Prix Fixe – eating well without breaking the bank

I found Soho’s Prix Fixe Brasserie by accident. We were meeting our daughter for her birthday, which fell on a Monday, and, as I had not realised just how many restaurants in London shut for their weekly rest on Mondays and I discovered all those originally high on my list would be closed, I hit on Prix Fixe.

I’m glad. Not only was it open, it was also a way of extending my restaurant repertoire.

The restaurant lives up to its name. It has set menus at prices that look as though they belong to yesteryear. For £12.90 you get a starter and main course. It’s £15.90 for pre-theatre. Pay another £3 and pudding is added to the deal.

For these prices, you don’t get something that’s out of the world and off the planet cuisine. But what you get is good – and generously portioned.

I started with Buffalo Mozzarella, Sicilian datterini tomato and crispy bacon salad, croutons and lemon dressing. It was tasty – and served with as much bread as you wanted.

I followed this with Chargrilled Lamb Kofta with aubergine compote, mange tout, sautéed new potato and tzatziki. Yes, this is cross-cultural and so daring for a French inspired restaurant. But it worked and I was licking my lips.

My daughter went for the Grilled Mussels in garlic, Pernod and parsley butter which she said was excellent followed by a difficult to fault (and admittedly easy to cook) Chargrilled Cheeseburger, cabbage and carrot slaw with sriracha mayo, and home made frites. She could have added an egg or bacon for £1 extra but chose not to.

As it was a birthday, we all had a glass of fizz to start with – prosecco at £5.25 and champagne at £6.95 is the main choice. And besides tap water – that staple of London restaurants now – we washed it all down with a bottle of Malbec (£24.50).

Puddings were the usual – Tarte Tatin, Eton Mess and Banoffee pie – fine but, in common with that course generally, not memorable. Still, they rounded out a leisurely lunch.

The service was cheerful, helpful (we had a toddler with us) and efficient. And the place is obviously popular. Although we had a wide choice of table at 12.30, by 1.00pm, the place was almost full.

Our bill including coffee, drinks, and service came to just over £120 – £40 a head for a full meal in the centre of London.

I’d go there again – and not just on a Monday.

Prix Fixe Brasserie

39 Dean Street

London W1D 4PU

020 7734 5976

www.prixfixe.net

Nearest stations: Tottenham Court Road, Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus.

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