L'Eglise

Had a family meal for 4 here on the back of the reviews given on this website - everything was awesome! Would highly recommend!
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Monday, July 14, 2008

My partner & I went to L'Eglise last night to celebrate his birthday. I chose this restaurant because of all the brilliant reviews on this website. Let me say I was not disappointed at all. It was such an amazing experience. The food is to die for, it was fresh and tasty. The service was attentive but not in your face or pushy. It was worth the money spent. I am a sucker for fine dining and I must say that this restaurant is top of my list.
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Debby & Mac
Sunday, July 06, 2008

excellent service, excellent food!! loved it!!
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Monday, May 26, 2008

Having read the reviews here, and after having looked at the restaurant on its website, we decided to give it a shot last Friday night. And we are so pleased that we did! Although the restaurant was rather quiet when we got there, and the tables are a little close together, our very friendly waiter happily pushed two tables together in the window so we had a bit more room to spread out and not be bumping elbows with fellow diners. The food was really very good. My plum tomato tart was delicious, and my partner's steak tartare equally so. Being the less adventurous of the two, I had the steak as a main and it was gorgeous, as were the duck fat chips, whereas they had ox tongue, which apparently was utterly wonderful. As we grazed, the restaurant began to fill up, and the atmosphere became that of a busy, intimate brasserie. I'm pleased we gave it a shot, and will most definitely be returning again. The manageress told us that they are planning some events there - perhaps food and wine pairing evenings - watch this space, I think this is one of the best restaurants in Hove, and Brighton, for that matter.
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GS
Wednesday, April 30, 2008

On the strength of previous reviews, we popped in here on Good Friday, spoke to the lovely Julia, and getting the right vibes, booked a table for 1.30-2.00pm. As L'Eglise serves lunch until 5.00pm, we had time for a pre-prandial drink in George Street without having to clockwatch. Suitably refreshed, we returned to the light, airy restaurant, where a table of four were obviously enjoying themselves. Looking at their smiling, contented faces and then warmly welcomed by Drew (a charming chappie!), we were glad to be back. Once seated, a perusal of the menu, a couple of tapenade brouchetta nibbled and some agonizing choices made, we could relax in the very friendly atmosphere. A bottle of chilled rose from the owner's family vineyard, according to the menu, was a beautiful flavour and went well with both my husband's tomato and basil soup, then steak ,and my fillet of seabass with a bean cassoulet. A special mention for the gorgeous duck fat chips that went with my husband's steak - some of them seemed to magically move from his plate to mine - but everything was freshly prepared and delicous to eat. After a suitable pause we shared a creme brulee - one of my favourites, and I certainly wasn't disappointed. As my husband's meal was on the special, he had two great courses for under £12.00; so we had a truly memorable meal (for all the right reasons) for less than £50. If you haven't tried this welcome addition to Hove, do yourselves a favour and get down there soon.
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Anne Bond
Tuesday, March 25, 2008

We ate at L'Eglise on a Saturday evening recently and it was one of the best restaurant meals we've had in this country - or anywhere. If comparisons must be made, the place reminds me a little of Le Grizli in Paris: the same robust but expertly cooked French food; friendly and professional service; excellent short wine list.

Our first courses, after some toothsome amuses gueules, were both very fine. One of us took the steak tartare, the other the jambonne de la bigorre (an air cured gascon ham). The steak was very good - chopped thank god rather than minced or "whizzed", well seasoned and studded with capers and cornichons. The ham was also very fine but the second starter was rendered stellar by an excellent remoulade. We managed to down a bottle of bourgogne aligote with these two dishes and very good it was too at a reasonable price.

Coming to our main courses, with some difficulty we decided at first on the entrecote but then changed our mind when my partner noticed a very tempting looking cote de boeuf for two. Our waiter - a champion the whole evening - changed our order for us without demur. The cote de boeuf was simply magnificent. A wonderful piece of meat properly cooked. It was accompanied but properly made bearnaise which had never seen the inside of a jar and duck fat chips. To be honest the chips nearly stole the show: crisp and unctuous, sweet and salty all at the same time. We added some petits pois a la francaise which were proper and I hope that no one thinks that's stinting praise: it isn't. We started a new bottle with this - an haut medoc cru bourgeois which I thought very good but was too "lead pencil" for my partner's taste. Throwing caution to the wind, I asked our waiter to choose a burgundy for us to try with the beef. He did and did well. While I thought the bourdeaux was excellent, the burgundy was indeed a better match to the meat and lasted well through the cheese.

I could go on forever really but I leave it there just adding that cheese and desserts were of a standard. I haven't gushed like this since a visit to Les Associees a year ago. If you want fine French cooking which however owes as much to la cuisine bourgeoise and the traditions of the provinces as it does to the Alain Ducaisse, then you will love l'Eglise.

Prices were eminently reasonable and if we'd only tempered our taste for the wine list we'd have gotten away very much pain free.
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Wednesday, March 12, 2008

This restaurant is situated on what is not the prettiest bit of Church Road in Hove. But it is a very welcome addition to the Hove eating scene - at last, a real French restaurant of good quality whch is fair value but not pretentious.

All your French classics are here, from duck confit to steak (cooked as it should be!). There is also a handful of 'specials' and plats du jour which adds variety. Everything is nicely presented and the kitchen is splendidly consistent.

There is clearly great attention to detail - everything from the furniture to the pictures on the walls have been carefully chosen to create just the right atmosphere. If it wasn't for all the English speaking customers, you might think you were in France! It can be a bit busy on a Friday or Saturday night, though.

L'eglise is owned by an Anglo-French couple, who are supported by a polished French team. They deserve to do well and I shall be playing my part in ensuring that they do!
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Epicurean
Monday, February 18, 2008