La Muse Bistro

4 Reviews on “La Muse Bistro”

• HerFavFood

  The restaurant is small and quaint is the word that I think best describes it. Everything was adorable from the repurposed church pew that served as my seat to the actual cooking books (in French and English) in the bookshelf to the walls painted red, white and blue (or bleu, blanc et rouge as my tiny amount of French tells me) like the French flag.You can even watch your food being prepared the kitchen is open and at the front of the restaurant. I liked that the kitchen staff werent hidden away in the back. You can also buy some of the ingredients they use in their food.Would I Want Seconds?I love meat and cheese- I think its one of the reasons I love picnics so muchgrab some Brie and a baguette with some type of sliced meat and Im pretty thrilled. So I was excited to see a whole appetiser menu with just these things. We ordered the peppercorn saucisson (3.50) and Corsican cured ham (3.50) as well as some Altesse cheese (4).They were served with rosemary and potato bread and little dishes of olive with balsamic vinegar and one with Corsican strawberry and clementine jam. The peppercorn saucisson was exactly what I expected it to bedelicious with just that tiny bit of kick from the peppercorn. The cured ham was chewy and yummy and went well with the cheese (but was delicious on its own as well). The cheese was very similar to Brie, which is what I was hoping for. And when paired with the jam it was absolutely heavenly.We had asked our waitress to recommend a white wine to go with our main dish choices of fish and chicken. We chose a French, of course, bottle of Sauvignon Blanc (18) of the recommendations she gave us. I really liked it and thought it worked well with our meals.I had the Seared Fish of the Day which was Stone Fish (15.50) which was served on a bed of creamy kale with prawns and squid. It was a lot of seafood which I used to always avoid but everything was sooo tasty. The fish just broke apart with the fork and melted in my mouth. I have no idea how they flavoured it, but it was fantastic.We also selected the Special of the Day (12.50) which was chicken stuffed with goats cheese, roasted Jersey royal potatoes, garlic mushrooms and a sauce. I have to admit I tried a bit and it was wonderful as well. The chicken was juicy and the cheese gave it a great flavour. The potatoes were lovely and buttery. It was another main where everything was just melt-in-your-mouth delicious. I was flabbergasted at the price too, it was such a steal at 12.50.For dessert, I had a lime and chocolate mousse and also tried a creme brle. By this time we were fairly tipsy having finished our bottle of wine but I distinctly remember making an audible sound of appreciation for the chocolate mouse.Then not wanting to leave yet, we wrapped up the evening with a coffee and a tea to help us digest the wonderful food we had just enjoyed.Could I Afford Seconds? At La Muse the portion sizes are perfect. We comfortably ate a three-course meal and felt full but it was at a good pace and so we never felt overly stuffed. However, there was plenty of food and we werent left starving by tiny gourmet dishes. All the dishes were averagely priced and matched the feel and location of the restaurant. However, the quality you get for your money is unbelievable. We were more impressed by this little unassuming bistro than we have been at much fancier and more expensive restaurants.When you go to La Muse, and make no mistake I am saying you should absolutely visit, plan to spend enough to get a starter, main and dessert. For two diners, this would be about 50-60 depending on what you like70-80 if you want some wine as well. And it will be worth every. single. penny.Overall? 5/5I think the gushing above makes it pretty clear that I loved this place. I love that they have a little section to buy the jams and such. In fact, I had loved the strawberry and clementine jam so much I just had to get a little jar! I also have to mention the outstanding service and the atmosphere. Our waitress, Claire, was fantastic! She was so kind and funny but also really knowledgeable about the items on the menu. She was exactly what I want from all my servers everywhere I go!Walking to the restaurant I wasnt so sure because the street its on is a bit undefined and feels out of the way even though it’s directly up from the tube and on the same road. But from the minute we stepped through the doorway I didnt stop noticing little accents here and there with the knick knacks and the repurposed seating. It was cobbled together but felt like everything belonged. I cant completely explain it, but it just felt nice even if it wasnt super swanky.It was obvious that the restaurant was full of regular locals, and the truth is (if I lived closer) I could see it becoming a regular place to dine. I may not be able to go every week but we will definitely be returning. In fact, weve already promised my mom that wed take her next time shes in town! herfavfood.com

  August 27, 2015, 4:08 am

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• Anam Amir

  My friend suggested me to go here for dinner. So, I went with my fianc. From the outside looking in i wasn’t sure what to make of it, but all i can say is – if you like excellent, freshly prepared food, good service, a relaxed atmosphere then La Muse is the place to go. Seafood Platter is my idea of heaven and La Muse did not disappoint. Fantastic crme brulee for dessert and the meal was rounded off by a refreshing flora tea. The staff members were attentive but also gave us time and space to enjoy our meal chat in a relaxed atmosphere with some wonderful music playing gently in the background

  June 13, 2015, 12:53 pm

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• Ali Akbar

  My family and I had dinner there on the weekend and had a delicious home cooked dinner for a reasonable price. The menu is short (the cooking area is tiny) but has a choice of classic dishes. The beef bourguignon and the grilled salmon were excellent. The chocolate brownie dessert was delicious. Overall the food was not as heavy as a lot of restaurant food. It tasted like the best of what you make at home. Good friendly service.

  June 13, 2015, 12:09 pm

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• Kesta

  La Muse is a distinctive little restaurant on Holloway Road. Its layout is interesting as the kitchen is visible as you enter, and is lined by two cramped tables. But it then gives way to a little seating area located at the back which is charmingly intimate. There is also a lovely outside area which was gorgeous in the summer; the place was decorated by pots of flowers and a gravel floor and managed to pack a lot of people into the small London- garden style space without feeling too cramped. The service here is great as well, as the waiters seem to go out of their way to make each guest feel important. My friendly waiter explained every dish in depth and gave his own recommendations, which I thought was a lovely touch and gave the whole place a personal feel which is hard to come by in London.The menu here is expertly devised and the food was gorgeous. There are a few staples to the menu, but the restaurant seems to pick its meals depending on what is in season. The Camembert unsurprisingly was absolutely delicious, but I would also recommend the goats cheese and pecan salad which had a subtle flavour and tasted beautifully fresh. For mains try the burger or the steak; classics that are cooked to perfection and come with lovely chips. The wine list is also expertly chosen. I trusted the waiter to bring me a light rose and the bottle we got was precisely that. I really cant criticise La Muse, apart from perhaps to suggest booking a table so that you arent on one of the more cramped spots that line the kitchen. A great little find.

  January 29, 2015, 11:06 pm

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