The well-established Base Bistro doubles up as a brunch place by day and by night serves up a selection of French Provencal dishes with a hint of modern British cuisine.

The Venue
Centrally located on Hampstead High Street, Base Bistro is only a minute away from Hampstead tube station which makes it an ideal place to eat after an afternoon’s shopping. Neat and stylish decor is certainly on the menu here; neutral walls with some tasteful art complement the small sturdy tables and leather-bound banquettes at the side give this establishment a relaxing appeal. During the warmer months there’s a nice outdoor area covered by overhanging beige umbrellas.

The Atmosphere
Very popular for that morning after feeling, this is a great place to kick start a Sunday after a long night out. Lots of Hampstead regulars mix with others looking for a sit-down after a shopping marathon. Base Bistro is not a place for a quick snack as the service can be almost snail-paced at times, but you can always indulge in a bit of star-gazing as this venue is often visited by the odd celebrity from the worlds of sport, TV, film and music.

The Food
The freshness and quality of the food is reflected in the fact that most of the produce is purchased from London markets such as Billingsgate and Smithfields. During the day Base Bistro serves breakfast and lunch, baguettes, sandwiches, patisseries as well as a freshly prepared gourmet food bar with a different range of dishes each day. Be sure that the dishes come to your table hot, as most times the delivery can go astray. Try the creamy scrambled eggs served with smoked salmon and sourdough bread or one of the freshly prepared salads.

However, in the evening it’s all change as Base Bistro transforms into a fine dining Mediterranean fusion restaurant. Popular starters include a warm goat’s cheese salad with endive and walnut dressing, confit of duck salad and a carpaccio of marinated tuna with lemon. Recommended mains have featured home-made ravioli, rack of lamb served with couscous and a prime Scottish fillet of beef with a choice of either a bearnaise or peppercorn sauce. To finish simple desserts range from creme brulee, tarte tatin and a lemon tart served with creme fraiche.

The Drink
There’s a great variety of freshly prepared smoothies and juices to make your mouth water, from carrot and orange to apple. When evening sets in that’s when the main players come out with a sound wine choice covering decent French reds and whites.

The Last Word
With many locals making this their base, more people will no doubt come and sample the double personality of this Hampstead eatery.

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