I still remember my short visit in Paris back in June and how cozy it was to wonder down Rue de Saint Dominigue (read more here). The brasseries and restaurants were filled with visitors from around the world and the nostalgic music that would greet us as we entered each venue.
For the last couple of years, the Crown Estate have been restoring the Regent Palace Hotel in Piccadilly Circus. It has now evolved into a beautiful bustling French brasserie in the heart of London.
I finally decided to try out Brasserie Zedel, what looked like a little coffee bar behind Wholefoods in Piccadilly Circus. As I walked down the stairs, the walls were covered with posters from the 1920s period of Parisian cabaret.
As we walked further underground, we were greeted by a beautiful chandelier in the luxuriously decorated lobby. This was such a magical venue, I felt like I was transported back in time in that very instant.
The brasserie is made of three parts, the Bar Américain, Brasserie Zédel, and Crazy Cogs. The last one being a performance venue with live jazz and piano music.
The mammoth sized dining hall in Brasserie Zédel seats about a few hundred at any given time. The impressive marble columns, birch veneers, brass rails, and golden engravings reminded me of the movie Hugo from a few Christmas ago, particularly captured by the massive golden clock overlooking the restaurant.
I had the onglet steak with a side of french fries (what else?) and broccoli cooked with almonds.
The mains were followed by the millefeuille and creme brûlée, which both did not disappoint. The creme brûlée offered a particularly good crunch with the caramelised top. The only thing that stopped me from tucking in was a little mini argument about who gets to crack the caramel top with the back of a spoon! I won, of course!
After a very reasonably priced meal, I highly recommend checking out the artwork decorating alongside the walls around the winding stairs. I actually bought a few prints of these on my last trip to Paris!
Happy eating from New Yorker in London! 😀
