La Cage Imaginaire

Unfortunately, this restaurant has gone completely downhill after the change in ownership. A few years ago, it was one of my favourite spots with great food and atmosphere. Sadly, that’s no longer the case. Our recent visit was nothing short of embarrassing. The cutlery was dirty, the French onion soup looked, and tasted, like murky dishwater, and the toast with pâté resembled dog food. The lamb cutlet was 70% fat, swimming in oil, and to top it all off, we found a hair in the chicken dish. A real shame to see a once-great place fall apart like this. We won’t be returning.

Such a beautiful restaurant; gorgeous table setting, lovely service and food.We like trying out different kinds of cuisine and restaurant and this did not disappoint me on that birthday however I was not given the table that I preferred and booked so because of that I am giving them 4star.

I remember when this was a nice family run chic French restaurant, since it’s under new ownership it’s taken a nose dive. We could not finish or even start some of the starters. The mains were just about acceptable. My wife and I use to love this place but it’s not the same place and definitely not French anymore.

Honestly, this place was unspeakably bad - almost beyond words. I’ve never had a meal so monstrous that it actually put me off eating altogether. The entire experience was a letdown. My friend and I both ordered steaks, which turned out to be almost entirely fat. We weren’t even asked how we’d like them cooked. When I politely asked for mine to be taken back, instead of apologising, the waitress became combative. Even when the manager got involved, the attitude didn’t change. No apology, nothing. They insisted on either overcooking the same piece or making a new one (on paper that might sound reasonable, but after two firm refusals, the pushiness was just insufferable). Beyond the relentless staff, the food itself was absolutely awful. The atmosphere was passable at best, but it certainly explains why we were the only customers dining there. I honestly don’t know how this place is still in business. A lot left to be desired.

What I love about this place... The food is tasty but not fancy. The service is the most well mannered and intended. The atmosphere is relaxed and simple. It's got two course offers so it doesn't break the bank. The decor would be the thing I might change as it's a bit lost. But I still love it.

The food was great and quite good value but everything else was a bit lacking. Although the place looks chic and high-end from the outside, once seated you're greeted with tatty menus and threads coming off the white tablecloths. For some reason every table had a tablecloth except ours. The bread on the table seemed more like supermarket baguette than an authentic one from a French bakery. The waiter was polite but not particularly friendly, our food took 40+ mins to come and when we asked about this he didn't apologise for the wait and just said 'it's coming'. The concept was a bit confusing because the restaurant seems to be trying to look fancy, but the pricing and experience definitely don't reflect that. It would work a lot better if it either rebranded as a more casual place or brought up its standards to the image it is currently trying to project.

I want to start by saying that I love how reasonable the prices were. We had a 3 course meal each for under £25 per person + bread with buttern on the house. The restaurant itself is nice and cozy, definitely had the right atmosphere for what it is. The food was good, to be completely honest I wasn’t over the moon about it but I’m happy to say I’ve tried the infamous onion soup. The service was great. It’s definitely worth stopping by if you’re having a day around Hampstead

This used to be my favourite place in hampstead. But recently the food has dropped the quality. The menu is changed and more tables have made the place all cramped. Sad. Post review : 5 years later went back again after pandemic. The extra decor is gone, cluttered furniture is gone. The menu is changed and good . The frog leg could have been better but still ok. The waitresses very friendly but very busy and not enough for the crowd. They forgot our wine and the bill. But can’t complain the environment is nice enough to wait.

What a gem in a beautiful Hampstead corner. As you walk in, music from the past century transports you to a different time... The three course lunch is an absolute deal in this part of town, and the selection of courses from home made pasta, to duck confit (digne of a French brasserie) and vanilla crème brûlée to finish for those with a sweet palette. Upon request for wine recommendations, the owner immediately offered me to try different wines out of which I selected the best pairing for my meal. I could tell locals know about this place since they all greeted each other as they waked in. Perhaps the wine is talking now, but this place made the best of a Fall rainy day in London. I'll be back very soon!

La Cage Imaginaire is a small, delightfully quaint, traditional French-Mediterranean restaurant which can be found tucked away in the picturesque cobbled street of Flask Walk in Hampstead. Its interior is intimate, romantic, white-tablecloth elegant - the perfect place for a meal with that someone special or even a quiet business lunch. There's a really good set menu for lunch (served between 11:30 and 17:00): 2 courses for £15.95 and 3 courses for £19.95 - very reasonable considering the quality. I had the amazing Wild Mushroom Risotto topped with Parmesan to start. I loved it. Highly recommended. My friends started with the slightly bland French Onion Soup and a specially prepared, tangy garden salad (not on the menu). I moved on to their Sirloin Steak (250g) which, while tasty, was cooked more medium than the medium-rare I asked for. Like the delicious Stuffed Chicken Breast with Brie Cheese and Wholegrain Mustard Sauce which my companion had, my steak was also served on a bed of mashed potatoes and asparagus; mine with a lovely red wine sauce. The third member of our group didn't have a main, reserving space for a Banana Crepe with Butterscotch Sauce for dessert instead. I finished with the sinfully delightful Dark Chocolate Mousse. Service at La Cage Imaginaire was friendly and attentive thanks to a lovely Italian lady who had visited my home base of Dubai the year before. She was the life and soul of this cute little eatery, effortlessly chitchatting with each of the tables each time she visited them (which was quite frequently). It was so refreshing to have someone add that personal touch. The food at this restaurant is good but it's the service and ambience which convinced me to go back when I am next in London - worth a visit. Hey! Now read this - Xerxes physically dines at, or orders from, each and every venue he reviews. He pays in full for whatever he and his companions eat, drink, take away or occasionally throw at each other. Xerxes accepts no money, gifts, discounts or free meals in return for reviews or favouritism. What you have read was NOT influenced in any way by the venue. Join me on Instagram @ravenousxerxes or email me on xerxes@dellara.com.

This is a charming and lovely little place in a quaint part of London. It actually felt like being in the Latin Quarter or Montmartre in Paris. And the food was very, very good!

What a darling place to have lunch! Cute decor. My salmon was great. My husband loved his sausages. The desserts were terrific too. Creme brûlée- wow! The server was sweet. My high recommendation!

Stumbled upon this charming restaurant that literally feels like you've just entered someone's home for a meal. I can't believe that places like this exist in London. It'd be easy to miss this place entirely if you're just walking past and paying no mind to the subtle sign that tells you this is a place that is rated by Yelp, among other review signs and stickers. If it's frequented by Yelp, then that gives me the first sign of approval ;-) We came here after a long run through the muddy paths of Hampstead Heath, and the servers immediately greeted us, took us to a table and asked us if we wanted water or drinks and if the heating system was a bit too high, they'd turn it down ASAP. Service from the get-go! I ordered the duck breast salad and the rib eye steak with a side of salad and fries. The real winner is the salmon dish. Go for the fish! Both courses were delicious and the portions were generous. For £20 including a 15% tip, we enjoyed a two course meal with a drink. I'd recommend this place if you're into hearty French food, in a warm and cozy set up.

New place means excited Leon. Indeed I was excited by this quaint little French eatery tucked away down an alley in picturesque Hampstead. The décor of La Cage is simple white walls with still life paintings and the odd basket of foliage. The table set up is good, with shiny clean cutlery and a long bright candle over clean white table clothes. The food options were typically French and sounded exciting. Whenever fois gras and dauphinoise potatoes are involved you will catch my attention. There were plenty of duck options and I like a funny bird, so I started my experience after the complimentary bread and olives with duck on cinnamon pancake and green salad. Sarah had the fois gras. For a main we both had beef with dauphinoise potato, green beans served with a lovely fruity, red wine jus. To finish I had banana caramel pancakes whilst Sarah fought her way through the biggest crème brulee I have ever seen. Now for the verdict. Today's experience was a case of raising our expectations to high. Everything about the experience was good. I have no complaints about the meal. Sure the crème brulee wasn't the smoothest. Maybe we had built up the fois gras too much and it didn't blow our minds. Maybe the servers could of smiled more and not looked so stressed. Yet I cannot outright fault anything. At £19.95 for a good three course meal, one cannot complain. I desperately wish to give La Cage Imaginaire three and a half stars but it will have to go down as a three. Tip: Go for the fish. The dishes I saw coming out looked excellent.

I advised this French restaurant to all of my friends. Especially to my parents who enjoyed the time at the Cage Imaginaire. The food is very good and it is a lovely place. A really luck to know this restaurant for all the time you will spend at Hamstead area.

If you want classic French food, this is your place. Tucked into the back of Flask Walk, this little bistro creates a sense of charm and a feeling that only the locals could possibly know this place is here. Starters and mains are well composed and executed. The duck confit is perfectly cooked and satisfying. The terrines, salads, breads are all on point and delicious. The selection of wines is impressive with a nice range of affordable to bankrupting. Where this restaurant falls flat is in the service. The staff lacks any ability to connect with patrons which immediately dispels the charm that the location creates. 20 minutes of waiting for finished dishes to be removed from the table and a further 10 waiting to get the attention of the waiter on a near-empty night for a cup of coffee erases all good feelings that the food had created. Unfortunately, it seems to me that the only way this restaurant gets to 4 or 5 stars is if it becomes a take-out joint. I'll definitely go back once more but if the service is the same it will be the last time.

La Cage Imaginaire is a French eatery in the heart of Hampstead, beautifully located on a quaint street at the bottom of a little hill. There is something definably French about it. The hanging flower baskets, landscape oil paintings and intimate dining space made me reminisce of my days spent in Cannes. That being said, I crudely hoped for French service. I somehow enjoy the slightly snooty pride a Frenchman feels for his cuisine. The waitresses were scantily clad in trainers, and didn't quite fit my fantasy image. Oh well. The set menu rung in at around £30 and was very nice. I had fois gras to start, the beef with potatoes and green beans for my main and the creme brulée for dessert. It was a pleasant experience but lacked wow-factor. If you're in the area, La Cage Imaginaire is a good dining option but not quite good enough to write home about.

A great place to sample French food, the staff are superb and Patrique is a wonderful host. I would highly recomend this palce for good food, wine and atmophere!

La Cage Imaginaire is a beautifully French restaurant at the bottom of Flask Walk in Hampstead Village. The decor is very nice with hanging baskets to greet you at the door and nice oil paintings which surround the intimate dining space. We found our waiter to be very kind and the service was good. We had a very nice 3 course meal at lunch for around £20. We found the escargot and the rabbit with red wine to be very tasty. We've recommended as a lunch favourite to all of our friends in Hampstead!

I have been there a month ago, and I really enjoyed the food as well as the atmosphere of the restaurant. Located in a very nice street in Hampstead, I highly recommnend this place for dinner or lunch!

We've lived in Hampstead since 2005 and have only been here once. First off the food and service are great. We enjoyed a lovely meal here with wine and if in Hampstead and you're looking for a small restaurant that's not a chain, I'd highly recommend. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because the interior lacks ambiance. Dim the lights a bit please.

Stopped in for the two course fixed lunch menu. Great food. I had the risotto then lamb chops. I would come back if back in the area. My glass of house white wine was also quite nice. Overall an excellent stop for lunch and reasonably affordable (I'm comparing to what I've been getting used to in greater london).

There are so many good restaurants in Hampstead. I wanted french food so rather than use the chain cafe rouge I decided to go to Le Cage Imaginaire. The service was excellent as was the food. I had rillette of duck, rack of lamb, creme brulee, half bottle of Sancerre, a bottle of water and a coffee. £53. The star of the meal was rack of lamb. 5 chops, spinach, green beans, small roast potatoes. The starter was pate on toast but came with a delicious salsa. I will be returning there soon. Very good. Its nice not to eat in a chain restaurant at a place which is individual. Waitress was french and very friendly.

A lovely French restaurant of medium to high end with good service. They had a reasonable set menu but we had a la carte menu (a starter, a main course and a cup of coffee / tea) which costed us just around £50 for two for dinner. The quantity is generous and food well presented. The quality of food was fantastic. When you are seated, you would be given a small plate of jumbo olives and French bread with unsalted butter. The bread was warm and fresh. It seemed to have quite a few local fans. Even just after Christmas the restaurant had lots of bookings. We were lucky to have a table there. Lovely decor, location and food. Would definitely go back.

Pleasant, smallish restaurant. Friendly staff and good service, and even two veggie options. Food was very tasty - French Onion Soup to start - really really good, and then a Filo basket (veggie). Coq Au Vin was apparently very tasty, too. I will definitely go back.