got lost a few times but were delighted to finally arrive at this stunning beautiful converted school/church. The food was lovely. We ordered the cured organic salmon, foie gras, risotto and something else? I think lamb... Plus wine. The food was good but the service was huge problem. First of all, the staff was overly intrusive. They interrupted our conversation repeatedly (REPEATEDLY) in order to ask us things like if we wanted more wine... We were not (I repeat, NOT) allowed to pour our own wine and we did not appear to be drinking at a rapid enough pace to suit the staff. My boyfriend and I were having a very serious, in-depth conversation about business and it was seriously annoying that they kept interrupting us. The restaurant was not busy, they did not need our table - there was honestly no justification for their rudeness. After the 5th interruption, I finally said something to the staff. Trust me, they were really pushing my buttons for me to even say anything. But seriously, HOW DARE THEY INTERRUPT OUR CONVERSATION REPEATEDLY???? I mean, cutting off my boyfriend mid sentence over and over again. UGH. Horrific. I cannot imagine ever going to this place again. Michelin ranked huh? UGH.
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Sophia T.

Yelp
The building is gorgeous with its high vaulted ceilings and large windows. I did not enjoy the beet starter I had but everything else was delicious.
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Grace K.

Yelp
Exceeded my expectations in terms of the food and the service. My friend and I wanted to go to a swanky spot for lunch and we saw the deal on booking table. It was a great deal. With these deals, I had the expectations of small portions and with the looks of this place, I thought the food would be small in portion and artsy looking that overshadowed taste. But actually, it was a swanky spot, gorgeous, super friendly staff, delicious food, and perfect portions. It was worth the deal and more! Went on a Thursday for the pre fix lunch w/bubbly. Started with the fish starter and it was bigger than I thought. Super tasty. Then for the main ordered the chicken. The gnocchi that was cook with the chicken melts in your mouth. For Dessert, had the mango w/tapioca. It was good, but I recommend getting the chocolate dessert option. Went for some tea after lunch...came with a couple small macaroons, chocolates, and marshmallows. It was so great to compliment the order of tea with these. Planning on coming back for the weekend live jazz lunch! Loving this spot!
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Ally W.

Yelp
A high-end restaurant by Galvin brothers and has one Michelin Star. I took my brother there for his birthday lunch. The restaurant is at the edge of Spitalfields Market and is inside of an old chapel and hence the name La Chapelle. There are several giant wooden chandeliers hanging from the soaring ceiling, bringing so much character to the whole place. The services were great, as usually the case in restaurants like this. They offer a very good deal of 3-course lunch for 29 pounds. I started with beetroot risotto. It had the lovely pinkish red color of beetroot and tasted delicious. My main was pork belly, which I didn't love. The meat was on the dry side and the skin was very hard to chew on. My last course, apple tarte tatin, however, made it all worth it. I think the apple tarte tatin here is easily the best in the city. I want to come back for dinner and try some other dishes and of course for the apple tarte tartin at the end.
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Zoe B.

Yelp
Really fabulous. Beautiful building. Great service, one of the best chateaubriands I have ever tasted and every bite of food total perfection.
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Jing Shyang Y.

Yelp
We actually missed this restaurant and hit the bar around the corner. Getting odd looks from the banker crowd, we were helpfully directed by the staff to the restaurant. The first impressions were stunning. The staff were extremely gracious and helpful. Despite us not being their "normal" clientele (think bankers and money ppl) they were on the LivingSocial programme so knew what to expect :) We were taken to our table, and you couldn't help but marvel at the interior. The high ceiling of a converted church. The liberal blending of modern and traditional features was just divine. Unfortunately whilst the interior was nice, the lighting was atrocious. Okay, I'm a massive instagrammer, and every picture during the evening came out a murky yellow. Whether this is their way of dissuading you of taking pictures, should you be that way inclined, it is best to get a lunchtime reservation where your pictures of the food would do it justice. Just to show you how bad, I've uploaded photos. The service is definitely one thing to highlight. Bread is constantly replaced, with staff coming to the table when either you're finished with bread or appear you want to order. Additionally, the Sommelier picked out some great wine recommendations which were delivered with our mains are requested. I know it's not a big deal, but many places just don't do this. Sure not all of them are Michelin starred. Onto the food, I was a little disappointed. Perhaps it was the range, seasonality of the menu, but it seemed restricted. There 5 starters to pick from and 3 were fish, with 1 vegetarian. They were nice, but having been to Brasserie Joel a week earlier no way as good as their duck terrine starter. The mains were in similar fashion. My pork dish had a sauce that was way to salty. And I say this coming from a family where soy sauce is used liberally. Again there was nothing special about the ingredients used. It was run of the mill pak choi, green beans and that sort of fare, easy to buy anywhere. Maybe I'm wrong, but when I go somewhere Michelin starred, I want to be blown away and sadly I was not. Desserts were good, but again, the menu looked restricted. A frangipane and a chocolate ganache dessert. Sigh. They were good, rich, but nothing I couldn't have just bought during my lunchtime at nearby borough market. In all, if what you look for is excellent attentive service a very good sommelier but un-adventurous good then you'll like this place. Is it worth the Michelin? Perhaps No. But then again I know nothing about how these things awarded, apart from the fact, I've been disappointed with the two places I've visited that had been awarded them. I suggest this place is worth the price of entry on a Groupon, but unless the menu is substantially better for full-paying customers, I would much recommend Brasserie Joel that I visited a week prior. Another thing, I was pleasantly surprised by the number of american tourists at the venue, dressed in their bingo shirts and shorts. It was quite funny.
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Herry L.

Yelp
The City's old buildings, particularly the high-ceilinged banking halls, make superb dining venues, but they must be skillfully handled to ensure there's enough warmth and conviviality beneath the mullions. La Chapelle does this perfectly. A wonderful view of this superbly converted girls' school chapel welcomes you as you step in from freshly spruced Spital Square. My lunch guest was a mathematician who almost managed to keep me focused on synergy theory, but the bottle of Fixin recommended by the sommelier broke even his resolve and we settled into a marvellous meal of fois gras and leek terrine, wood pigeon, sea bass and a souffle of myrtilles. I have rarely eaten better, and the service was as excellent as the food. It's not cheap of course - £100 a head with a wine of that quality. La Chapelle is a new Galvin offshoot which shares a kitchen with the glitzy Cafe de Luxe where many diners - probably from Allen & Overy and RBS next door - eat at the bar.
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Katie T.

Yelp
Got a lunch Groupon here and used recently with a friend who was visiting. Really appreciated the decoration and service (think high ceilings and candlelight; would be a super romantic option for dinner) - the Groupon allowed us to choose a starter, a main and a dessert - I opted for the mackerel starter, gnocchi which came recommended and the blackberry financier. We also got a glass of bubbly which was quite nice. The starter and main were both super delicious; dessert was a bit rich for me but maybe I should have gone for the lighter cheese option. The whole experience was very pleasant; you could have a nice conversation without disturbing others - defs recommend
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Qype User (matthe…)

Yelp
A spiritual experience of good food, an agreeable selection of wines and excellent service that would please any deity. This converted chapel may come across as classy and somewhat pretentious but in all fairness it isn't. The prix fixe menu was excellent. To start I had mackerel on bed of vegetables with a caviar sauce. I followed this with salt beef brisket which literally melted. The texture, the flavours were to die for. This was resurrected with the most amazing strawberry soufflé. Suma cum laude. Must be done.
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Heather B.

Yelp
Visited last night as a party of four for a dear friend's birthday. The interior is immediately striking, beautiful with soft lighting, and a two storey ceiling adorned with a chandelier. Certainly has the wow factor! We opted for the 7 course tasting menu. Service was a bit slow to start, felt like there were lots of staff around but no one approached us until we prompted! Not a huge deal as they were super friendly after that. The food- goodness! Rich and indulgent and seasoned to perfection. See my photo for the full menu but highlights for me were absolutely the crab lasagne, a signature dish of theirs. Delicate and almost too pretty to eat but I'm so glad I did! The truffle risotto I could have eaten an entire bowl of quite happily, creamy and earthy with a delicate slice of black truffle on top! Dessert was a apple tart tatin which was sweet and crispy and served with a slightly sour cream for a nice cooling effect. Delicious! Would definitely recommend for a special occasion !

Avner S.

Yelp
!!!WARNING!!! MARJOR TOURIST TRAP. I and my parents are from the good ol' USA. We booked a table here a few weeks before dinning. We looked at reviews, read the online menu, and were very excited to dine here. Living in Portland, Oregon, there are no Michelin started restaurants to try, so we booked at this restaurant, thinking we would experience the meal of a lifetime. I actually think this was the meal of a lifetime, but NOT in a good way. Service: the service here is excellent. No complaints there. I have read many reviews stating that the service can be spotty, but this was not the case with our visit. Food: this is where the review takes a turn for the worse. The food was, to put it bluntly, TERRIBLE. To start, I had the chilled asparagus velouté, with crème fraîche & chervil. This was entirely bland and WAY too salty. Thought I am not an expert chef myself, and I am not a world renowned food critic, it was easy to tell that the chef must have either spilled far too much salt into the dish, or he has degenerative taste buds which do not allow him to detect appropriate sodium content. Next, I had the entrée; their famous Risotto and spring vegetables. This was a whole new level of atrocious. For a mere £30, one can devour a plate of salt, wishing to be saved by rice. Yes, this dish was even saltier. In fact, I could not taste much else. It is truly ridiculous that I was charged nearly £30 for a plate of salty, texture less rice, with a little grass (iceberg lettuce) on top. RIDICULOUS. At the end, I was so disappointed, I nearly forced myself to enjoy the dessert (which was absolutely nothing special, but at least it was edible). All in all, the worst meal I've had in London (this is saying a lot as that day I had a severe allergic reaction to some street food). My family made a £154 mistake, but at least we know where not to go for a decent meal. I thought Michelin had standards, but if a place such as this can scrape up a star, those standards have fallen severely short.
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Eunice W.

Yelp
The ambience is good for a date - it has an old romantic church setting (as the name suggests, this place was converted from a chapel). We picked 2 starters off the ala carte menu and the 2 course set menu. The starters - crab lasagne and quail and foie gras presse were creative and elegantly presented. Mains were Sunday roast and hand-made linguine. Sunday roast beef was tender and juicy, but linguine was a little bland and dry. Service was top notch. I would recommend this place for the food, ambience and service.
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Spyros S.

Yelp
Overrated.Actually, I think it easily enters the "Does it seriously have a Michelin star?" list. We visited in September 2011 after visiting the sister establishment Cafe a Vin (which is highly recommended btw). The setting is really magnificent, but the problem lies with the food and the service. In detail: - One of the appetizers (tuna) had a very weird combination of spices, making it taste, well, weird. We couldn't even believe that such a dish left the kitchen. - The breads offered looked like they had been picked up from the Tesco express a few hours before. I know they weren't, but it was the only time in a Michelin starred restaurant that we thought something like this... - The mains were good, but they were what one could call crowd pleasers. Not much authenticity or creativity in display. - I don't understand the point of having such classics as tarte tatin and baba au rhum in the menu (especially when they are being serve in Cafe a vin next door for a fraction of the price) - The average waiter was 20 years old, they all seemed rather uncomfortable and inexperienced and when we expressed our opinion for the appetizer above, their look was more like "well, that's life". To summarize, if you want simple french cuisine, go to Cafe a Vin. If you want more serious french cuisine try something else (Club Gascon for example....)
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Paul W.

Yelp
Greatest dining experience of my life? No, but as an overall awesome night out this one would be hard to beat. Six of us got the £29 5 course special menu. Service was excellent, if a little haphazard at times (one of our several servers was a trainee who was a little too keen to take unfinished items away, and when I tried to get the attention of someone it took a while, but the place was very crowded by then). But the staff were all very professional, very friendly and efficient without being in the slightest pompous, even though the place exudes class, and in an absolutely beautiful setting. The 5 courses were overall excellent, although it would not be too hard to find minor fault with a couple of them (an extra piece of toast wouldn't have hurt on the first course, the delicious crab pasta could have been a little bigger, the chicken main was a little underwhelming compared to the other courses, and surprisingly a little under-seasoned, but a pinch of salt fixed that). The cheapest wine on the list, the tempranillo at £19, was excellent. At full prices and a la carte it would be an expensive but no doubt excellent experience. At £29 for the tasting menu it was a steal.
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Adam S.

Yelp
(for full review http://alswharton.wordpress.com/2012/02/17/foodie-review-galvin-la-chapelle-london/) Overall Verdict: RECOMMENDED WITH MINOR RESERVATIONS So for those of you who were following, I must confess I abandoned somewhat my 2011 quest to dine at all 23 of the Chicago restaurants awarded at least one Michelin star. See all reviews of the list here http://bit.ly/nGR9Vc ..... I was able to review over a dozen of these top spots from Michelin's guide. Frankly, I think the Michelin rating system is flawed at best and a fraud if you're really a cynic. And I know I will get in trouble for that, but I will save that for another post on another day. That said, I was quite bemused when I selected La Chapelle for dinner on the last night of my last stay in London as a "visitor"(1) and found it too was part of a family of restaurants that included Michelin stars. Despite my lack of faith in Michelin's ability to fairly pick quality restaurants without bias of marketing and fad, I stayed! As is often our preference, my partner and I decided on the tasting menu, in this case the Menu Gourmand. There is simply no better way to get a sense of a restaurant, sampling what the chef feels are his or her finest delicacies (or what was on sale at the butcher?' said the cynic). This tasting menu had seven courses ranging from a light lasagna to a meaty pigeon I'm afraid made me think of Trafalgar Square. Including cocktails, deserts and wine pairings, the bill for two of us came to around £350. And overall it was a fine meal. With consistant service, great food, a charming decor that allows for conversation and interaction whether with two or twelve, I rate La Chapelle a 4 out of 5 and RECOMMEND WITH MINOR RESERVATIONS. If dining with business colleagues, I highly recommend it. If dining out with good friends, going on a date or looking for romance, I would likely suggest somewhere else. The place is somewhat too business oriented due to location. Despite officially being in Spitalfields, you might feel more as if you are on Bishopsgate, the closest main street. So that's my reservation. I like food and I hate attitude. There are awesome restaurants like RIA in Chicago that are fantastic AND relaxed. I would recommend those types of places first.
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Siddhi L.

Yelp
This is a fantastic restaurant- the decor is wonderful, the food is excellent, and the wine list is divine. It's definitely quite family oriented on weekends-- few couples were having a romantic meal compared to all the families with young children running around. My husband and I went to the jazz lunch they have on Sundays, and it was definitely one of the more pleasant Sunday lunches I've ever had. I had the chargrilled mackerel, kohlrabi, pomegranate & crème fraiche for a starter and it was perhaps the best mackerel I've ever had. My husband also loved his chicken liver & foie gras appetiser. We also had an excellent bottle of 2011 Croatian wine for a very affordable price (35 pounds-ish) that complemented the meal excellently. I can't say that the mains were as good as the appetisers- my husband had the vegetarian risotto and thought it was a bit too creamy and cheesy, and I thought my beef roast was somewhat unremarkable and overly heavy. I would definitely come back, but would almost certainly go back for the fish or game dishes instead; those seemed much more artisanal. The service was also a bit of a problem- we were not allowed to pour our own wine (unlike the people who had ordered carafes) and the waiters were not attentive enough to our empty glasses. Perhaps the only real downside to this is that they charge 20% of optional service, but when they bring you the bill, they do not give you an option to change how much service you'd like to pay, making you feel quite awkward. Service should really always be respective to the performance of the wait staff.
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Alex M.

Yelp
This is one amazing venue - the old church has been renovated and inside mixes new and old without spoiling the original look. The food and service is excellent - this is how a lazy lunch should be spent, make sure you allow the time to fully appreciate this venue. La Chapelle, is the main restaurant at this venue, there is also a cafe for a quick bite.
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Leanne F.

Yelp
I was lucky enough to win a three-course meal for two at La Chappelle via competition. La Chapelle is the third restaurant opened by the Galvin brothers Chris and Jeff and is situated inside a beautiful converted Victorian school chapel with stunning high ceilings and wonderfully twinkly lights it was a breathtaking venue and definitely somewhere to impress. I was quite early for our 6:30pm reservation but they were quite happy for me to prop up the bar. I showed off my complete lack of knowledge by asking if they had a white zinfandel rosé on the wine list but the bartender was more than helpful when I asked for the sweetest rosé they had available and the one he provided me to taste (sorry I didn't think to get the name!) was delicious if a bit expensive - £11.50 is not a price I would usually pay for a glass but as drinks were the only thing I was paying for that evening it didn't seem so bad. I was also provided with a small range of bar nibbles to keep me going until my friend arrived. Once seated we were given our glasses of champagne. It was a beautifully light bubbly champagne and exclusive to the Galvin brand of restaurants. For starter I had the Charentais melon & Bayonne ham with Castelanotti olive oil which was absolutely delightful. The melon was just the right ripeness and went beautifully with the ham. It was also a fairly substantial portion for a starter but I was more than capable of finishing at all as it was truly delicious. I was less enamoured with the main of roast supreme of corn-fed chicken, parmesan gnocchi, spring vegetables & mushroom consommé that I chose finding the chicken to be quite a rubbery texture and the consommé extremely salty. I didn't even come close to finishing this but after the starter I didn't need to to feel satisfied. The gnocchi was my favorite part of the meal. The highlight however was the pudding a buttermilk pannacotta with poached English strawberries & basil. It was creamy and smooth just like a good pannacotta should be with the strawberries just the perfect ripeness to boot. Despite the fact that I was struggling to finish it I made sure that I savoured each and every bite! We decided against teas and coffees instead choosing to finish off our champagne and wine while we chatted some more but there was still more to come and we were presented with the cutest little dish of petit fours; almond biscotti, pistachio macarons and dark chocolate truffles. Now I've never had anything sweet that tastes of pistachio before as I find it an extremely odd combination and so wasn't keen on the macaron but the biscotti and the truffles were to die for! As if that wasn't enough on our way out we were also presented with a small chocolate box with more complimentary truffles! It's truly somewhere you go for the experience of exceptionally fine dining.
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Anna P.

Yelp
I love everything about this place! Beeing Swedish I'm used to mackerel in different combination but I was surprised and impressed by the taste combinations in our starter ( sweet beetroot and fresh cranberry). My main, a mushroom risotto was cooked to perfection however my sisters trout was more interesting and really good together with the recommended wine. The absolute highlight of the evening was the tarte tatine, the best version I have tried this far and even though they recommended the traditional tokai I went for the coteaux de layon and absolutely loved the combination. This place deserve their star and I d love to come back for the a la carte menue! And I almost forgot the service is the best I ve had at any Michelin restaurant this far!
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Jeni F.

Yelp
What a location! And what spectacular service! I thoroughly enjoyed coming here to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday and would love to go back soon. I chose the 7-course tasting menu, and they threw in a free signed cookbook for good measure. While I can't remember half the meals they served, what I do remember is being impressed by every single one and feeling full for the next few days following our time at La Chapelle! We managed to get a table on the mezzanine, overlooking the other diners which was nice. All in all, a perfect meal :)
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Sylvanna Y.

Yelp
The reason why we came here was really amusing: After having a rather unsatisfying dinner, my friend popped in "desserts near EC1" in Google and this was one of the top results - so we just decided to go after having our dinner. It was weird telling the host that we only wanted desserts and they had this peculiar look on their face when it happened. Despite telling us that "We don't normally do this," we managed to get a table and when we entered the restaurant we realised how overwhelmingly underdressed we were! Thank goodness the lighting was low - otherwise it'll have made me twice as self-conscious. The interior was so posh! Our chairs were seriously comfy and the service was good enough for us. Even though we were seriously underdressed, there was no weird stares or weird service from the waitstaff which is remarkable considering that my friend was given a once-over by a waiter from another Michelin-starred restaurant. I really liked the atmosphere and we were really comfortable having our desserts there. Now the dessert part: I was soooo tempted to order the Valhorna chocolate ganache since Valhorna chocolates are superbly amazing even for a non-chocolate eater like me. But in the end, I settled for the lemon curd with lavender meringue, pistachio sable and white chocolate ice-cream. The lavender meringue was amazing!! I had seriously bad experience eating meringue having tried my first at a university hall, so this was waaaaay better. The lavender meringue was crunchy and a little nutty but also retains that quality meringues have (sorry I can't really describe it, but just take it from me that it was good). The smell of lavender albeit strange (like eating your home fragrance) was really lovely and needless to say, this was my favourite bit of the entire dessert dish. The other dessert that my friend ordered was the banana souffle with passion fruit sorbet. According to them, they loved it to bits and would totally recommend it. One of my friends ordered the crab lasagne. Despite the oddity of the pairing, it was actually quite good! This dish comes recommended as well. Would totally go again to try the main dishes - hope it doesn't disappoint! (and this time, i'll try to dress better hehe)
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Globe T.

Yelp
We went to this place for Easter lunch. The ambience was great; has a really old school look to it. We had the pea soup and crab meat on toast for starters. They are absolutely amazing. The mains (pork belly and duck breast) and desserts were great as well. As far as the food is concerned, nothing bad can be said about it. The only beef we had with the place is the service. It's not horrible, but it's not great either. One would expect better service in a place like this. If you love food, but not big with service, you should definitely give this place a try.
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Molly B.

Yelp
Fantastic restaurant that is a top favourite with me and my family for upscale dining. If you fancy a real treat, go for the tasting menu it's superb. The set lunch however, offers incredible value for money. Fabulous setting that adeptly strikes the balance of ambience between after dinner lounge and fine dining, it's a Michelin starred restaurant not a lounge of course but it never feels too stuffy here, and the service is always impeccable. Splendid wine list too!
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Ginger S.

Yelp
I wavered between giving this place one star or two. I won't go back so I decided on one star. First of all, the food is not memorable. It should be at these prices. That it is not even tasty is quite annoying at these prices. Staff is tedious and unsophisticated.....shouldn't they know how to at least appear gracious? A little personality please. At these prices, you can pretend to have one. The space, a former church, could be stunning but it isn't. They somehow just made it generic. Overall, a waste of my time and money.
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Vanessa A.

Yelp
Visited this lovely establishment again this past weekend, and am pleased to say it is still amazing. On this occasion I went to attend an event which was part of the Spitalfields Winter Music Festival -- it combined a three course meal with Medieval and Victorian Christmas carols sung in-between the courses by a small live choir (around 5 or 6 people). Needless to say the venue is perfect for a Christmas event. I'd ordered a vegetarian meal in advance (no meat but fish ok) and was well pleased with the offering of poached pear starter and filet of John Dory main. I'm waiting for another reason to return, perhaps next time I'll check out their prix fixe weekend lunch.
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Katy G.

Yelp
Yum! Another hit this month from a Bookatable booking - I wasn't expecting quite the swank when my partner and I stepped into La Chapelle for a Sunday evening meal. Definitely recommended for a romantic night out with a partner - and if you book ahead with a set menu, you won't break the bank. For the set menu choices I tried (and highly recommend) parsnip purée and a dessert and a dessert of chocolate mousse, caramelised banana. These days I prefer French dining in London over most of the recommended places I've been in Paris and La Chapelle does not disappoint!
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Stef S.

Yelp
Great food, but I think the mussels in my pan fried halibut dish were not properly cleaned out. I think at least two had a somewhat "sandy" texture. Otherwise, quality presentation and food. The banana passion fruit souffle was delicious. All in all, PERFECT service, good food, lovely ambience, but still overpriced.
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Salim F.

Yelp
This exquisite French restaurant was built into the converted shell of what was once a chappel, hence it's name. The owners have managed to preserve the astonishing architecuture which adds to the already impressive atmosphere of one of London's best new places to eat. And if you are trying to seat a bigger group, try to book their 'mezzanine' - it's a bizarre suspended floor about half-way up the building. You have to book the entire floor, so it's strictly for moneybags only.
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Markus D.

Yelp
A fantastic place to eat. Beautifully built inside an old historic building, the place creates an atmosphere where you want to stay for hours. The food was amazing. I had the signature crab lasagne starter, and the tagine with guinea fowl breast and exotic garnishing. Everything was just perfectly cooked and prepared beautifully. The meat was soft and juicy, and cooked to the point. The sauces and spices they used left me thinking for hours what could have been inside. A bit pricey, but well worth it.
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Stephanie C.

Yelp
Some of the best food I have had in London - and stunning atmosphere. We got a great deal with the £39 a la carte menu, which included a glass of brut. Would definitely go back for a special occasion.
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Qype User (antiso…)

Yelp
This restaurant is obviously a favourite dining spot for the city slickers but in spite of that you don't feel that it's too pretentious at all and the vibe was very chilled for a Friday night. The interior has been renovated from what looks like an old church but the space still manages to an intimacy and cosiness. As you would expect from a Michelin star restaurant, the staff are friendly and helpful and the sommelier will help you choose the best wine to accompany your food. I tried the fillet of beef which I highly recommend although the table next to us were having the tuna which also looked divine.
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Qype User (Anarch…)

Yelp
I enjoyed the atmosphere and service was spot on. Not much for vegetarians, had the Risotto made without out the stock and the pumpkin ravioli. All very good. Dessert was the real kicker, the chocolate was rich and delish. None of this milky splodge. I believe it was a single origin chocalate. The coffee was lacking body and the milk badly textured. I would like to see kitchen managers take more interest in good coffee, I came for lunch and I didn't want wine at lunch. Coffee is as subtle and diverse as wine, a good barista is as important as accomplished somillier. The equivalent would be serving up Lambrini in a fine dinning situation. So because of the lack of care with coffee a loss of a star.
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Sarah M.

Yelp
Always impressive. The building and interior design is exquisite, service is wonderful and the food is always reliably excellent. Only one complaint: more choices for vegetarians please and no more mushroom risotto! Can be a little chilly so wear layers.
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Sergei G.

Yelp
Delicious food, pleasant atmosphere, attentive service. If you fancy a truly tasty dinner in a special intimate atmosphere of a chapel in central London - La Chapelle is the place. Try to book a table on the top level. Great service: friendly, quick, attentive but not over the top. Not cheap, but definitely worth for a special treat! http://estonianfoodie.com
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Justin D.

Yelp
We visited for a 40th birthday party and had a lovely evening. Great food and service. There's a limit of 12 people per party, and we were limited to the set menu. But the food was great, everything you'd hope for. The starters were the highlight - the tuna was very lightly seared and well worth a try. For the main course, the beef cheeks were delicious. For dessert there's a great selection of cheeses. Everything comes with a price, of course, but it's one that's worth paying.

Mark C.

Yelp
Perfection. Quality ingredients, skillful cooking, super service, good wine. I could go on but this restaurant is very good especially if youre a foodie who likes classical french cuisine. A very romantic dinner setting. ONE gripe: The bread selection in the restaurant is limited to just the brown bread. Somewhere of this quality needs at least 2/3 bread options for discerning diners.
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Andreas L.

Yelp
I'll need to eat here more before I give it 5 stars, but this place is excellent. Beautiful room in what appears to be (and judging by the name, was) a former church, with great service and an outstanding kitchen. Good City location a few blocks north of Liverpool Street Station (just west of Spitalfields Market). I had a business lunch there and will test it for dinner shortly. Top notch!