Bistro 1 may not be haute cuisine and it doesn’t pretend to be, but it serves interesting and fresh food at reasonable prices.

The Venue
Bistro 1 serves cheap and cheerful Mediterranean fare and is located just off the centre of Covent Garden, so it tends to get busy, especially at lunchtime. Its low prices for lunch and reasonable prices for dinner is just a part of what keeps bringing in the crowds.

The Atmosphere
The word bistro conjures up a busy, buzzing place with the sounds of people enjoying their food and each other’s conversation, and this is exactly the atmosphere generated at Bistro 1. Service is very good and friendly and nobody is rushed in or out, even during busy times. Good, basic ingredients are used and, if you have to wait a little longer, then it means your meal is being freshly cooked for you. However, the staff are usually prepared for a quick turnover in customers as most either need to get back to the office or are theatregoers having a quick meal before a show.

The Food
There is a choice of over a dozen starters and some fifteen main courses and they are dishes that many overpriced restaurants would be proud to serve. Starters include smoked salmon and avocado salad, honeydew melon with mango and mixed berry coulis, smoked duck salad, Turkish spicy sausages and plenty more. The deep-fried calamari are tender, delicious and piping hot with garlic mayonnaise, served on a mound of excellent fresh salad ingredients.

The main courses are equally good, and choices range from fillet of salmon with creamed spinach and sea bream with smoked salmon and saffron cream to beef Bourguignon with mashed potato and Cumberland sausages with mash and onion gravy. Chicken shish kebabs are hot and tasty, served with good rice and plenty of salad. Extra side orders (which you probably won’t need anyway), such as the Bistro salad, French fries, potatoes, rice and spinach are all just a few pounds with your meal. The homemade desserts offer a tempting selection of tiramisu, stuffed apricots, creme caramel, banoffee pie, ice creams, sorbets, cheesecake and tarte tatin.

The Drink
The reasonably priced wine list has bottles of house red and white from just above a tenner or just under £3.00 for a glass. Both are very palatable and a steal at the price. If you’re not a wine fan, Bistro 1’s other drinks are not overpriced, either.

The Last Word
Bistro 1 serves high quality food for incredibly low prices. Try it if you’re seeking a good meal on a limited budget.

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