A few weeks ago my very lovely Daddy came to visit me in the big smoke. On account of him having come all the way from Cornwall I wanted to take him somewhere nice. Since I started working for Beast Magazine the invites have poured in so I had my pick of where to go. After some consideration I decided to give Monsieur Le Duck in Farringdon a try.
I have to confess I have not been to Farringdon in many many years, and when I did so back in my university years it was to go out clubbing and not to eat. As I generally arrived and left in the middle of the night I never noticed what a beautiful part of the city it is, cool, arty, with just a hint of sophistication. The decor of Monsieur Le Duck carries this vibe throughout. It is chic yet rustic and without pretension.
The restaurant is very busy but we managed to snag a seat by the window at the large communal table. Whilst we were looking over the menu we were given the signature cocktail to try/ The Pousse Rapiere (£10) was a delicious mix of orange and Armagnac liquors and sparkling wine. It was refreshing and just what we needed to start off a great night. If you are a fan of Armagnac then you will love it here as it’s a real star of their menu. They even have a version washed with duck fat!
One thing that really stood out to me was our waiter who was incredibly knowledgeable about the menu (which is rare) and he kindly made some recommendations for us. They have a small selection of starters, with only four to choose from, and we duly ordered the Duck Rillettes, Confit Duck Croquettes, and the Spinach & Goats Cheese Croquettes which are all £6 each or 3 for £15. Both sets of croquettes were fantastic, crispy on the outside and creamy and flavourful on the inside, and they went perfectly with the accompanying prune mayo. However it was the Duck Rillettes that landed the knockout punch. The thick pate consistency was just a dream when spread on the accompanying french bread and topped with a fabulous onion jam. The sweetness from the onions paired beautifully with the sweet yet fatty duck meat.
No surprises that the main courses all consist of duck, and since there are only a couple of options we decided to get one of each, starting with the Confit De Canard (£12). We just adored this dish, the skin was beyond crispy while the meat just fell right off the bone. Since there were three of us we added the Whole Magret de Canard (£28), a large duck breast which you can have pan roasted or grilled. We got ours pan fried and as you can see the skin was absolutely perfection, while the breast itself was pink and tender. We paired this with the Seasonal Greens with Lardons (£4). The cabbage greens were buttery thanks to the bacon bits and added a touch of colour to our otherwise fatty meat.
We couldn’t miss out on trying the Duck Burger (£12). The meat itself was very flavourful, and it was pink and juicy in the middle, though I can’t say it was as good as the confit or breast. I know you must have thought we would have had enough by then but we also got a side of the Duck Confit Fries (£6), a nice idea but on top of all the other things we had they were a little bit unnecessary in my opinion.
You can’t eat a French meal without dessert. I think we couldn’t leave without trying the Creme Brulee (£6) which was absolutely scrumptious. We also got the Tarte Aux Pommes (£6) a french version of the good old apple pie. My keto dieting hubby was all on board with this meal as there was so much he could eat and he got to finish with the Fromages A Trois £8. A trio of french cheeses with a nice balance of textures, here was also more of that fabulous onion jam. A great way to finish.
Overall we had a great evening. The food we ate was fantastic, and we all thought the prices to be extremely reasonable. The place is very unique and we liked that they offer something a little different. If you enjoy duck or want a great date night restaurant that will impress without breaking the bank then this is it.
Monsiur Le duck is located at 27 Clerkenwell Rd, Farringdon, London EC1M 5RN . The nearest tube station is Farringdon (Circle, Metropolitain, and Hammersmith & City Lines). For more information you can call them on 020 3970 0490 or check out their website. They are open from 11am – 11pm Mon – Fri, 10am – 11pm on Sat, and 10am – 5pm on Sun.