Bouchon Racine in Mendip

I just LOVE this restaurant. Cosy, relaxed, great atmosphere, fantastic knowledgeable staff and outstanding food! The steak au poivre was cooked to perfection. The Onglet melted in your mouth and the black pudding with a green sauce was one of the best things I have ever tasted. This is my 3rd visit and I cannot wait to come back again! It is consistently DELICOUS!

Came on a Saturday lunch time. Very friendly welcome. Tables are well spaced. Our waiter was friendly and very knowledgeable about the menu and how the dishes were cooked and presented. The tomato, French bean, almond and anchovy salad starter was light and refreshing using top quality anchovies. The jesus du pay basque salami with celeriac remoulade was generous and very tasty. The veal chop with roquefort butter was absolutely delicious as was the bavette steak with a horseradish remoulade. Both dishes included fries. The side of creamed spinach with foie gras was pleasant for dipping the fries but didn’t really have a distinct flavour and we wouldn’t order again. The crème caramel is as good as the plaudits it receives, however, be warned it is extremely rich. Cheeses, particularly the bleu d’auvergne, were lovely and a good size. Definitely one of our favourite lunches of the year and we have already booked to return.

Yes its hard to get a table but boy is it worth it. The best French food outside Paris without a doubt. Great and knowledgeable service but with humour. Superb wine list and food that you simply can't beat. We came for an anniversary lunch and enjoyed calves brains, ham and celeriac remoulade followed by the best skate wing I have ever eaten, veal chop with Roquefort great chips and the don't miss spinach with fois grass. Managed to find room for the addictive creme caramel and prune and rice pudding. Each dish was spot on. This is probably my favorite restaurant in London. Thank you Henry and team for another fab lunch.

Took a long time to find availability online. A variety of menu, good portion sizes, and good wine. Quite happy in general.

It was a struggle to get a booking for this place, I had to do it nearly a month in advance. While I had seen some mixed reviews, this was one of the final places I planned on bringing my parents before they left the UK, so I had high hopes for this place. They definitely weren't let down. The restaurant was very cosy, with likely less than 20 tables above a bar. It was relatively comfortable sitting by the window. We only ordered 3 dishes and all were bangers: First was the chicken liver, which came with a baguette. The chicken liver, despite its looks, was extremely rich in flavour without being overwhelming. It was the right balance even eaten on its own, but enhanced by the baguette. Honestly the bread might have stolen the show, because my mother (who hates baguettes with a passion because they're too hard) still enjoyed hers. Next was the Tete de Veau, which was slow cooked to perfection, almost melting on the tongue. Despite this, neither the texture nor the taste was compromised, unlike the feeling you get from leftover meat scraps in a soup reheated several times. I had seen some negative comments about this from others, but either I got really lucky or there is a significant difference in expectation, because I couldn't have been happier with this. The final dish we ordered was the cote de bouef. Admittedly I chose this mostly as a hedge if the other dishes were misses, which I needn't have worried about. The meat was cooked medium rare as ordered, with a delightful bite and good flavour. It was the most unremarkable dish of the three, though this is by no means a critique but rather a nod to the excellence of the other two dishes. What stole the show were the fries, which I got refills of because the salt was just delightful. It's difficult to describe, but the grain of the salt on the fries was incredible. I know some people raise concerns at the price, but realistically for the quality you're getting this is great value. Other places have offered far less while charging far more. It's a shame we were too full for desert, but I will be returning in the future, and advising any friends visiting London to pay a visit. That their location is just a stone's through from Farringdon, which is conveniently on the Elizabeth line, is just the feather on the cap.

Came with family to celebrate a birthday. Friendly service, big exciting chalk boards, starters £18 and up, mains £26 and up… mainly downhill from there… Starters mostly disappointing: Steak tartare was muddy and lacking finesse - think beef mince gone brown with a few capers thrown in, nothing fresh or delicate about it, and served warm on one of the hottest days of the year. Could not finish - £26 Tina carpaccio was just odd - fatty unappetising slices in weird fruity marinade - £29.50 Herrings - bland at £12.50 Half dozen oysters fresh and lovely, but no skill to prepare - £26 Chicken liver pâté was delightful - chef’s grandmother’s 50 year old recipe. They had better not lose that one, otherwise they would be in real trouble. Mains considerably better - duck sharing plate £78, rabbit £26.50, calves liver £34 were decent (esp. calves liver) but contorni pretty awful. Deserts were ok but nothing special special. Butter, bread, olives, water etc. all dutifully charged, plus £35 corkage, £75 for magnum. And of course 12.5% optional (if slightly embarrassingly undeserved) service charge slapped on top. An ok experience, but not much generosity of hospitality, and certainly not an experience I would wish to repeat.

This restaurant was rather a disappointment having taken my wife there for a birthday lunch. The starters were nice but not memorable. My wife ordered the Rabbit in mustard sauce. The sauce was very salty with rather too much mustard but the worst thing was that when she cut into the leg , it was bloody nearer the bone. We called the waiter who was insistent that every dish was temperature probed before it left the kitchen. My wife by then had been put off and left the remainder of the meal. Lastly, my wife ordered a herbal tea and was informed that they did not serve tea which seemed odd for a French restaurant when surely a Tisane is a normal way to finish a meal.

This place gets very good reviews - I went there for dinner with a group of friends on a weekday, and it was packed. While the starters and desserts were unremarkable, apart from the portions being on the small side, the meat dishes we were served were truly terrible. These were large cuts for two - one of mutton, the other of veal. There was very little of the veal, which consisted mostly of bones. As for the mutton (presented in slices), even though I was given a steak knife, I couldn't manage to cut it up, let alone chew it. An absolute disgrace, and had I not been in a group, it would have gone straight back to the kitchen. Without doubt, the worst meat dish I have had in more than five decades of eating out.

Really excellent lunch which we greatly enjoyed. Came to £190 for two (£95 a head) for very good three course meal with wine. Here are details: 6 oysters - excellent, meaty Chicken liver pate-memorably good/home made Rabbit in mustard sauce (Mrs B loved it) Bavette in st Marcelin sauce - I enjoyed it though had expected (wrongly) something a little more mustardy. But all v well cooked. Bavette lovely and rare. Creamed spinach vg Bottle of gavi de gavi £52.30 served at correct temperature. Delicious. Pot of chocolate shared - delicious Two double espressos Positives: superb service, nice table under skylight so restaurant lovely and bright; no Muzak so it was easy to hear; not rushed to leave (stayed for 2.5 hours); a wide ranging menu and clearly a lot of tempting nice things on it. Restaurant is easy unpretentious but smart. Negatives: none really. I mean: London's expensive but this is really excellent value by the standards of London dining today. Well done Racine. Will definitely come back m. On leaving I told waiter: "Je pars cher Theramenes et quitte le séjour de l'aimable Troezene....Mais je retournerai"

I have walked past this place every day for years and never knew what lie behind it's red facade. I thought it was just a pub but its not 'just' anything. The restaurant upstairs is a total breath of fresh air culinary wise. French peasant food or that sort of genre sounds unappealing like that yet the way it is served it is an absolute treat. I am not saying the ingredients are cheap merely it's style is like a French St Johns, I hope they will see that is actually a huge compliment. Tete a veau, Cheese on toast with truffle, Assiette de canard, Veal chop with roquefort butter...everything was truly scrumptious and interesting. Maybe that's the additional factor X...I found myself researching what a Bouchon was, the chef and his history and also having things that I had not tried before. We had to descend to the pub downstairs to eat our deserts as they needed the table back, normally this for me would signal alarm bells yet I felt powerless to say anything but ok fine. And the perfect final symphony they were... Interesting, tasty, moreish, reasonably priced for the quality of food, exceptional service......as I said please do not book there under any circumstances. Merci

Buchone Racine does everything brilliantly and is well worth visiting. Great food, with knowledgeable and friendly service. Will be returning soon.

So glad that we stumbled upon this restaurant. Exceptional food, great ambiance and perfect service. The Magret de Canard sharing plate was fantastic. We are already looking forward to our next meal at Bouchon Racine.

Fabulous food with fabulous service. Not cheap but worth it. You get what you pay for as the saying goes. Went for my birthday and had a great time.

One of the best meals I’ve ever had. My husband and I joined our group of friends to celebrate their 40th birthday. As pescatarians, we were hoping there would be some fish/veggie options and we were spoilt for choice. I would like to start by saying how incredible the staff were, no request was too much trouble, I had a question about the possibility of making one of the starters/sides vegetarian and of course, it was no problem. Everyone we met went out of their way to make us feel welcome, made genuine conversations and seemed to really care about their diners. They were so attentive, no glass ever left empty and were a joy to be around. Some of the many restaurants in London could learn a thing or to from your wonderful staff. Being pregnant I couldn’t enjoy the bottles of wine our friends were having and asked for a lemonade, the waitress suggested some blood orange soda to be served with it and it was delicious - these small tiny gestures mean so much to someone who isn’t drinking. For starters we enjoyed the delicious raclette on toast with truffle which was also very kindly made vegetarian for us, for mains we ordered the haddock with leeks which was hands down best piece of fish/main course we both agreed we had ever had. I know the menu changes seasonally but I would love to see this as a permanent feature - it was simply heavenly and I will be dreaming of it for a very, very long time. Alongside this we had some beautifully cooked chips and creamed spinach (again made vegetarian). For pudding we devoured the creme caramel (Giles Coren was right) and the chocolate pot with créme fraîche - get both, you only live once. An incredible meal, wonderful staff and a beautiful restaurant. Thank you for a fantastic evening - we can’t wait to return!

A second visit for me, this time in a table of 4. The welcome, service, explanation of the menu is all friendly and effective. The wine list is short and quite reasonable. Food was delicious. Across the group we covered many bases and everyone enjoyed their choices.

It is brilliant to have Henry Harris back at the pans. For anyone who loves genuine French bistro cooking, HH has always been the yardstick for quality, value and authenticity. Tête de Veau Ravigotte may not be everone's idea of joy (cue exceptionally puzzled Americans at the next table as a large large slice of jellified calf's head appears), but it's mine and you won't find better this side of Lyons (forget Paris). Celeriac Remoulade is a lesson in the real thing. It comes with loads of Jesus de Lyon salami, but I'd be happy with just the veg. Eggs Mayonnaise with Anchovies likewise. This is mayonnaise to die with, for and on. As with every place like this, it's hard to get a table. Do persist and you'll eat better than Macron.

Everything was good, but a bit too rich. Warm chicken liver mousse, delicious but rich. Pork rillette very meaty, very tasty. Veal kidneys beautifully cooked, went well with lentils and mustard and cream sauce, again fairly rich. Bavette steak, cooked rare which is as it should be, with st marcellin sauce, a little tough but excellent flavour. Again a rich dish. Creamed spinach with foie gras quite strong and very rich, we couldn’t finish it. Service and ambiance lovely, would definitely go again, but choosing a little more thoughtfully!

This is an authentic French restaurant above a pub so easy to miss. You will have to book however. Eclectic inside with well spaced tables the menu is typical French country cooking with a haute cuisine flair. You will find rabbit, calf's brain, luxury cheese on toast, milk fed lamb's kidneys on the menu as well as more conventional dishes. The staff are fun and helpful with the restaurant best for a romantic meal or small party. You pay for the experience, of course, with our bill at around £100 each although we had exactly what dishes and drinks that we wanted.

Was treated to a business lunch. Stunning authentic food, wonderful service. Will return as this is my first visit.

I was invited here for a Christmas lunch by a long standing friend and client (who was recommended to try it by another colleague) so it was three of us celebrating the festive season. A great location right by Farringdon Station and a decent pub downstairs. Upstairs is very buzzy and the fantastic stuff bring giant blackboards round and explain all the dishes (which is very useful as it is pretty much all in French). It was one of those occasions when I wished I had more than one stomach as I could have opted for so many choices. Three of us shared a Cote de Boef and Maigret de Canard (sincere apologies for spelling mistakes!) and they were lovely, especially the beef. I must admit I'd have liked to try the calf brain (never had anything like that before) so hoping I will get back before too long. I noted there weren't any solo reviews on here so maybe I'll be the first - I certainly wouldn't feel out of place dining on my own - bring it on!!

I’d seen great press coverage so was over the moon to get a table for my Birthday on a Friday at 2.30pm. Fantastic at every moment… from telephone booking with Dave, brilliant service from Tom, Joe and young team to the cute window table looking out over Farringdon. Perfect rosé champagne, delicious Alsace Pinot, classic French charcuterie starter from Basque region with lentils and husband had egg mayonnaise. Main course of rabbit was set off with delicious mustard sauce and frites, and husband enjoyed his monkfish and didn’t share!! Other diners told me the crème caramel is amazing, but I loved my pear and almond tart! We shared the interesting cheese selection, finished off with great coffee and digestifs. We were not hurried and lingered over a fabulous 3 hour lunch with brilliant, charming service. Unpretentious, relaxed vibe and a memorable menu. It felt like a ‘brave’ menu with interesting options and some great classics…. I even tried the egg mayonnaise… dared myself, as I don’t eat eggs!! Childhood fad, maybe overcome by the magic mood of this lovely relaxed restaurant!? Thanks all! Great Birthday treat!

I've read the other positive reviews and agree with them all! We had waited for a long time to get a booking and it was all worth it - fantastic chicken liver pate, beautifully cooked rabbit in mustard sauce and the creme caramel looked so fantastic that I broke my own no-sugar rule! The tongue was also declared delicious, but that's an acquired taste I don't have. Service was brilliant too. Just wish the wine list was a bit cheaper...

This little gem in Faringdon is now easily my favourite restaurant in London! Charming, cosy and inviting, the staff are all EXCEPTIONAL! Incredible knowledge of the menu and the food that was being served and all done with such enthusiasm. Food is DELICIOUS! And interesting...

Second visit, just as great a meal as the first. Great food, service and atmosphere. The waiters are friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. Standout courses for me - the rabbit and the creme caramel, which were both absolutely scrumptious. My 4 friends all made...

Never disappoints! A friendly welcome from staff who seemed genuinely to enjoy welcoming diners is always a good start to a nice lunch :-) The menu changes regularly so is presented on large blackboards which are periodically re-positioned to allow diners to ponder over their...

We were delighted to be invited to Bouchon Racine by friends as a celebration of birthdays, glad of a chance to eat genuine French food in London. Our experience did not live up to the extravagant reviews. Of the starters the herring with potato salad...

just exceptional....relaxed, friendly service..food was perfect...classic french calves brains and rabbit main. liver pate and veal chop for my friend. Dessert to good to pass up... house red and white.....Front of house making sure everyting was tip top on his night off ! 100 pc...

FABULOUS. Can't say more or less than that. Staff, service, food, ambiance, drink. Just all brilliant.

Racine sets the bar for French food in London. As a fan of Racine in Knightsbridge previously I can confirm that the superb and authentic style continues here - but in a more laid back accessible style. The service is impeccable, being attentive and professional...

Finally managed to make it here; booking online appears quite straightforward if one takes advantage of the three month window early enough. My observation was that there were a couple of 2 person tables not used so a walk-in for a couple might be a...

Having read the critics reviews and received recommendations from friends, I secured a booking about 6 weeks away & it was worth the wait. The menu is on a chalk board & changes pretty regularly. Service is friendly and prompt without being intrusive. Food quality...

Had the most amazing lunch, with the best table in the restaurant by the window. Service was discreet but very attentive. Loved everything about the whole experience

My Son and his partner treated me to dinner here for my 70th birthday and mighty impressed we all were too! I had the sardines to start, followed by the Halibut and finished off by a large dish of strawberries. We had a bottle of...

We were 2 adults and 2 young kids that visited on a Saturday evening. The restaurant has an unassuming location taking up residence on the top floor of the Three Compasses pub. It a casual but comfortable spot with nicely spaced out tables. The constantly...

This now might be my favourite restaurant in London. I wanted everything on the menu but settled for the chicken liver pate and the duck to share. The duck especially was exceptional. We'll 100% be back.

Great French restsurant in Faringdon. Book and go, recommended. Excellent blackboard menu. Good wines as well.

Literally just back home from Having the best lunch 🍽️ I can remember eating in decades. The first floor restaurant is not large but so homely, welcoming and relaxed with a nice glass frontage letting in light. The front of house staff obviously love their...

A great experience ; Humble but charming decor created a relaxed , informal setting. Moorish authentic country style French cooking that transports you back to the best food you might have tasted on a distant French holiday only it’s better than that. Unlike many restaurants...

I was surprised with lunch here recently. Little did I know that reservations here are virtually impossible to get, as since coming I am now constantly on their site trying to find another one to get back here! In all my many travels in and...

If you are lucky enough to get a booking you are really in for a treat! We had the most amazing lunch here and all of us left blown away. I had the rabbit which was superb but my friends all loved there dishes too....

Had dinner at this restaurant last January and was very impressed. I’ve read some negative reviews recently so I was pleased to find it as good as last time. The service was excellent. I had the brains (excellent) followed by the lamb. The sauce was...

We saw all the five star reviews, the comments from newspaper restaurant critics, raving about the food and we booked to visit, months in advance. We were expecting a treat. We did not get one. The restaurant is lovely, the music quiet and the service...

My friend and I have been wanting to try this place for months so expectations were high. The relaxed atmosphere is a welcome change from many London restaurants, some of whom appear to be trying to win the accolade of 'most pretentious' rather than focusing...

WOW, what a find, I'll be back . . . . let me start. . . super atmosphere, its cosy, and a buzzy little spot, with all walks of life there, couples enjoying the view on the terrace and groups in the main body of...

Having read a couple of critics reviews, i knew i had to visit this new restaurant....but boy, i had a long wait for the reservation - BUT IT WAS WORTH IT! Service was tiptop with good advice and full of smiles despite being very busy....

My daughter booked this fir my birthday(which was in March) but this was the first table available. We had a great table in the atrium, by the window and our waiter was Peter, who was so attentive and patient with us as my daughter does...

On Saturday afternoon, we tried our luck for lunch at a popular French restaurant in London. The uber driver couldn’t drop us off in front of the restaurant because of construction so we walked the rest of the way. There were hundreds of people shouting...

For a restaurant with such good reviews I was shocked at how badly it was staffed. Wine was served too warm, Had to ask to be served. Food was poorly cooked with a first course of steak tartare being under seasoned and very bland. The...

Was really looking forward to eating here, having had to book a few months in advance to secure a table. Lovely space and relaxed, but efficient service, from charming wait staff. So, let’s get the easy, uncontentious stuff out of the way. The starters and...

I went for a birthday dinner with my mum, sister, sister’s partner and my brother. The restaurant is tiny and in order to get a table you have to book at least 5 months in advance which is a shame. It was boiling inside and...

This place is fantastic. Everything a restaurant should be. Great produce cooked beautifully and friendly staff.

I don't know how to get across quite how much I love this place. So often you go to recommended dining spots, only to be surrounded by more people photographing their plates than enjoying them. This is a proper eating house - run by people...

ok, not special. Friendly, if distracted, service, and nice enough food. Quite pricey. "Bonne table" but in no way "vaut le voyage"

Quintessentially French. The quality of the cooking is amazing. The restaurant is cosy, homely, but at the same time a very light and beautiful dining space. Its just a lovely place to be with friends and eat. But why did I like it most? Because...

Not brassierie but a wonderful "homage" to the bouchons of Lyon (Paul Bocuse is referenced on the walls). A genuine warm welcome and likely the best servo=ice in any London restaraunt. The menu is excellent: tete de veau,tripe, rabbit in dijon mustard sauce, Also the...

Great food, exceptional service - reasonably priced. Not a restaurant for vegetarians or vegans, nothing wrong with that but there are now plenty of places covering those requirements (bala baya anyone). There were only 2 fish options and one vegetarian on the board. My friends...

Just feet away from Farringdon tube this is a medium sized first floor restaurant. The reviews are not wrong - the food is absolutely brilliant. You could be in Paris - but the welcome is warmer, the service more friendly, the food is better and...

Superior French bistro cooking, missed a maximum because sauces slightly oversalted to a modern taste. Good, relaxed service lost a point when the waiter topped up our wineglasses overenthusiastically without being asked. Very lively atmosphere up steep stairs to what is essentially rooms over a...

We had an amazing experience at Bouchon Racine. The restaurant is full of character and beautifully set out. The food is amazing and served by very knowledgable staff who understand exactly what is on the menu. They are more than happy to take you through...

What a delight this place is - it's a French restaurant that is not afraid to serve French food. The menu included calf's brain, and sweetbreads for example, with a main of tete de veau. Unusual to see these on menus outside of France -or...

Great to see Henry Harris back on form. We sadly missed the original Racine when it closed as it was on our must visit list each time we went to London, His signature Lapin au Moutarde is as good as ever. We shall be back.

This is such a lovely restaurant, with simple and stylish decor plus, blessedly, no music. We had a perfect table overlooking Cowcross Street and warm, skilled and enthusiastic service from Lily and Andy. After a bloody Mary and a glass of champagne respectively before lunch,...

Simply outstanding. Blown away. From the moment of arrival where David takes the time to welcome you, to the food cooked by Henry to the lovely ambience of the restaurant and reasonably priced wine list. And the food is outstanding. I dare you to taste...

One of those rare times when Trip Advisor reviews and the Pro reviews are in agreement. This place is outstanding. Amazing menu. Kitchen team - 10/10. Front of house 10/10. Room vibes 10/10, we all knew we were having a lovely time. Ring them up...

This is food heaven ,just the best creme caramel in town!.the food is classic and just wonderful. Just some of the best food in town.

An absolute joy. A daily and seasonal menu - not for the faint hearted - warm, friendly, casual, chatty, delightful, a joy. the pickled herring just right not to acidic, the pork rillette just enough soft buttery fat. Rabbit for main soft and succulent and...

A simply marvellous meal at Henry Harris’s new restaurant. French food simply done and dare I say simply delicious. The chicken liver pate is sublime and so is the cote de boeuf! The room is spacious and the service is discreet and second to none....

Amazing reviews in the press so we decided to give it a go. Not disappointed. Excellent service - the best I encountered in London for a long time. Everything we had was excellent: Bayonne ham, rillettes of pork, escarole salad, Confit de canard, rabbit, chips...

Incredible experience. A long lunch with friends enjoying exquisite French cooking in a relaxed and welcoming environment. There was nothing we didn’t enjoy inclusive of calf’s brains, delicate and tasty, oysters, fresh and zingy, snails full of parsley and garlic sauce and the most comforting...

Seriousuly old school French food with an emphasis on cheap cuts and offlal,probably from around the corner in Smithfields market..Nothing wrong with that, but punters should be aware this is uncompromising cooking.I loved the oxe tongue with choucroute.The brains were swimming in oil,so less enjoyable.The...

It is great to have Henry Harris’s culinary skills back in London. The glass roof and floor to ceiling windows on the first floor create a lovely environment, and together with the well executed varied menu and helpful team, we enjoyed a delicious lunch. I...

Beautifully cooked French bistro menu on a chalk board. Lovely ambiance with immaculate friendly service (thank you Joe)...Good, and not overpriced, wine list but the quality of the food is what I am already missing two hours after getting home. The only thing that surprised...

Just the most wonderful atmosphere. Fabulous menu of all my favourite things. Exceptional staff. A great addition to the Farringdon area.