Fabulous french food? Check. Opulent decor? Check. Animals wearing tiaras? Mais oui! Welcome to Les Trois Garcons.

The Venue
Walking into this Shoreditch restaurant, you could be forgiven for thinking you've taken a wrong turn and wandered into a Lewis Carroll-style bijoux fantasy. The stunning decor is a feast for the eyes, and everywhere you look there's a talking point. Huge, sparkling chandeliers hang from the ceilings, alongside tiny handbags and strings of gems. All around the restaurant are stuffed animals (presumably fake) doled up like the Queen of Sheba, dripping with jewels. Depending on where you sit, you could easily be next to a crocodile holding a sceptre or below a giraffe head topped with a crown.

Despite the quirky themes, the restaurant still feels quintessentially French with dark wood and white linen tablecloths that wouldn't be out of place in a Parisian brasserie. The tables don't escape the individual themes, and each one has a different accessory - gold crowns set over the candles, glass shoes full of salt, bowls decorated with butterflies... the list goes on. You can be guaranteed that you won't find a place like this anywhere else in London.

The Atmosphere
Very relaxed and romantic. Candles flicker and soft French muzak burbles in the background, as most people here are deep into conversation. The tables are nicely spaced out so you don't feel crowded, but there's still a buzzing atmosphere. The clientele are mostly well-heeled (it's quite pricey) and either in romantic twosomes or in groups of business types. The service is attentive and immaculate, nothing seems too much trouble for the authentically French staff.

The Food
The luxurious dining experience kicks off with home-baked bread, including buttery brioche that's served warm - heavenly. An amuse bouche of pistou soup is a tomatoey concoction that’s packed with flavour and definitely gets the tastebuds going before the starters arrive. When they do, they’re not disappointing. A chowder of scallops arrive steaming in a copper saucepan and tantalizingly poured into the bowl at the table. It’s creamy and moreish, with a satisfying number of scallops that were all beautifully cooked. A terrine of foie gras and mead is smooth and not too strong, and served with a sweet pear chutney that matches the dish extremely well without overpowering. There’s a good break in between the starter and the main, just enough time to digest, which is perfect as the entrees are very substantial.

Braised shoulder of veal simply melts in the mouth, served with mushrooms, a smooth parsnip puree and a side of home-made saffron tagliatelle - tasty and creamy enough to be eaten alone. Olive oil poached halibut is tender and light, served on top of a risotto of pearl barley and mixed vegetables. Surprisingly enough, you’ll still probably have room for dessert, and with puddings as good as these that’s a blessing! The creme brulee is absolutely huge, and the perfect combination of crispy sugared topping and creamy vanilla dessert. The assiette of chocolate is a heady mix of chocolate opera (layers of crispy wafer, chocolate cream and coffee cream), a rich chocolate marquise, a delicate blob of chocolate mousse, chocolate profiterole filled with ice cream, and chocolate sauce to top it all off. Not for the faint-hearted, but any chocolate lover will be in seventh heaven.

Prices are definitely in the high range, but the food is worth it. Off the a la carte menu, starters range from £8 to £15.50, mains are from £17.50 - £31.50 whilst desserts are about £8. However, there are quite a few menu options available – a prix fixe menu with three courses for £29 and a set menu of four courses for £45.

The Drink
Les Trois Garcons boasts an extensive wine list, which admittedly doesn't have much to cater for those with moths in their wallets. Prices start at around £20 a bottle for the house wine, and rise to around £100. French varieties are, not surprisingly, very well represented, but there's still plenty of choice from New World wines - even one from Lebanon! There's also champagne for special occasions, and plenty of dessert wine (the dessert menu has suggestions as to which wines will match which dishes). For later in the evening, there's a selection of fine digestifs.

The Last Word
Though it might take you a while to find Les Trois Garcons, once you do, you'll never want to leave. Immerse yourself in its quirky and lavish world, and enjoy.

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