I think it's safe to say that I am quite literally obsessed with this restaurant. From indulging my inner Frenchie to treating my soul to some of the most delicious food ever, there's nothing I don't love about Patron. The decor, subtly French and darkly decadent; the food, obviously French and utterly delicious; the wines, well priced and inviting - the list could go on. Even the fabulous collection of waiting staff are a joy to chat to over a glass of something sparkling before starting dinner.
But love letters to restaurants aside, we're here to review. We revisited Patron after enjoying a truly divine brunch last year to taste-test their supper selection. The fabulous restaurant manager helped us select the perfect wine (a Sauvignon Blanc no less) to work with the dishes we selected which included: soupe à l'oignon with garlic coutons and tomme de savoie, goats' cheese tarlet with sweet onion, tomato and pesto, mussels cooked in white wine with garlic and tomatoes with rosemary fries, and duck confit with dauphinois potatoes.
My soup starter was the highlight dish of the whole visit, pretty incredible for such a simple dish. Sweet yet savoury, smooth in texture but with plenty of slippery onions and topped with the most divine cheesy croutons - I mean you really can't match it. Truly divine.
Alex's starter of goats' cheese tartlet was also delicious but perhaps a touch small in comparison to my soup. The zingy pesto and peppery rocket worked well with the salty cheese and sweet onions. A great balance of flavours.
When it came to the mains, I kept things ultra classic with mussels cooked in white wine, garlic, fresh herbs and tomatoes. The portion was impressive to say the least and the lovely general manager brought me fresh bread at the end to soak up all that liquor. Speaking of, while the mussels were cooked beautifully I did feel the liquor could have been thicker or I could have had a little less. It seems such a shame to waste great flavour. My fries, topped with plenty of salt and rosemary were crunchy, crispy and delicious.
Alex's main of duck confit came drizzled with an intense, sweet red wine jus and served with his choice of dauphinois potatoes. The duck, at times, was a touch dry which could have been helped with a lot more sauce on the plate. The potatoes were creamy yet with bite and worked great with the duck and red wine sauce. A bit of greenery wouldn't have gone a miss but there you go.
I really can't say no to dessert. I chose the utterly French crème brûlée which was beautifully creamy with plenty of vanilla. The top was really impressive and well blow-torched but not burnt. Alex went for the deconstructed tiramisu meringue topped with vanilla ice cream, fresh espresso and grated chocolate. Light, flavoursome and a really nice take on the original.
Overall yes, I am in love. I cannot fault Patron on the basis of atmosphere, menu choices, staff, or wine. A few tiny adjustments would have made this visit dream-like but really, who cares that much about a touch of sauce here and a little reducing there when the food tastes this good. I thoroughly recommend to all North Londoners, but let's keep this secret gem for ourselves.
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