Casse-Croute in Southwark

We went to the restaurant after booking a couple of weeks in advance but years of saying we really wanted to go. It looks the part and is lovely inside. Sadly, the food was disappointing. Starters were at best, good. The mains, however, were incredibly poor. I had fish (on the bone) with new potatoes and my partner had the steak. It quite literally was just fat, and had no taste whatsoever. The table right next to us had the same and pushed it around their plates before leaving promptly. My partner mentioned to the waiter his dislike and was met with a 'stare' that was then directed at me ? I was shocked at the unprofessionalism. As the restaurant is small, it was very awkward. Anyway, we paid our £120 and left. We will not be returning. Had we had a more professional waiter, we would've just put it down to making the wrong choice on the menu - but it was actually the waiters response that made our mind up that we a) would not be returning, and b) wrote this review.

Stopped here on a chance whilst my train was delayed. Someone here knows what they are doing. Great service, authentic French cuisine, and well sourced wine. All reasonably priced. A gem that I will return to.

Beautiful restaurant, great food and wine. Service is lovely and they’re kind enough to translate the menu for you.

Superb authentic French food- 10/10

My first foray into London bistro food. It’s hyper local, food is obviously (by that logic) great. Customer isn’t really always right here. Don’t do for guest experience but the wholesomeness of it all - food, drinks (priced reasonably and somehow from the FoH always happy to help to navigate it) and the delicious desserts. They do a brunch coffee, with a tart or a pudding - and I’ve had several of those over a cigarette on my lunch breaks. It all happens here - and lucky if you’re in the neighbourhood. :) PS: I actually drew my 2020-21 Christmas card around a meal I had there, post lockdown.

Had a wonderful time here on a Saturday afternoon. Place was packed. Food absolutely delicious 😋. Will defo go back when I'm next in the area. Staff great.

La comida era muy buena, expertamente sazonada, fresca y sabrosa. El servicio fue excelente, amable y rápido. Gran ambiente. Sin duda volveremos! 😍

Realmente disfrutamos de nuestro banquete de 3 platos en este bistró francés. Menú limitado a 3 opciones para cada curso y así qué. Obtiene excelente comida en un menú, que se actualiza constantemente. Ambiente vibrante agradable vino suave. Londres a diferencia de los precios de París, pero usted está en Londres! Muy recomendable

This is a sublime French restaurant to spend a special occasion—or even a mundane one. Thoughtfully prepared dishes in a cosy setting. You can sit outside when the sun is shining. Rotating, seasonal menu. Oh là là.

lovely restaurant great food and a lovely location, service was great very relaxed atmosphere

Such a disappointing meal,we shared slow cooked Lamb didn't fall off bone as expected and was slimy inside. Sorry but will not be back expected so much more.

Stopped by for lunch here and I had a great time. The two staff were helpful and translated the menu for me (it was written in French). I had the boeuf en croute and a glass of wine: both were spectacular. The restaurant itself had a cute vintage "grandma's front room" decor. I look forward to going again.

Great service, cosy and intimate atmosphere. Very authentic French food.

Este restaurante es todo lo que quieres para una cena. El ambiente es de primera categoría y da una auténtica sensación francesa. Pero lo más importante es que la comida es fantástica. Todo estaba delicioso sin ninguna arrogancia asociada con la buena comida tradicional. 10 / 10 recomendaría.

Beef Wellington is out of this world! Casse-croute is such a charming little French restaurant. Had the table all Sunday afternoon. Service staff really friendly. Wines were also great (Beaujolais particularly)

It’s really cosy and atmospheric. Unfortunately they just didn’t nail it with the food. For the price, everything should have been utterly delicious. Ultimately we found my salmon starter delicious and everything else was just fine. Quite large portion sizes.

I've been about 10 times now and one of the few London restaurants that I will always love coming back to.

A delicious meal. Each course had a great deal of thought and preparation put into it.

Éramos un grupo de cinco, que a menudo tienen gustos muy diferentes, pero todos nos encantó Casse - Croute. Es un menú pequeño, solo 3 opciones por curso, pero está bien ejecutado. Los tamaños de las porciones eran generosos y deliciosos. Un amigo, que sabe mucho más sobre vinos que yo, pensó que la carta de vinos pequeños también era buena. Un miembro del personal nos habló a través del menú de pizarra escrito en francés. El servicio fue rápido cuando hicimos una señal para más pan o vino. Es un lugar pequeño, pero tenía un buen zumbido. Sin bar para pre-bebidas, fuimos al pub al otro lado de la calle. Necesidad de reservar con antelación.

We had a blast! Sharing a pot of excellent rillettes, a fish dish and a beef crust. For dessert, delicious crepe Suzette. The menu is on the slate and changes regularly. Impeccable service. With a good bottle of rosé, the tips cost £140. Great

We only stopped for a coffee outside but I must say it’s a perfect people watching spot. Service was spot on and super fast and the coffee was excellent!

Tuvimos una gran comida que solo tenía una desventaja (bastante material) (ver más tarde). La comida era excelente, porciones generosas y realmente muy delicioso. Gran ambiente, animado. Lo malo era el servicio. La francesa de la trenza larga era brillante, impecable. El francés con la camisa a cuadros y el pelo abultado era realmente horrible. Fue grosero, describió mal varios platos del menú (tuvimos que pedir dos veces aclaraciones a la excelente francesa) , no pudo responder a ninguna pregunta muy básica con respecto a la carta de vinos (teniendo en cuenta que no es larga) y se irritó cuando se le preguntó, no trajo artículos solicitados (y nuevamente se irritó cuando se le preguntó) , y en general fue muy grosero con una manera muy extraña. Nos hizo sentir como si fuéramos generalmente un inconveniente (y somos super bajo mantenimiento / bajo esfuerzo y ordenó tres cursos cada uno con cero solicitudes especiales). Volveríamos de no ser por él.

A very busy little restaurant with a great atmosphere. I made an appointment at 8:30 and rushed all the way to order the meal at almost 9 o'clock. The appetizer was celery soup. The strong and unpleasant celery flavor that I expected was completely absent. It had a very creamy taste. This soup was really delicious. There is also a beef salad as an appetizer. The sauce in the salad part is very surprising. You will be surprised at the first bite. The main course was duck breast and sea bass. Duck breast is served with mashed potatoes and a little salad. The sauce is a little bit heavy, but if you mix it with mashed potatoes, it won't be so abrupt. The green leafy vegetables that go with the seabass are so rich, and they are not fishy or greasy at all. It is the first time I eat seabass with such a large number of vegetables. It is really great. The dessert is pistachio soufflé, which is very fragrant and crispy and melts in your mouth. Their menu is different every day. I like this kind of restaurant very much. It doesn’t matter if you don’t understand it. The waiter will help you explain it in English and tell you what is included in the main meal. If you don't know the wine list when ordering wine, you can ask them to pair the wine with your meal. It will be a great experience for the whole night. Strong recommendation. btw it’s really busy so be sure to book a spot in advance.

Great food and vibe. Portions were small and the food was a bit too expensive. You need to book in advance and the menu changes regularly it seems. If in dire need of some authentic French food and you're happy to pay for it, I'd recommend this place

One of the best meals I have had at a restaurant for a very long time and I'm a regular diner. Great traditional French atmosphere, wine and service. What's not to love!

After living in S.E. London for 12 years, we finally visited here June 2022, glad we did too. A little cute restaurant on the corner, sitting outside in the summer, aided with a Picon Bière, was lovely. Such top quality food, the portions were very good too. The service is inexcusably French too, so don’t mess about! ;)

Such a lovely place. The menu changes every day and it is always a delight. Great service, great food, great wine selection. A perfect place for a cute dinner as a couple or with a few friends.

Extremely kind service and the food was delicious.

Este es un verdadero bistró francés fuera de Francia ( soy francés ) , cada plato es perfecto o casi perfecto maravilloso equipo , vinos increíbles .

Esta es una verdadera joya, un menú pequeño, elección de tres entrantes y tres principales, pero cada plato que probamos fue excelente. Junto con un ambiente íntimo y un gran servicio, vale la pena visitarlo.

Burned my mouth on scalding hot soup. No warning given. Casse- croûte is a small French bistro style restaurant. I ordered soupe de champignons as my starter. The first spoonful was so hot it caused burns to my tongue & the roof of my mouth. I am still in pain several hours later & may require medical treatment. Of course, you expect soup to be served hot, obviously. BUT if it is served at such a scaldingly hot temperature that it could cause physical burns, the customer should always be warned properly and advised to allow it to cool to a safe temperature. I was given no such warning.

Casse - croûte es un pequeño restaurante de estilo bistró francés. Pedí sopa de champignons como entrada. La primera cucharada estaba tan caliente que me causó quemaduras en la lengua y el techo de la boca. Todavía tengo dolor varias horas después y puede requerir tratamiento médico. Por supuesto, esperas que la sopa se sirva caliente, obviamente. PERO si se sirve a una temperatura tan caliente que pueda causar quemaduras físicas, el cliente siempre debe ser advertido adecuadamente y aconsejado para que se enfríe. No se me dio tal advertencia.

Always outstanding. Third time here at Xmas with friends 🧡, very enjoyable 😉. Recommend you book upto a month in advance. Buzzing atmosphere, place is small but perfectly formed!

...small & cosy.Simply,no fuss and very good food. Perfect

A great and classic French bistro. Just what we were looking for after a long flight.

Generous portion sizes, lovely atmosphere and great service. Will visit again!

I used to live in France and to put it mildly it was astonishing. Just amazing, I would go back in a heartbeat

Amazing food, really cosy lovely French bistro and good wine. They were good at up-selling, however never mentioned the 2 hour window for dinner at the time of booking or when we reorder wine with our cheese. So got suddenly asked (for us!) to pay and leave the table with 4 people waiting next to us for our space. No explanation or apologies. Didn't get to finish the wine, barely had time to put our knife down for the cheese. A disappointed end to a lovely meal, especially for the price we paid.

Small, cosy French restaurant. A bit pricey, but the food is really good!

This place is amazing. If you're thinking of jumping on a train, plane or automobile to France for proper French cuisine, don't bother. Your money will be better spent here. Absolutely faultless.

Chewing this meat felt like I accidentally ordered the 'Gym Membership Special' every bite was a full-body workout! I’m pretty sure my jaw gained muscle mass by the end of the meal. If you’re looking for a dinner that doubles as exercise, this is your golden ticket. Forget protein shakes, just gnaw on this for 45 minutes. Would I recommend it? Only if you’re training for the Chewy Meat Olympics 😂

Favourite restaurant in SE1. Always been amazing.

Classic French bistro 🇫🇷🥖 Feel like I went back to France 😍 From starter to dessert, everything was so good! Especially the main dish pigeon, the best pigeon I had recently!!! Tender, meaty and cooked perfectly, with the sauce was 💯 For dessert, I had the Mont Blanc Chou and Crème Brûlée, both were good but my love Mont Blanc 😆 will visit again ❤️

Small so recommend booking. Great vibes and lovely food/wine. Will definitely return.

Este es un lugar pintoresco. Un lugar muy pequeño, estilo bistró con un ambiente cálido e íntimo (tiene mesas diminutas) que te hace sentir que estás en un pequeño rincón de París. Tenía grandes esperanzas - mi primo, que es francés y un buen cocinero como yo, ha comido allí y lo encontró sabroso. Sin embargo, eso fue hace bastante tiempo. Estaba decepcionado. La sopa de vichysoise era verde brillante y tenía un sabor desagradable. Fue reticente de las horribles sopas servidas por los cafés National Trust, basados en el tipo más barato de catering en polvo, algo parecido al pegamento, que han estado sentados en un gran "caldero de catering". No había evidencia de ningún puerro. Quería devolverlo, pero esto habría molestado a mi amigo. Le fue mejor con su elección de paté, pero estaba bien. La red era mejor. La mejilla de ternera cocinada en salsa bourguignon era cálida y auténtica y su plato de pescado se servía en una sabrosa salsa que contenía buen caldo, acompañado de una encantadora variedad de verduras. Lamentablemente, el pescado estaba demasiado cocido y por lo tanto ligeramente seco. En cuanto a nuestro vino, está bien. En resumen, esta comida no era nada para escribir en casa y bastante caro para lo que era. Yo recomendaría ir a Casse - Croute solo para los aperitivos del bar. Solo puedo presumir, en base a otras críticas, que este restaurante se ha ido a la olla, o estaba teniendo un mal día... No oí acento francés entre sus comensales, lo que supongo que es una mala señal.

We really enjoyed every single dish! Especially beef Wellington. House red wine was lovely as well. Casserole Croute restaurant is cozy, it reminds so many places in France! We will definitely be back and recommend to friends!

What a fantastic meal. Absolutely faultless. Intimate french bistrot with a daily changing menu.

What a great find this was Once inside its like been in a restaurant in France Menu choice was limited which I find is perfect Daily specials board Food and wine were tip top

The food was good but some small touches could've made the experience even better such as menus in french and English as well as the fish being de-boned.

Lovely little bistro minutes away from London Bridge station. Great food and wine! Really authentic french experience 😊👍

Authentic french food. The flavours without the fuss. Loves it.

The food was generally very good although I was disappointed by the desert. The atmosphere is nice and cozy. Definitely on the pricier side but I would say the food deserves the price tag. However in the context of that price, while the service is fine, the 15% service charge left a bit of a sour taste at the end of the meal.

Lovely atmosphere and love the old school feeling and having to call and make a booking etc. As the menu changes I suppose it really depends on when you go how happy you will be. We weren’t overly impressed with tonights selection but have friends who have gone and had the beef wellington and said that it was to die for. So I think it can be hit and miss due to the menu selection

Good overall experience and great service. The issue was the lack of options left on the menu. Little surprised as we arrived at 8:15 to find even on the tiny menu things had run out. Would recommend getting there earlier in the evening. Cassoulet was excellent. Cheese selection was OK, was hoping for ripe gooey cheese but not the case. Would I go again, definitely but I would go earlier.

Esto fue fabuloso desde la cálida bienvenida a la comida. Sin duda recomendaría, me sentí que estaba en Francia el ambiente era increíble la comida deliciosa.

Delicious and lovely atmosphere

Friendly staff, cosy restaurant. The beef wellington was a little rare for me.

At least fourth time of visiting. I have just noticed either the chef changed or the seasonal menu is not the best this time (September 2024). Absolutely very French and nice take on the courses. Note the portions are quite big. Reserve beforehand or low chance finding a table.

Delicious food, great service. What I particularly appreciated was that they serve wine by the glass at the same price per glass as by the 500ml carafe or 750ml bottle.

Loved this place! Felt like we stepped out of London into Paris. Everything here reinstated my love for classic French cuisine. Especially liked the mushroom starter and pork mains.

Absolument délicieux. Charming restaurant with excellent service. If you want authentic French cuisine in a delightful and quaint restaurant. Come here!

Had a lovely meal at this French restaurant, it brought back happy memories of our recent holiday in France.

Sublime. Simply the most authentic French dining experience outside of France itself, seriously impressed with this absolute gem. Short menu (no bad thing) and sensational wine list. 10/10

Small cosy restaurant. Food was pretty good. I wouldn’t say it’s 100% authentic French cuisine. Menu very limited choices. Service was very average. Hard to justify 15% service charge when more high end restaurants only charge 12.5%.

Proper french place, the menu changes daily and the food is great. They have a very generous and affordable serving of rillette de porc, great for apéro.

Really lovely, cosy French restaurant in Bermondsey! Food was super authentic, and I liked how there was a small menu. However limited vegetarian options.

Disappointing Experience While the food was excellent, the service left much to be desired. I requested my £30 steak to be cooked medium instead of medium rare, but the chef refused. It’s frustrating to encounter such inflexibility, especially at these prices. Good food, but poor service and attitude. I won’t be returning.

Amazing little restaurant! Food was delicious, they adapted the plate for me since I don’t eat red meat. And it was simply great. Wine selection is also very good.

Beef filet en croute was the highlight!

Food was genuinely very delicious but the service was disappointing. We waited over 30 minutes for 2 beers and a wine and when the bill came, we noticed we had been overcharged for items we hadn’t ordered.

We happened upon this place through a recommendation. We had an excellent meal. The staff were the right side of attentive and knowledgeable yet not over bearing and the food, atmosphere and wine were excellent. We'll be back for sure.

Great local restaurant with beautiful and hardy French food. And great waitstaff!

The venue is lovely and the atmosphere wonderful. Wanted to come here for years. There were three of us. All loved our starters. Two of the mains (monkfish and bavette steak) were great. Duck cassoulet was poor. Very tough to the extent that I gave up trying to remove the meat from the bone. Desserts were brilliant. Overall I'd say that the vibe is good but the sister restaurant, Pique Nique, does better food.

Visited on a Tuesday and had an early evening meal. First impressions were good - felt like an authentic French eatery with the battered bar for people who just want a glass of red or espresso. We got a snug table near the street from where we could see the famous black board. Chose Fish soup for a starter which was excellent - packed full of flavour - not too heavy but equally no mistaking the garlic, pepper and stock. The main course was disappointing in comparison though - another fish dish but it wasn't quite hot (or tasty) enough to justify the price tag. I believe that if it were to take itself a bit more seriously, and do away with some of the indifference (not a bad thing per se but feels like it's getting in the way of a really great customer experience here) Casse Croute could be a 5 out of 5. But at the moment, it's a 4 for food and a 4 for service. Shame, because it feels like a really good restaurant is trying to break out from behind that long wooden counter.

Food is objectively excellent. The lamb was superb, as the fish. Outstanding mushrooms. Prices are on the high side. This plus a 15% service charge (unreasonably high) makes it not really worth it for everyday dining.

I was taken .by a friend .the food was lovely Very nicely presented .service was excellent It’s a nice cosy place Even tho the menu is in French the staff are more than happy to translate . It’s not too far from London Bridge It’s only telephone bookings

Hateful tone on the phone. I've been trying to call for a week, at the times indicated on the answering machine, only to be told that reservations only open a month before the date. It's not complicated to indicate it on said answering machine, or even on the site? But no, and then it was made clear to me that if it wasn't me who came, another customer would come in my place. Well, my goodness! Good luck to them.

We had a fantastic experience here, the food was delicious and the service was incredible. Visiting London we try to go to new places every time but it will be hard to not return here.

Evening with friends, they took me to this wonderful restaurant (thanks guys!). Everything was really excellent, from the marinated fish starter to the meat (entrecôte) served with potatoes in a small pan - amazing!! For dessert, roasted apricots with sablé biscuit and white cheese jelly on top... all incredibly good and we split it because we were really full as the portions are generous. Things to know: the place is small so book in advance, the portions are reasonable, the food is excellent and the price is right (I spent just over £50). The excellent Sébastien who served us is half French... and half from Biella (!) in case you feel like speaking in Italian!

Best French food in london - small, traditional aesthetic, service with a smile and excellent food (steak and gratin)!

By far the best restaurant on Bermondsey street! I love the changing menu and the ingredients are so fresh. I thoroughly enjoyed the duck and chouchou chocolat. The charcuterie is delicious too. Unfortunately the waiter wasn’t the best; forgetful and impatient (makes it more authentic perhaps? 😂) but overall an excellent experience.

Absolutely LOVED this place. Very authentic, menu changes daily based on fresh produce. Menu is fully in French but the staff will tell you what it is. Only few options for starters, mains and desserts. My favourites were: Lamb shoulder, Crepe Suzette

Classic French bistro📍Casse-Croûte on #bermondseystreet that ice wanted to go to for the longest! Rich flavourful classic French dishes served in huge portions! With a daily changing menu you really don’t know what you’re gonna get. Dishes were heavily seasoned and delicious. Restaurant is #dogfriendly which is always a bonus in my book. Service was fine. #frenchfood #frenchbistro #londoneats #londonfoodie #london #londonrestaurant #localrestaurant #localbusiness #foodie

Sensational! Really good food, good portions and lovely service team. The potato dauphinoise and white/dark chocolate crepe were unforgettable! Chicken breast was a little dry and the salmon starter lacked variety however overall good flavours throughout. Will definitely come back as they change their menu everyday 😊

Like this French family style bistro very much ❤️

Great beef (what we would call a Wellington filet). Super yummy.

Awesome experience. Very tasty beef and deserts. Strongly recommended

New menu all the time and the food is always amazing. If you’re in the mood for French food around Bermondsey this place is lovely! Definitely recommend booking ahead.

Fantastic food, can’t overstate it

Came here for a friend's birthday dinner as she is a fan of French cuisine. It was on my list for a while as I had heard how good their food was supposed to be and also knew that it's hard to book a table so I advised my friends to book early. We managed to get a table outside for 6pm on a Saturday and thankfully it was really good weather too. The service was fantastic although they are extremely short staffed. They maintained their professionalism throughout the evening, even making jokes with us and making sure we knew what was on the menu and explained very clearly what each menu item meant in French. We decided to go with a garlic yoghurt dip with bread and then a ham and cheese puff pastry as starters and they were both fantastic. The dip was refreshing and savoury and the bread was grilled to perfection, super crunchy. I loved the puff pastry too which was flaky and the cheese was so rich. For mains, we went for the onglet with gratin and the sea bass to share. The onglet was really tender and flavourful and the potato gratin was so yummy. Sea bass on the other hand was rather average. My friend made a special request with the restaurant and they very nicely put a candle on top of some almond butter financiers and they were delicious. Overall, it's an absolutely fantastic experience with very good food. I will definitely come back again to try the beef wellington next time (it wasn't stated on the menu so we had assumed that they weren't selling for the day).

The food and staff were incredible. The menu changes every day but we had the lobster ravioli, snails in pastry, the lamb, Guinea fowl and duck. Followed by the apricots and rhubarb desserts. We went with the wine and champagne that was recommended and the barista definitely knew his pairings! I would recommend going at lunch time, as you have a much more relaxed atmosphere and can take your time, as dinner gets a little busy.

Super nice french place in Bermondsey. Food is tasty and the ambience lovely. Cool galleries all around an all in all beautiful experience. If planning for a larger group since it is quiet small you´d rather reservate. Thx

We’d like to keep Casse-Croûte for ourselves so the food and atmosphere are so good and special. Highly recommended. The whole experience is close to perfection, if it was not about the reservation system (please go for online booking !)

Really nice venue, cozy and nice Parisian atmosphere in London, nearby London Bridge station. They don’t do online booking, just by phone but for sure we will return many times. The food is awesome, very tasty and well presented. The staff is really friendly and explain all the menu and specials of the day. They have a nice selection of wine too. Affordable price for the high quality of food they serve. We highly recommend this restaurant and definitely we will return many times. Really happy with our choices too.

Muy buenas delicias francesas, con buen sabor en este restaurante íntimo y agradable. La comida era excelente y el servicio era típicamente francés. Fue una gran comida

The environment and service were excellent, cozy atmosphere and friendly staffs. However, the food actually disappointed me. I ordered the Cod fish, they are overcooked, and the sauce is lack of the layers of taste, which I didn’t expect to eat.

Great food and great atmosphere. Staff were extremely helpful and went out of their way to accommodate us. Highly recommend

Great place. A stroll from Borough Mkt

A brilliantly traditional French restaurant nestled in the heart of London. Feels like a step back in time, in the best way possible. The food was deliciously rich and there was enough for me to leave with a full belly, and I eat a lot! Would definitely recommend.

Charming little restaurant serving limited but tasty range of French fare near London Bridge.