Bellanger in Islington

My mother and I just had a wonderful meal and the buzz and food were great. A mention must go to Marta who looked after us and made our evening extra special.

Good environment and service. A little pricy.

Excellent place to spend a rainy Sunday!

First time we visited Bellanger. We'll be back!

Update: post new ownership, this once great Alsatian restaurant is now a hodge podge of random Italian and bistro fair. Soggy, limp octopus, and astronomical prices for what you get. I don’t suspect this place will last for long…

Service was awful and the food subpar especially given the price

Welcoming team who treated us like old pals, which is very important to have a relaxing fun time. The staff were really lovely to us even though we got there quite late they didn’t hurry us along. We had crab linguine, chicken escalope, and a burger, then apple tart, all delicious, the house wines both red and white were the perfect accompaniment!

We dropped in on the off-chance of having just a drink. Staff could not have been more accommodating. Great staff, lovely atmosphere. We will definitely be returning - next time to have food too.

A typical story. Financiers take over a brand, get rid of the creator. Cost cutting and destruction of the brand begins. So sad. What was a warm and inviting place with an air of being upmarket, is now just an average cafe with no personality. Sad, and will eventually fold as they all do when taken over by non creatives

Time was when this was my favourite restaurant in Islington. . Launched by the marvellous Corbin & King it had everything. Chic French decor, a wonderful bistro menu at sensible prices, great atmosphere, welcoming staff & one of the most elegant bars in town. The new management have revamped it & taken all the joy out of the place. The beautiful bar has been ripped out for no good reason, the menu changed for the worse, the service was slow & the food distinctly average. I won’t be going back.

Great food even better atmosphere! My steak was cooked to perfection, staff were unbelievably attentive without being overbearing, and the lovely soft evening lighting was so cosy, the music was really atmospheric too. You’re also seated far enough from other tables that you don’t feel on top of other customers and can’t overhear everybody’s conversations. A really lovely dinner spot! It was my birthday and they also brought out a lovely plate with ‘happy birthday’ written in chocolate and enough complimentary chocolate truffles for the whole table, which was a really nice touch :)

First visit for a business lunch after the refurbishment and wow it's brilliant, all on one level and they have still retained the superb ambiance prior to it. Staff ,service and food excellent, well done to everyone and hopefully not too long before I am back down in London for another visit

Do not go here. The food was terrible, muscles were dry. We were given the wrong cocktail when we ordered, and it was brought back again and we had this conversation again. Noone checked back on the table at all. Noone asked how our food was, and no resolution was offered for the poor service or standard of food. I will not be returning and highly reccomend that you do not go here unless you are seeking an overpriced faulty towers experience with zero customer service or complaint resolution.

9 of us went for dinner on Saturday evening. I have to say from start to finish everything was amazing. The service was quick and the staff were so friendly. We had beautiful cocktails to start. The food was just delicious I would highly recommend the crab linguine. I will definitely be back

Cannot recommend this place enough, started the evening with some beautiful cocktails before ordering. Younes, our waiter, showed in depth knowledge of the menu, was caring, attentive and brought a great sense of humor and personality to the evening. Food was delish, considering we were a table of 8, all food came out at once and was presented beautifully and piping hot. Finished the night with a selection of desserts and another cocktail. Thank you so much Bellanger, already looking forward to the next visit.

Excellent food decor and ambiance-really enjoyed it

We had a lovely impromptu supper here and throughly enjoyed the food, the service and the live music The room is spacious enough to enjoy a conversation with friends but not so large you feel lost. The wait staff were unfailingly charming and the restaurant is very dog friendly

Rather chic restaurant if this is the vibe you're looking for, food is very good.

Pretty good experience, only let down by a chewy steak frites.

Erin and her team are faultless. Wonderful personalised service - right down to a biscuit bone for the dog. It’s always lovely to spend time at Bellanger. An oasis of frictionless courteousness.

Great interior, great food, great service. I would highly recommend the duck confit.

Food is fine but far overpriced for the quality. Drinks are decent. Good for drinks in the summer but otherwise overpriced and way better restaurants in the area.

I’ve been here a number of times with friends and I can never understand why they pick it. It has the name of a Parisian brasserie but doesn’t come close to. It’s maybe a step up from Côte or Café Rouge but definitely no better than Zedel which is cheaper. Prices are on the high side (£135 for 2), whqt is on the plate is ok but very plain and completely ungarnished. Very noisy, service is chaotic with errors in orders. I would call this pastiche.

Perfect steak, lovely atmosphere

Excellent evening, food was great and we were really looked after. It was my first time but I look forward to going back.

Delicious food and great service!

An early dinner on NYE at the recently renovated Bellanger. A lot of people had the same idea as we arrived for our 7pm booking to a packed restaurant with a great atmosphere. Service was lovely and helpful and everything we ate (a table for 4) was average to good. I had crab to start followed by duck confit with frites and a tarte tatin for desert. Classic French dishes - I enjoyed everything I ate. This is a good spot for couples, friends and groups. A plat + glass of vino would be a reasonable price though our meal set us back £433 for 4 though this included 4 cocktails, 2 Cote du Rhone reds and 4 digestifs + 3 courses each. It was NYE and we had a great time - look forward to going back.

I remember the previous incarnation of Bellanger, which had unique and amazing food from the Alsace region. The new Bellanger has opted for a bit more middle of the road Mediterranean which is tasty but not particularly special. The service is impeccable. Friendly, efficient and perfectly attuned to you as a customer. The setting is just lovely too, a perfect building for a simple and comfortable restaurant. Obviously with the drama of ownership change the food changes aren't likely to reverse but it's still worth a visit if you live in the area, and especially if you want to dine out with your pooch

As a local I Use to go often to the old Bellanger, food was great and the atmosphere was pleasant. Since they refurbished the quality of service have dropped so much! I was served cold food on a very quiet day, tried to raise this to a manager but she completely ignored me, hiding behind the fact that the journey from the kitchen to the table is what would have caused it… anyhow very young waitress, being super rude and using all sorts of bad words chatting to her colleague right next to our table. I will not return to this overly priced place as upper street offers a variety of cuisine much tastier and cheaper too… it’s a shame as the brasserie atmosphere was pleasant… being French let’s remember what a brasserie is meant to be.. a cheap but good quality dish served … think you missed the concept .

The food is overly priced for the quality. The staff looked exhausted and tired and were generally looking very creepy. Wish I had never had a meal here. The food is average nothing special . It’s a Brasserie restaurant with no charm and basic food.

Lovely restaurant- service was great and food was really delicious. The interior and live music playing is an absolutely stunning addition which creates a wonderful atmosphere. I recommend this restaurant for anyone wanting good food and a nice experience- ideal for couples, families, and solo dining.

Great service , good food & menu , plus a room suitable for conversation with table mates

Excellent food and surroundings only problem was trying to pay the bill, no-one seemed interested in taking my money. But will definitely visit again.

Very lovely establishment for some brunch - good coffee, great interior, and loved the food as well.

Excellent food, staff really attentive

We have always had great experiences coming here and were excited for the refit. Unfortunately the recent renovation has made the restaurant feel more like a dash and grab dine than our previous experience. Our waitress shared her concerns at the restaurants change - the food is more expensive, the sunken bar has gone, the pictures on the walls are French but the food isn't - simply put - you can't get bread and butter even at request. It took 20 mins to get a drink at our table and with the desserts now at £10.75, unfortunately we went elsewhere for pudding so we knew we wouldn't be disappointed. Sadly - a disappointing dinner at one our most beloved spots.

Honestly, not great. We went there for brunch on Saturday. The servers sat us down and took 15 minutes to give us a menu, which she did with a brisk attitude. They brought out the food and one of the coffees, but the second coffee was brought 20 minutes after, by which point the brunch was over. The club sandwich was quite flavourless and the eggs Benedict tastes overwhelmingly of butter. In a city like London, with so many good restaurants, this place is just not it, especially considering the price

At 9:40 pm yesterday, Sunday 10 Dec 2023, the server (Joanna, guessing that is what her name is!) came to us (my friend and I) and asked “Are you ordering dessert? Because we are just waiting for you! Else we close the kitchen”. We had an 8:00 appointment and were just about finishing our mains, steak and ravioli. We were surprised the way we were spoken and sounded like we were keeping the restaurant open. She said “the chef is wanting to close the kitchen, are you done?” Firstly no one informed us that the kitchen was scheduled to be closed. Importantly, if you are planned to close let us know. It felt like we were being asked to leave they wanted to close.. Management Whats missing? Is your staff stressed or our skin colors didn’t meet your standards?? likely an information your customers should know.. We paid £140 for the 2 of us for a starters, wine and unfinished mains for a disastrous experience! We felt we were rushed out just because they wanted to close.. This is the most obnoxious experience. You didn’t just loose a customer but also ensured we communicate this blasphemous experience!

Nice Restaurant good atmosphere

Bellanger is definitely getting its sparkle back. My mother and I just had a wonderful meal and the buzz and food were great. A mention must go to Gillie who looked after and made our evening extra special.

We had a meal at Bellangers just over a week ago for a party of 9 people. The food was awful and extremely expensive. Whilst the staff were pleasant, service was very slow. Go back to your old menu! At least that is reasonably priced.

A really great traditional French restaurant. We were so impressed. The food was top quality, service very good, lovely atmosphere and great location. Highly recommend.

We left disappointed by the quality of food when we last came. I had the crab linguine which didn’t taste great and one of our guest had the duck confit which was very mediocre (skin not crusty as you would expect). The previous brasserie traditional menu has been changed to something quite incoherent and we now are missing the good old dishes! Finally the candles on my partner’s little desert never arrived - or at least we decided to leave beforehand as it was taking too long, although the restaurant was quite empty.

A warm welcome and good service- we only went for coffee. Our server even ran out in the cold to give me the gloves I left behind! Will certainly go back again.

I visited Bellanger for dinner with friends. The food was very tasty, each dish ordered exceeded expectation. I recommend the buttery mash side. The service was great. Great ambience.

Two words: don’t bother. Pre-refurb this was my favourite martini in London, when I went back I was served the worst cosmopolitan of my life (genuinely). The decor feels like the most expensive restaurant in an airport, the leather is fake, the menu is bizarre and the DJ is unforgivable. Go to le Beaujolais in soho instead, or get a martini at 69 Colebrooke Row if you’re in angel already. A very sad and unnecessary loss to the area, they should have to rename it and scrape the old reviews so people don’t go by accident.

Fantastic service from the manager today and scrummy brunch! Very impressed!!

I was looking forward to the fusion of crab and pasta flavour. I was left disappointed. The seasoning was underwhelming and left the linguine almost tasteless. Otherwise Amazing decor and customer service.

Quick attentive service, friendly staff and a varied menu. Well cooked and decent portion sizes. Relaxed vibe for a Saturday morning. Would recommend for brunch.

I recently dined at Bellanger in Angles, and it felt like a charming slice of Paris. The ambiance was just right, not too overwhelming or over-the-top. I was particularly impressed with their steak and grilled octopus, which were both delicious. The wine selection was also quite good, making it a pleasant dining experience.

Nice relaxed atmosphere with option of fixed menus for lunch.

Only went there for a drink but the service was great. The staff were extremely nice and professional. Beautiful ambience. A bit pricey but I guess you’re paying for what I just mentioned. Will go there again.

I ordered a medium-rare ribeye steak - what I got was thin overcooked slice of fat unappetizing meat. The chicken pollo my companion ordered was just OK. And the place is very expensive for what they offer. Not recommended.

First time back since the refurb. Yes, the interior and food are slightly different but it looked great and the food and wine were excellent. Service was too notch too! Expect (Mediterranean) brasserie fare done well and excellent wine and cocktails.

Had lunch. Nice Brasserie with good food and delicious wines. Just good!

This was for years my go to restaurant but sadly no longer since the change in ownership. Prices higher, quality lower, menu less appealing and ambience meh. Corbin and King were masters at hospitality and they will be sadly missed.

Really lovely environment inside! Kids and dogs friendly

Food not bad but service is average

great spot for lunch or dinner. shame they got rid of the old bar, however like the refurb

WHAT A SHAME THEY HAVE BACKGROUND MUSIC. WE COULDN'T HEAR OURSELVES SPEAK ( Saturday night) We went for a lovely conversation over a lovely meal but alas with the background music this was not possible. If the restaurant is busy with guests you can't have music as well ( IF you want to have a conversation). We won't be going there again in the evening-will go to Fredericks or Tai Square instead where you can actually have a conversation. Expensive restaurant to have the stress of not hearing properly. This restaurant has been an oasis for years - so I guess change of management has led to this very sad decision. Who is the music benefitting - certainly not the customers who are full of life and don't need an energy prop like this

Noisy -couldn't hear ourselves speak. used to be an oasis and now our group of intellectuals hoping for a good conversation couldn't hear each other due to background music ( who needs that in this sort of restaurant) it was SO special. I still love decor but playing background music is not understanding your clientele.

Good classic food and a lovely atmosphere, you come for the French bistro vibes and it delivers that in spades. However, the live DJ seems a bit out of place (as with the accompanying loud music which might not be too everyone's liking), and a couple of dishes were served blistering hot. Cocktails are reasonable though and it's a decent place for a late evening bite or to get together with family and friends.

If you aren’t a dog friendly restaurant, don’t pretend to be one. This restaurant doesn’t cook for dogs even though they have dog bowls. That’s perfectly fine but don’t advertise as dog friendly when clearly it insults you to cook for our animal friends who will only eat on the floor anyway. I would have never come here if it wasn’t for the fact it was ‘dog friendly’ since all the food here is mediocre at best. Pathetic.

The food cannot be questioned (especially the mushroom soup) but when it comes to service, please do not inform clients that tables are reserved when that is clearly not the case. Clients should be able to choose wherever they want to sit. The atmosphere counts as much as the food.

Bellanger’s menu used to be a thing of beauty. A one-size-fits-all people pleaser served in a chic setting with smiling staff. You could pop in at midday for a swift, meltingly good soup al’ognion, served with the freshest bread basket. Tuck into a big brunch...

Great place , great food great service

Disappointingly average. Came here on a Friday evening with friends. Place was less than half full - which was surprisingly as Bellanger always used to be busy. Service was ok but we had to keep asking for things repeatedly - more water, spoons for our stew but then had to ask again. Ordered a side of vegetables but it never came with our order. Seafood stew was fine but not amazing - I would hope for more depth of flavour. Overall a real lack of atmosphere. A real shame as before the shut down and refurb I’d had some good meals here - but I do like the fact they’ve expanded the menu. Interestingly we walked past the neighbouring restaurant (which I don’t want to name) and it was packed as always with loads of atmosphere.

The food is amazing. I ordered mushroom soup and chicken and sides. He chicken was huge, I didn’t expect that big:D Also there was a dj, and he was playing very nice and cool songs. After food, we had amazing hot chocolate muses. I recommend to everyone to have nice and fancy restaurants. And also, the loo is so cool! I had have some pictures of it.

All 5 stars plus for an incredibly good service and food, courtesy of my cousin we had a 3 course menu that was served well and tasted extremely good! The service was impeccable and nothing was too much, they came around regularly to see if we were ok and that's a fine touch. The ambiance is like that of a Parisian brasserie/cafe, The restroom matched the decor, the style and exquisite etiquette. Overall a lovely summer's treat When all around was dry weather and scorching heat. Kol-C, #thepoetreviewer

A cynical and commercially led cheap overhaul driven by new management.. the Great Corbin and King legacy in pieces. from elegant Alsacien brasserie to high street Wimpy.. wipe clean faux red leather seats.. all boothes now gone to jam in more cheap seats .. hideously...

Erin and the team guarantee a frictionless five star experience. It’s always a pleasure to visit Bellanger where customers are welcomed and made to feel unique.

Booked for dinner last night while we were in town with our dog. We are big fans of Corbin & King restaurants, such as The Delaunay, Zedel and The Wolsey, so were pleased to find this and hear that they welcome dogs in the large...

Disappointed as we used to love this place, the decor has changed and is quite nice but the food is poor, I gave 3 stars as the sides were good, fries and a tomato salad all tasty. Our mains on the other hand were very...

Food good but service abysmal. What a shame they’ve put so much effort into creating a new look,and yet let themselves down with such appalling service. I asked for bread 4 times. No one ever came to see if we needed anything. Craned our heads...

Great looking restaurant but food was awful and expensive Service is terrible I will not be going back

A fantastic experience with some amazing food and great service. The setting and ambience are wonderful.

Oh nooooooo we are just so sad! This was a special place. Our sons first favourite restaurant. I don’t mind the refit but why mess with the menu so much? Now overpriced average food, no options for kids. £5 for fries because not included with...

Rather disappointed with this. Food was reasonable, though not entirely sure the starters lived up to the price. The most disappointing aspect was the service, we were left for 15 minutes before anyone took our order or offered to get us a drink. The waitress...

What a real shame. Bellanger restaurant has been ruined. It was our favourite restaurant in Islington.The atmosphere has gone, the new menu is very limited and well overpriced. It was extremely poor value for money and the service was slow.Before it was fun, great menu...

Having enjoyed numerous meals, including one on Christmas day pre-pandemic, at Bellanger our experience last night was utterly disappointing. Following the refurbishment and a change of menu none of the Bellanger charm or quality remains. The menu and wine list are limited and no longer...

Southern-Mediterranean inspired menu in the heart of Islington! As soon as you enter, you’ll amazed by its beautiful interior with classic bistro look and feel, including red leather banquette seating, dark wood panelling and artworks by the wall. As summer is here, enjoy its spacious...

Really disappointing visit here. We booked a few days ahead and on arrival we’re shown to one of the cafe tables at the front by DJ. This is more suitable for a drink or coffee, not dinner. The change recently completed lost the chic French...

This used to be a favourite spot of ours; great food, sharp & smart service & real sense of style. Then there was a refurbishment in early 2023 and they’ve killed it. Gone is the sunken bar, the ‘Parisian cool’, the wonderful menu (and the...

Changed recently with refurbishing,looks great, food not great, expensive piece chicken and small bowl potato’s 25 pounds,desert strawberry etenmess one half a strawberry. Very disappointed old menu much nicer, had been going there for years as live 2 mins away,won’t be going again. Waited 15...

I loved the old Bellanger and wanted to love it after the refurb and change in management. Unfortunately it didn't live up to its own reputation. The decor is like any other restaurant, the menu is less interesting. The service leaves a lot to be...

This has always been our favourite ‘local’ for a quiet, relaxed and refined meal. The refurbishment of May 2023, however, seems to have affected the acoustics, because it is no longer quiet, and in turn the atmosphere is no longer relaxed. Pity

What an improvement! Really liked the new menu as had more options in comparison to the old one. The refurb made the restaurant brighter. Food was tasty and just the right portion size. Yes the free bread and butter was taken away but who really...

Like the new layout but service diabolical at the moment. Hard to get attention of anyone and waits very long for everything. Doesn’t really work with the sky high prices.

Liked the old Bellanger, even persisted with it post-C&K. Went back for lunch to see what the refurb was like. It's fine, I guess; they've opened up the space, sorted out the funny levels. But the new menu is limited and deathly dull, and the...

We were pleasantly surprised with the new Bellanger! The refurb is lovely and the new menu is great. A big shout out to Erin, the new general manager, who has made visible improvements to the staff and running of the restaurant. The food is excellent...

Bellanger used to be a favourite - it used to offer dishes and food that weren't at other local mediterreanean restaurants - the tarte flambee, onion soup, shnitzel etc etc have all gone - there's no fresh bread offered anymore. The new steak (flat iron)...

Just back from a Father’s Day lunch at the recently refurbed and revamped Bellanger. Service was on the whole very good (eg air con was turned down when requested). The food was solid, possibly better than previously. However overall a bit underwhelming. I am not...

Why oh why did they replace the excellent Prix Fixe menu with this pretentious overpriced stuff? Overall a very negative change to what was a very good restaurant.

Visited the newly refurbished, much loved Bellanger in Islington. Did not think it could be improved but I was wrong! The interior is stunning, the food delicious and the staff super polite and helpful. Try the Iberico Pork Chop, it was a triumph........having the cannon...

We live local to Bellanger and wanted to try again since the grand reopening. The food was underwhelming and very expensive. Fries were undercooked and the fish dishes very bland. Waiting service was chaotic with no waiter assigned to table, just had to ask someone...

Taste of @bellanger_n1 Southern-Mediterranean inspired menu in the heart of Islington! As soon as you enter, you’ll amazed by its beautiful interior with classic bistro look and feel, including red leather banquette seating, dark wood panelling and artworks by the wall. As summer is here,...

We would go to the old Bellangers 2, sometimes 3 times a week. We did this because along with the Grand Cafe style of the place, the menu could support it, it was extensive and well thought out, with something for everyone as well as...

We were so excited to try Bellanger on its opening as it has always been a favourite go to. I hate writing negative reviews but I just feel so sad that our beloved Bellanger has been replaced with an over expensive sadly disappointing experience all...

When the previous owner sold Islington’s French landmark restaurant Bellanger to a large international hospitality consortium, locals and regulars held their breath in anticipation of the big reveal. The interior refit has increased occupancy, eliminating intimate dining and some soundproofing for open plan volume dining....

Was delighted by the quality of cooking at the newly relaunched Bellanger in Islington. From starters through the desserts, the food was excellent. Classic dishes were made special. Good wine list. Terrific service. The relaunched Bellanger is both a great local as well as a...