La Vie en Rose is a French influenced restaurant located at the start of East London’s Broadway Market close to the Regent’s Canal. The well presented food served here is fresh and ranges from traditional British to contemporary Mediterranean, all priced fairly with main dishes starting at around £9.

The Venue
The restaurant is located on the site of a traditional East End pub and maintains many original features. The small bar area offers no seating but the small wooden tables within the restaurant are plentiful so finding a seat should not be a problem. The restaurant presently has American sports and advertising memorabilia adorning the walls alongside Motown photos, which fits in perfectly with the excellent soul music diners can hear subtly in the background.

The Atmosphere
The restaurant can be quiet early evening but becomes busy into the night so booking is recommended. The staff at La Vie en Rose are very approachable and friendly and extremely well informed about the dishes served here. Staff are patient and allow ample time for selections from the extensive menu to be made. The music is played at a level where you can enjoy conversation while listening to classic sixties soul.

The Food
The first thing you notice about the food at La Vie en Rose is its simple and clean presentation which indicates the work of a chef very serious about the food he prepares. Warm French bread is served in a basket with creamy English butter while diners examine the food on offer. Specials are explained by knowledgeable waiting staff that are happy to make food recommendations.

The starter menu carries many choices with an even balance of fish, game, meat and vegetarian options. The blanched asparagus is extremely well presented with four bright green spears wrapped neatly in Parma ham and with a soft poached egg resting on top. The asparagus is not soft or overdone but quite the opposite with a crispy texture which works well with the tender ham. The perfectly cooked egg has just enough yolk to burst over the rest of the dish. This dish is accompanied by a crisp rocket salad and a fair sized helping of creamy Hollandaise sauce. The shredded confit duck is a specialty of La Vie en Rose and a great choice from the starter menu. The dish is created with plentiful thick, tender slices of duck lying on a bed of mixed lettuce leaves drizzled with a generous helping of sweet dark plum sauce – a substantial mouthwatering dish that will keep you going till the main course.

Including the daily specials there are over ten choices for main courses here, although with many meat and fish options food choices may be limited for vegetarian and vegan diners. The pave of Atlantic cod is a hearty dish prepared with fresh fish served on a soft bed of potatoes Lyonnaise and covered in mustard which gives quite a kick. The dish is large and may prove a lot go get through after starters. The fish is bright white and fleshy with a fresh aroma and is very tender. Whilst the potatoes accompany this healthy option perfectly it may be a good choice to opt for a side order of mixed vegetables to balance this slightly stodgy option. For a perfect winter warmer or simply for a substantial sized meal, the rump of British lamb is a perfect selection. Six large slices of tender peppered rare lamb are served alongside freshly stewed carrots, broccoli and new potatoes. The vegetables are bright and fresh and balance this meal perfectly. A thick garlic gravy dressing covers the succulent lamb pieces, which you may need to inform your waiter to cook to your taste if you are not a fan of traditional rare meat.

The dessert options at La Vie en Rose are limited although fruit, ice cream and cheesecake can be ordered as well as a selection of French cheeses and biscuits. The homemade vanilla ice cream, with a combines gravelly and soft texture, is served in three scoops. The cheesecake is a tempting selection but is slightly bland with a very soft base that simply forms part of the main body of the dish, although the strawberry garnish and thick sauce works well here.

The Drink
Choices for both red and white wine here are plentiful, with well over ten options for each. Staff recommend different glasses of wine to go with certain dishes, such as a light bodied citrus infused Chardonnay, which works perfectly with the cod. House bottles begin at around £12 although there is not much difference in price if you op to drink by the glass to experience different wines from across the globe. Fittingly for a former pub, the beer choices are plentiful, with American brands served alongside British beer and continental lagers. Port is also offered to diners after dinner as well as strong coffees and specially selected fragrant teas. (A traditional British cuppa can also be found on request!)

The Last Word
La Vie en Rose offers good, and at times exceptional, dishes at reasonable prices in a location close to a number of bars. The strong focus on presentation is well observed and mixed clientele enjoy great music and good wine in a fun environment. The only downside is the distance from a London Underground station, although Hackney Road and its good bus links can be reached on foot, which may be a good idea after indulging in the large portions of food served here.

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