La Bibliothèque — Restaurant in London

We are big fans of La Bibliotheque's sister bar, Map Maison, so were looking forward to trying out the restaurant. Unfortunately, it was a really poor experience.

TL;DR: Really poor service, had to ask to be served and staff seemed inexperienced Long periods with no one coming by 30-45min between each small tasting dish Only some of the dishes were good, one in particular was very poor (salmon) Left after 3 hrs (7:30-10:30pm) having only had 3 of 6 courses Even with 20% courtesy discount, spent £287 for two people on half of a poor dinner + £90 wine bottle

Full experience: We did the Valentine's Day set menu, and it became clear from the first 5 min that the restaurant wasn't ready for what they had advertised (6 course tasting menu). We were seated quickly at 7:30pm for our reservation but then no server even came by to ask about drinks or get our order for almost 30min. We had to flag someone down and ask for the wine list to get started.

The ambiance was good, with a live musician and small venue creating a good but not too loud buzz.

But the dishes came agonisingly slow. 30-45min between each small plate, often nothing on the table for 15+ min between each.

The bread starter was good, the first dish fine but the second dish (smoked salmon) was not good at all.

Generally, there was a vibe of chaos and being overwhelmed from the staff - I think there were only 3 cooks for the whole restaurant and servers were inattentive / inexperienced.

At 10:30pm (3 hours into dinner!) we had only been served half of the 6 courses. We started to see other tables complaining about the slowness too. We decided to leave rather than wait another 3 hrs.

This could be excused perhaps as the restaurant is new but they were charging £110 per head + £50-100 extra for a bottle of wine. Spent £287 even with a courtesy 20% discount.

May try this place again in 6 months, but...

This is a must visit location, a hidden gem in the London fine dining scene. It is located on Kingsland Road. The restaurant is well designed with Japanese influenced decor and interior design. The restaurant has a small dining room with a small bar at the rear of the restaurant. The bar offers an extensive range of Sake and Japanese Whiskey. They also have a very extensive wine menu featuring some excellent wines. The kitchen and prep area is located between the dining room and bar and is open to view. The cuisine is Japanese and Mediterranean influenced. The menu although small is varied and well balanced. For sides and starters we enjoyed the very good Milk Bread with the 3 butters. We also enjoyed the very good Crispy Potatoes with a Vegan sauce. The Lamb Shoulder was excellent, very rich and tasty as too the Ravioli with Truffle. The choice of mains were excellent and we enjoyed the Duck dish which had a wonderful duck Jue with Plum Sauce. The flavours were very rich and the duck cooked to perfection. There were a choice of 3 desserts and we enjoyed both the Beetroot with Madeira and the Praline Ice cream with Yogurt dessert dishes. All the dishes we ordered were great and the combination of subtle flavours and some very rich flavours of the varied dishes made the whole meal a wonderful culinary experience. The presentation of every dish was excellent. We accompanied our meal with glasses of Plum Sake, Yamabuki Sake, the 5 year Alimento Sake as well as a number of the excellent Sake based cocktails like the Honishin. I spoke with Head Chef James to commend him on the excellent meal and service by his team. The whole meal and dining experience was excellent and I am sure a Michelin star is not far away. It would be well deserved as this restaurant offers a better culinary experience than many Michelin starred restaurants in London. We shall certainly be...

An Unforgettable Culinary Adventure at La Bibliothèque – Where East London Charm Meets Exquisite Dining

My partner and I had the pleasure of dining at La Bibliothèque in London last night, and I am thrilled to share our experience at this fine dining gem in an unexpected corner of the city. From the moment we stepped inside, we were enveloped in an ambiance that brilliantly marries East London’s cool vibe with a touch of contemporary luxury.

The culinary journey began with the Crispy Potato, Furikake. This dish was an absolute revelation - so amazing that we couldn’t resist ordering a second serving. It was followed by the Baked Potato Ravioli with Leek, Black Truffle, and Egg Yolk, an exquisite creation that showcased the kitchen's mastery in blending flavors and textures.

But the star of the evening was undoubtedly the Cod with Jerusalem artichoke and Ginger. Cooked to sheer perfection, every bite of the fish was a melt-in-the-mouth experience, complemented beautifully by the subtle, earthy notes of the Jerusalem artichoke and the zing of the ginger. It was a dish that not only pleased the palate but also left a lasting impression on our culinary senses.

The cocktails we enjoyed were delightful, each one a testament to the bartender's skill in crafting drinks that were both innovative and classic. The wine list, too, was impressive, offering a great selection that paired wonderfully with our meal.

La Bibliothèque is not just a restaurant; it's a complete dining experience. The blend of Mediterranean and Japanese influences in the cuisine is executed flawlessly, and the attention to detail in every aspect, from the ambiance to the service, is commendable. This place is a rare find in London - a culinary oasis that I cannot recommend highly enough. We left La Bibliothèque feeling thoroughly satisfied and already planning...