Le Parisien Restaurant

Chef-patron Phillipe Brillant brings a star-studded CV, including a stint with gallic super-chef Joël Robuchon, to his operation in archetypally English Henley. The bow-fronted façade opens into a classic French bistro-style dining room done out with low-slung chocolate leather banquettes at linen-clothed tables, and bright local artworks on the walls. So then, an old-school French chef, a traditional French setting - how could the food be anything other than classic French, prepared with finely-tuned technical skills? The bi-lingual menu gets going with a textbook duck terrine served with red onion chutney and toasted sourdough bread, while main course brings on poached fillet of lemon sole served on wilted spinach with chanterelle mushrooms, crayfish, and a light lobster sauce. Those in search of the flavours of south-western France could go for home-made duck confit with duck fat sautéed potatoes, then finish in the orchards of Normandy with a classic apple tarte Tatin served with praline ice cream.