Much has been written lately about the redevelopment of ‘Midtown’ (PR speak for Holborn) and it’s true that the launch of Rosewood London and Holborn Dining Room has contributed significantly to the interest in the area and, indeed, the quality of the options for lunch, dinner and evening drinks.
However, a Provençal restaurant by the name of Cigalon has been quietly hiding around the corner on Chancery Lane since 2010, a younger sibling to Clerkenwell’s Michelin-starred Club Gascon.
Designed in muted pastels with a double-height glass ceiling, olive trees and reed fences, you could easily think you had stepped into a stylish home in Provence.
Large but pretty lavender banquettes line the middle of the room at Cigalon, offering a welcoming level of privacy while not detracting from the flow of the restaurant.
The a la carte menu is relatively short but reasonably priced and the set menus offer exceptional value at £19.50 for 2 courses, £24.50 for 3 courses or £38 for 3 courses with matching wines. A Menu Rapidu offering 2 courses for £12 might just be a little too cheap though.
A starter of wild boar and chestnut cannelloni had been braised until caramelised with a red wine and bone marrow sauce – rich and deeply satisfying.
My cod main course was a large, fleshy chunk of fish that came with glazed celery, citrus and seaweed but the highlight was a special venison dish served rare, continuing the theme of rich, deep flavours.
While the design and menu is very much rooted in Provence, the wine list takes a detour to neighbouring Corsica, or you can head downstairs to the Baranis bar for a game of Petanque and some Pastis. There is also a cute private dining room for a more intimate dinner (pictured below).
From a dessert menu that includes candied chestnut iced parfait with passion fruit, and pear and liquorice upside down cake, we chose the dark chocolate tart with orange marmalade and juniper ice cream – a really balanced dessert with three complementing flavours.
Despite being a relatively well-established restaurant, Cigalon has remained under the radar, which illustrates the overriding feeling after our dinner here – they know they’re producing good food but don’t feel the need to shout about it.
Much like the crickets the restaurant is named after, Cigalon could sometimes do with shouting a little louder.
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Have you eaten at Cigalon before? What did you think? Comment below to let us know!
[…] worth noting too that the restaurant is part of a successful group of London restaurants, including Cigalon on Chancery Lane, all sharing a love of genuine and authentic French ingredients and […]