We travelled for 2 hours to get to the restaurant as I had been there before and found it amazing. Arrived this afternoon and it was a very busy time but we were seated immediately and were attended to with the same speed. Staff were very friendly but did misunderstand one of the desserts we requested but this was understandable as this is a French restaurant and our French is not that great. The dessert was wonderful anyway so we didn't mind. On leaving we kept studying the bill because we thought they hadn't charged us enough as we had all sorts of extra's on the table and a bottle of water as well and they definately only charged us for what we ordered. I was glad the service charge was added to the bill as it stops all that working out and messing about leaving cash on the table. Will definately be back, prob next spring as it is a very long way for us to travel.

A lovely little restaurant off the beaten track in Hampstead village. The 2/3 course deal is good value and the food is authentically french but with something to appeal to all. Service is a little bit french too - reserved but pleasant. They charge a £1 cover charge per person but there are plenty of nibbles on the table for this. Lovely for a romantic meal or small family group.

La Cage Imaginaire has just been refurbished and taken over by new management and is now better than ever.



The food is absolutely delightful and I couldn't fault the service. It is a cosy little restaurant with a wonderful menu which is different every time I go.
I can't recommend La Cage Imaginaire enough!

La Cage Imaginaire in Hampstead was a very disappointing experience. In fact, I would say that I left this restaurant feeling cheated. A two course lunch menu is boldly advertised on an outdoor sign as £11.95. What you are not told is that the cover charge and enforced tip adds on another £3.00. There is no mention of the cover charge until you receive the bill. I also believe that tipping is a discretionary decision. The service at La Cage Imaginaire was rude. The restaurant was empty and I was asked to sit on a cramped table behind the door. I asked to sit on the next table and was told that I could not because they did not wish to clean that table’s cloth after my visit. A strange excuse as they would need to clean the cloth on the table at which I was seated. Are such excuses a part of good restaurant service? Later, two customers arrived and they were told that they could sit anywhere in the restaurant. There was a disdainful and snooty attitude from La Cage Imaginaire toward my custom. I suspect that the one waiter was either the manager or owner. The food was a mixture of overcooked and undercooked cheap ingredients. The gazpacho soup had a heavy layer of oil floating on the top and with every spoonful you could see and taste the oil. The coq au vin consisted of three small, seemingly cheap chicken thighs which had an unappetizing flavour and brown sour secretions . The courgettes were overcooked and soggy and the potato dauphinois were undercooked and had a school dinners' flavour to them. La Cage Imaginaire refused to accept my cheque with a guarantee card which I found offensive and unusual. I suspect that this was down to laziness rather than what was possible.