Pierre Victoire

Mixed Bag really, on one hand it is a lovely little place full of charm and character but on the other it was 'too' busy (not helped by the sheer numbers of tables they had crammed in to the space)

Went in with a couple of friends, having booked a table but once we arrived were we told that they needed the table back by 9pm (we arrived a little after 7) we were confident that it would be ample time to eat.

The waiter came over as soon as we had sat down and asked if we were ready to order, and this happened a few time in the next 5 minutes, so we felt very pressured to eat and get out. We were then told that we would only be able to order two courses, which put us in a bind as to go starter or dessert.

Once we'd ordered our mains they came out very promptly, I had the Porc and as a whole it was very nice, the lentils were slightly hard and chewy but everything else was good.

We had a bottle of house red, and it was perfectly palatable until I'd drank 3/4 and noticed a sediment in the glass, the remaining quarter had a sludgy paste which put me off drinking any more.

The desserts were nice although the rhubarb paste was far too acidic for the creme brulee, but the other deserts looked good.

The waiter was hovering around our table at 8.50 despite us eating as fast as we could we didn't leave until 8.55, which was a shame as I didn't get to fully appreciate the dessert.

With wine our bill came to £26 a head which was reasonable enough, I hope to go back but if I do I will ensure I make it an earlier booking!

x (Unverified), 25/03/12

I had an excellent three course Sunday lunch here recently which, with two glasses of wine and a surcharge of £3.50(ish) for cheese rather than a dessert, cost me less than £30! My crab salad starter was fresh and light and the large pile of crab came with a rather lovely slice of toasted garlic French bread on the side. Although initially I thought it slightly odd that they had decided to pair crab with garlic it obviously worked, at least for me, as I wolfed it all down regardless.

The rare roast beef I had came with lots of perfectly cooked, firm vegetables under the meat and three large and very tasty roast potatoes. My only gripe with my dish was that the excellent Yorkshire pudding had been filled with a horseradish cream (which they do state on the menu) and it wasn't really to my taste, ruining most of the pudding for me. Next time I shall just ask for them to leave it off my plate but a word of warning for anyone else that may not be a fan! The lamb roast looked like they had done a similar thing with mint sauce in those puddings so just something to bear in mind. I had three very generous slices of meat, which having been asked how I like my meat, were very rare as requested. The gravy (described, I think as a red wine and rosemary jus..!) was delicious and, being greedy, I could have done with more of it.

The cheese board I finished up with was also very good. The cheese was a little colder than ideal but this just allowed me more time for another glass of red while I waited for it to warm up a little! I was served a very good soft blue (best guess Saint Agur) a delicious pongy soft cheese (perhaps Isis) and two others which I can't remember but thoroughly enjoyed. The generous chunks of delight were served alongside heaps of crusty French bread (swoon) as well as crackers and grapes. I’m sure the family on the table next to me were appalled but, even though it was a generous board, I polished the entire thing off.

Absolutely sated and a little sleepy from my enormous lunch and two glasses of red wine I bid them goodbye feeling very content and almost as though I’d been dining in France itself. I thoroughly recommend and so enjoyed my lunch I plan to head there for their prix-fixe menu for a speedy supper tonight!

Dr Mukti (DI User), 22/03/11

Nice place with wonderful food in french portion sizes (so you could enjoy a 3-course meal without feeling too full), for a fair price. The service is good. The only downside is that they have put just a few too many tables in the place. On the weekend the place can feel a bit overcrowed. It's also not disabled friendly; the toilets are down a flight of stairs.

E (Unverified), 05/03/11

A really nice restaurant. The staff were a delight, orders taken promptly and the food delivered in a timely way that gave us time to chat and never feeling rushed or forgotten. It was superb food, very French and a good wine list at reasonable prices. They are now doing what Brown's used to do but now the standards there have slipped. We love Pierre Victoire. Well done guys.

The Prof. (Unverified), 31/08/10

Fantastic. I took my wife there last night for our anniversary, and it was perfect in every way - the food was excellent, the ambience and the staff were lovely, and they made the perfect amount of fuss about our anniversary. And they were totally on top our dietary requirements (gluten-free), which makes a huge difference. For the quality of the experience, I'd expect to spend double what they charged.

New_PV_fan (DI User), 21/08/10

I was with friends for dinner. I'm loving this restaurant, I love the food, very fast and professional service. Professional cooking too, everything fresh and nicely served. My starter: Boudin Noir, was excellent. for the main course I chose rib-eye steak - it was the best steak in my life, honestly!!!! - with delicious roquefort & pepper butter. I will be back again.

Paul XXXXX (Unverified), 06/06/10

Went with the wife and in-laws - normally a daunting experience as the in-laws are very fussy and normally manage to find fault with anything...this however was to prove a great success!

I started with the chicken livers followed by seabass and then butterscotch profiteroles all of which were very enjoyable...if they did the profiteroles as a main course I might be tempted to go for it! The in-laws and wife all went for the crab salad starter, which worried me because if it wasn't good it could have been a long day! Not a word of complaint and 'mmm's all round. They then went on to duck confit and two rib-eye steaks, both of which looked lovely and were cooked to their liking - there were clean plates at the end. Even the house wine got the thumbs-up - good value at £12 per bottle compared to some house wines I have had elsewhere recently; even the mother-in-law went for a top up, which was most unusual. They decided not to have puddings but tried some of my profiteroles despite my reluctance to pass them round!

In summary, a thoroughly enjoyable meal and we're planning another visit soon - hope the profiteroles are still on the menu.

Pepe (Unverified), 30/05/10

I run a ladies networking group in Oxford and we all visited Pierre Victoire recently to experience a 'taste of France'. We were certainly not disappointed with the wonderful selection of food and wine presented. It all tasted absolutely delicious with the chefs and waiting staff surpassing all our expections with the wide choice of authentic fare presented to us. It is lovely to see that a number of our 'tasters' are on the main menu, so a very good reason to go back and try some more. A big thank you from Vinculum.

D (Unverified), 28/05/10

We arrived at a heaving Pierre Victoire this evening, looking forward to a meal from a promising menu.

A helpful waiter got us a last minute table and quickly took our orders. Service from this point on, however, was scant as the staff were rushed off their feet.

The food wasn't the quickest, but certainly not worth complaining about. However, when the warm chicken liver starter arrived it was the beginning of a disappointing evening. The livers were a touch over cooked and hadn't been shown much care. The dressing didn't really balance their flavour and the meagre portion of leaves underneath had gone soggy and wilted.

When mains arrived an ungenerous steak was cooked as ordered, though lacked a little colour on the outside. Red wine jus was poured all over (including all over the consequently soggy chips) and tasted overwhelmingly of tarragon. The small salad on the side of the plate contained the butt of a lettuce. The mussels with lime and coriander and curry were resoundingly lacklustre. Those on top were dry and underflavoured, whilst those in the broth at the bottom of a generous portion tasted solely of brine.

Pierre Victoire promised rather a lot and though it certainly wasn't terrible and was more than tolerable, it nevertheless, entirely disappointed.

J (Unverified), 22/05/10

The restaurant had a lovely, welcoming feel. You are greeted by French staff, which was great. Our starters of Twice Baked Goats Cheese Souffle and Roasted Pigeon Breast were delicious, so we were really looking forward to our mains of Magret de Canard and Porc.

However, when our main arrived (very swiftly) we were extremely disappointed - the pork was virtually inedible it was so overcooked and dry, and the duck was also overcooked, and seemed to lack much flavour. We left some of the pork, as neither of us could eat it. We also told the staff, and were disappointed that they did not offer to deduct something from our bill.

We then went on to have chocolate fondue, which was fun. Our bill came to ~ £55 for 3 course and a bottle of wine. We'd probably go back again (due to the lovely atmosphere) but would definitely not try those mains again.

Anon07/03/10

I love this restaurant. I love the food. I love the atmosphere. It's ideal for a romantic table for two, listening to gentle French instrumental music while enjoying good house wine, and it's ideal for small gatherings of family and friends. I've always suspected that it has a healthy competition with Cafe Rouge (almost next door). The dishes are excellent in flavour and presentation. Some people might worry about the portion size at first, but I recommend having another course or a side dish, it's worth it just for the taste sensation. A little expensive, but a comfortable luxury. In my days before going veggie, the meat was always cooked to perfection. A good range of meats too, including venison and duck. I recently enjoyed some snails there, because my mother hadn't tried them before and she didn't like them. I like all of their food. This has to be my favourite French restaurant in town (just after Cafe Rouge) and has been for a while. I wish I could dine on French cuisine as often as I go Italian.

X (Unverified), 23/01/10

My Oxford's favourite, definitely: I love this restaurant, feels a bit like I am home. Contrary to many French restaurants in England where I have been to, there is none of that snobbish-attitude, the atmosphere's relaxed. bon enfant and I have spent so many good moments there, over the years, with many friends and colleagues. The service is always top, sometimes also I have the pleasure of being able to chat in my own language, and the food... ok I always have the same: un p'tit steak frites, and always it is good good good, well cooked, and the red house wine is not bad either, and le plateau de fromages too! I must have been going to this restaurant for easily 10 years, I have never been disapointed. My Oxford's favourite, definitely!

Lucile Deslignères (DI User), 21/11/09

The service and food here are consistently fantastic, and it's always a pleasure to eat at Pierre Victoire. The prix fixe menu is great value and it's always hard to decide what to choose as it is all so tempting.

Mmm food (Unverified), 18/10/09

Highly recommended. Our most recent visit was last Friday (28 August) and although the restaurant was very busy the service was good and the food excellent. I'm very fond of a good steak and I'd rank their steak as one of the best I've eaten anywhere. Unlike many other restaurants I've visited, which start off well, but after a while the food and service lose their edge, PV seems to have retained its passion, and the quality of the food and service reflect this.

P & L (Unverified), 03/09/09

Kind on the wallet and very sweet on the palate .

Pierre Victoire has become throughout the years a firm favourite of ours, offering delicious, authentic French cuisine. The food on offer is always delicious, and service is friendly and efficient. The atmosphere is always buzzing and lively and I have noticed that people do seem to enjoy their meals here far more than other restaurants if the laughter and animated conversation are any indicators.

I would recommend the "Coq au Vin": an absolute triumph and one which in any other French restaurant would be sold at double the price! It is simply quite exquisite and I have recently come to realise that Pierre Victoire is now one of my favourite places to grab a bite, meet up with some friends and have a generally good time. With the added bonus of being independent and no longer a chain. Kudos to them.

Pierre Victoire does not offer "haute cuisine" but delicious, honest French food , well cooked, well presented and I for one always leave with a smile on my face. I would also recommend the "Moules" and the "Fondue Savoyarde" .

All the best to PV for having retained a simple and effective formula, but one with a bit more "oomph" and individuality.

Pamplemousse (Unverified), 12/01/09

Recently had a very enjoyable meal here. I had a duck starter which was different to any I had had before, but was a welcome new experience. For mains we had the Scottish fillet steak which was delicious. We ordered it medium but when it arrived it was a little overdone which we were quite disappointed with. But thankfully the waitress returned after a few minutes and when we mentioned this to her she offered us new ones, which we accepted. She was very gracious about it and didn't make us feel at all awkward for sending them back (which is often not the case in more casual restaurants). We didn't mind the wait, as when you're in a French restaurant there can be a bit of uncertainty about what the interpretation of a 'medium' steak is going to be compared to what we're used to. The second steak was cooked to perfection, the portion was very generous, and it was served with dauphinoise potatoes and green beans. The waitress even offered us complimentary after our meal because of our waiting.

The restaurant itself is quite small and was very busy which some people might not like, but I prefer this casual brasserie style and there was a very good atmosphere. The service was just right for this more casual type of eatery - not overbearing at all and very accomodating. There was someone there if you wanted them but there were no interruptions. The couple at the table beside us had finished their mains when we arrived and were still nursing glasses of wine when we were leaving two hours later so clearly there was no pressure to make you feel as if you should hurry. Although the food isn't cheap I think you get what you pay for especially with the mains which are of very high quality. In some of the other restaurants we looked at similar dishes were between £5 and £10 dearer. There was also a large wine list including a range of moderately priced wines to choose from and a good after dinner drinks menu, from which we sampled some remy martin and French coffee. Would definitely make a return visit.

Anon08/12/08

This place is super. Go before 7 and get the bargain meal. Service was good and food was great. We are from DC and it compares very flavorably with comparable french food there.

db (Unverified), 02/11/08

Highly recommended - I have been here twice recently- once for a weekday family lunch and once for an anniversary dinner and enjoyed both equally. The food is cooked to a very high standard, the chef understands what a 'rare' steak means and the staff are friendly and attentive. The set menus represent incredibly good value and there seems to be a really relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Food lovers should choose Pierre Victoire.

sammy (DI User), 08/09/08

Seems like I'm not the only one to love this place, judging by previous reviews. It's always a good place to entertain, they're accommodating and certainly pulled out the stops for my mum's 60th last year (she still talks about it).

The food is always interesting, desserts are decadent, and we're still trying to work out who our favourite chef is (the name is on the menu each day). The Sunday lunch is a bargain and a good place to accommodate a group of 10 people for a roast. Right now I'm thinking of the chorizo, duck and balsamic vinegar salad, which is making me very hungry.

The great thing is you never come out feeling ripped off. It's a great place for a party, entertaining guests, or even a romantic dinner. How do they do it?

crouchingbadger (Unverified), 06/09/08

My wife and I went to Pierre Victoire last night, in no small part based on what had been said about it on this site. We were certainly not disappointed. The service was very good with polite, friendly and attentive staff; and the food was excellent, cooked to perfection and served in a prompt and professional manner. We were never rushed, or felt rushed, even though the place was always buzzing with people coming in all the time.

It really is a delightful restauraunt that offers excellent food, service and value for money.

jscoop (Unverified), 03/07/08

I went to the restaurant on Sunday for a family meal to celebrate my birthday; we all thought the food was fantastic and really good value. The set menu does not have a single weak course, no slice of melon or scoop of ice cream. It’s an unpretentious restaurant that does not feel like a chain, ideal for a relaxed family lunch. I’m definitely going back!

Edd's (Unverified), 01/07/08

I really can't speak highly enough of this place - I have been there several times and every time it has been impeccable. The food is exquisite and always beautifully presented, the service is top-notch (friendly and attentive without being intrusive) and the atmosphere is lovely: dimly lit with tasteful decor and a real French vibe. Pierre Victoire is great for lots of occasions, making for a perfect romantic night for two, or an enjoyable evening with a group of friends . The food is very reasonably priced too, especially considering its quality. Very highly recommended!

Chrissie (DI User), 08/05/08

My partner and I decided to celebrate our 10 year anniversary in Oxford by returning to Pierre Victoire, one of our favourite 'romantic' places to eat out when we first met at University. I'm so glad we did because the food, service and ambience (very cosy and French as one would expect!) was just perfect.

We have eaten in many fine-dining restaurants around the world and the steak 'Onglet' must be one of the best steaks I've ever had - when paying compliments to the waiter he enthusiastically explained how it was prepared and cooked and about the cut of the meat which I found quite impressive. The starters and desserts were well presented and delicious and the wine (we went for a Claret) was excellent and complemented the meal very well.

Highly recommended and we can't wait to return!

Pippa (Unverified), 04/04/08

We have been going to this restaurant for many years now and it continues to amaze...excellent food, service and very good value. I love how creative the menu is - nothing is average, it is obvious that the chef takes pride in the presentation and is really an artist when it comes to flavours. Definitely a real treat to go and a fun experience! Looking forward to our next visit already.

herboxford (Unverified), 01/04/08

Pierre Victoire has long been a favourite of mine, but its Easter Sunday lunch was disappointing in parts. The soup of the day, and PV's staple crab salad and moules were as good as ever, but nothing imaginative was available on the vegetarian menu - the one main veggie dish was, as it often is, a risotto, a stomach-filler which amounts to little more than a dreary heap of cooked orange rice. No attention is given by the staff to special requests. Pierre Victoire do a good Muscadet, but this only comes in half bottles, and the alternative white wine was of poor quality. The "home-made" pistachio ice cream tasted dull and mass-made. No-one came to check with us whether we were happy with our food. Worst of all was the waiter's patronizing way of addressing my eighty-year old mother as "young lady" as he handed her our large bill. Two out of ten, Pierre Victoire; time to polish your ageist waiting staff's manners, time to improve the quality of your white wines, and time to think about the needs of vegetarians.

The Hawk (DI Reviewer), 23/03/08

Ecxellent food, reasonably priced, great service and very reliable. That's why we go back so often and that's why we usually choose PVs when we're entertaining friends and family.
Highly recommended.

Daniel (Unverified), 28/02/08

Pierre Victoire is one of my favourite Oxford restaurants, but I had managed not to get there in about five years, so - having seen the mixed reviews on this page - I thought it was high time I returned to investigate.

The venue isn't large (though on two floors), and they do cram the tables in, and there's nowhere to hang your coat - but the decor is charmingly rustic, with scrubbed pine tables and cartoonish paintings of waiting staff on the walls, and the staff really are French (including our chef, according to the printed specials menu). There are fresh flowers and candles on all the little tables, your little basket of complimentary fresh bread and beurre arrives almost instantly, service is efficient, smiley and non-intrusive - and if you listen hard you can just make out the accordion-based background music. The place has a lively, unpretentious character, and it looks like it's kept its founder Pierre Levicky's initial aims close to its heart: produce good quality, simple French food at a low cost, and you will stay busy. Alongside the reasonably priced a la carte menu there is a good range of dining deals to suit almost everyone: Fondue Savoyarde for two for £9.90 each; a 'pre-theatre' dinner of two courses and coffee for £9.90; prix fixe of three courses and coffee for £19.50; a lunch deal for under ten pounds, a 'late supper'...and so on.

We had starters of pigeon breast and deep fried goats cheese respectively, followed by monkfish risotto and a roasted veg, spinach and gruyere buckwheat crêpe ('Galette de Sarrasin') and finally a rum and sweet chestnut cheesecake. The fish and fowl were cooked well, the three tiny slivers of pigeon having the right amount of pinkness in the middle, and arriving accompanied by a topsy-turvy little stack of sweet, squidgy parsnip logs, the gravy providing moistness in a pleasant, unremarkable way. The monkfish was as satisfyingly meaty as you'd expect, the rice al dente and delicately flavoured. The goat's cheese was a nice wide slice of log, its crust crispy and light rather than excessively greasy, its accompaniment of dark cherries saving it from the overpowering richness normally associated with the dish. Similarly, the crêpe (an experimental choice, as roasted veg often arrives far too oily) was delicious and just right, not greasy or heavy despite its cheese topping - perhaps due to the high spinach content. Whilst pleasantly full after this (plus a bottle of Perrier, two Merlots and a Pinot grigio), we risked the cheesecake to share, which also failed to be too sweet, too heavy or too cloying by virtue of its light base, slightly grainy texture and almost savoury combination of rum and chestnut - deliciously light, and the perfect amount for us to have a taster with our coffee. The only failing, it must be said, is that the wine list is rather poor for a good restaurant, let alone a French one. New World wines are abundant, but the only French red on offer by the glass was the house, which the waiter helpfully warned against (thank heaven for staff honesty! It never hurts to ask). They would do well to stick a few interesting French bin-ends on there (and given that Oddbins is next door, it's particularly odd that they don't). Also, it's a shame there are shakers rather than salt and pepper mills on the tables... are such items really that thieveworthy these days?!

All this came to £49.45 before tip - good value considering the quality of the food and how well-fed we felt. Our neighbours' dishes also looked well-presented and varied, and the room generally was filled with people looking satisfied, warm and full. My investigation completed, my conclusion is that PV is still up there with my favourite Oxford restaurants, and I won't be leaving it so long to go back next time.

Su Jordan (DI Staff), 26/11/07

I had lunch with a friend here last week, we were both hugely disappointed. Lured in by the very reasonably priced lunch menu and having heard good things about the food, it all felt like a remarkable let down. I ordered coq au vin which was supposed to come with "winter vegetables" and "shallot mash". The sauce should contain mushrooms and bacon and, unsurprisingly, "vin". No such luck. I had one button mushroom, no bacon, the "sauce" looked like greasy dishwater and there were no accompanying winter vegetables at all. The mash was gloopy and bland and the chicken uninspiring. In all seriousness, I could have done a much better job of it myself.

The house red is awful - cheap table wine.

My friend ordered the duck and said it tasted like it had "come out of a can". He did, however, like the potato gratin.

The best bit of the whole meal was the bread; fresh French baguette with good butter. However, for £20 each, the bread only went so far in pacifying us. As we were limited for time we didn't argue with our waiter but I won't be going back. Unless their food is a million times better in the evening I have no idea why so many people rave about it

Dr Mukti (DI User), 19/11/07

One of the very best places in Oxford and surrounding districts, and the most reliable, with a regularly-changing menu of exceedingly well-priced delectable dishes. Lovely authentic French service. A chef with a genius for sauces. Quintessentially rustic French decor which the management has had the good sense to leave just as it is for some years now. Proper French bread. Well done, Pierre Victoire! A home-from-home for all gastronomes.

The Hawk (DI Reviewer), 29/08/07

One of the best food I tasted in Oxford. Prices are reasonnable. I warmly recommend!

Anon11/05/07

I recently went to this restaurant for the first time for a friend's birthday and was absolutely amazed by the attitude of the staff. I have never been in a restaurant where my party have been shouted at, told what we can order and one of our party was made to feel like a criminal for having the audacity to order ketchup to go with their steak and chips - I know we all have an element of snobbery in us but I still believe in that old maxim 'the customer is always right' - not so at Pierre Victoire. The waiter and waitress serving us must have realised that we were less than impressed by their attitude as they imposed a 10% service charge on our bill - so much for discretionary tips depending on quality of service. Everyone's meals were perfectly adequate - I had the fishcake which was good but perched on a very bland puree of spinach and topped with cold yogurty dressing that added nothing to the dish. In total, the service was a parody of a french stereotype, the food was so-so and I wouldn't recommend it on my experience.

AB (Unverified), 27/03/07

Used to offer good food and excellent value for money. The last few times I've gone, however, the food has become increasingly tasteless while prices have gone up. Service is polite but rather slow. My most recent visit shall most certainly be my last. My partner and I had mussels that were mealy, lacking flavour, and, as it turned out, probably off. (We both fell ill that evening and suspect the shellfish.) The starters, sides, and dessert were nothing special, and the house wine wasn't nearly as good as it should have been for a small chain aiming at the upper mid-market. We didn't pay that much as we took advantage of one of the prix fixe menus, but, even excusing the possibly dodgy shellfish, we still felt we'd been ripped off.

J (Unverified), 17/03/07

I ate at Pierre Victoire recently and was very impressed with the food. Service was average but they were very busy, and the waiters were friendly. It's very good value (especially the set menus) and the decor inside is lovely. I'll definitely be going back!

Laura (DI User), 03/02/07

Excellent all round; very good service - attentive without being pushy, a delicious range of starters, mains and desserts, and a very relaxing atmosphere. Three of us ate very reasonably, and having sampled the food of both my companions, theirs were equally as tasty as mine.

This is undoubtedly one of my favourite restaurants in Oxford.

Tom (Unverified), 30/10/06

Pierre Victoire used to my favorite little french place in Oxford, but my recent visits turned out to be disappointing. I think they don't change their menu very often now, and the dessert options are poor. Last time I had chocolate profiteroles, they tasted so doughy!

Mina Takahashi (Unverified), 03/09/06

This used to be my favourite restaurant when I was a student – small, comfortable and un-intimidating; affordable as an occasional treat; with really good, well-presented food that wouldn’t make an ardent Francophile flinch. Returning for the first time in more than four years, I was prepared to find the place changed for the worse, so it was a relief to see that time seems to have spared this little gem of a restaurant.

Cosy and dimly lit with décor just on the edge of ‘rustic’, Pierre Victoire offers a modern take on classic French cuisine: flavour and presentation are paramount, and portions are well thought out with tantalising starters and generous mains. Our waiter seemed a little at sea, asking us to point at the menu to confirm what we wanted (and no, my French pronunciation is not that bad), but everything arrived promptly without mistake. My only paltry gripe (without wanting to give away too much about my lifestyle) is that the wine glasses are tiny and have to be refilled every five minutes – oh, and that the seating area is a bit cramped, although presumably were I accustomed to drinking wine out of smaller glasses I might have fitted more easily into the tiny space between the table and the wall.

The food was uniformly good, with the meat in particular cooked to perfection (order your steak with English tastes in mind though, i.e. one degree rarer than you’d ask for in France). Puddings were lovely – accolade from someone who has eaten cheesecake almost everywhere it’s available in Oxford should not be taken lightly.

Starters range from £2.50-£5.90, main courses from £8.90-£16.90, and there are a number of attractively priced prix fixe menus. Dinner for two à la carte, with three courses, coffee, and an unbecoming amount of alcohol sipped steadfastly from dainty vessels, set us back £65. Worth every penny.

Susie Cogan & Ian Threadgill (Unverified), 11/08/06

On entering Pierre Victoire on a Friday evening we were greeted immediately and led up to the first of three floors to an intimate area. After a slightly long wait before our order was taken, we found the staff most impressive and very friendly. The drinks came quickly, along with the complementary basket of bread.

Starters arrived: a roasted pepper and caramelised onion timbale for myself, and the duck for my partner. Although the presentation of my starter was faultless, I found it quite bland. The duck was also beautifully presented and thoroughly enjoyed.

For my main course I chose stuffed aubergine with mushroom and asparagus risotto. This was excellent and I would highly recommend this vegetarian dish. My partner had chicken breast with tomatoes and olives with a side order of chips. The chicken was tender and plentiful. The side order of chips was ample for the two of us, and again very tasty.

Despite being very full we couldn’t resist looking at the dessert menu. It offered a wide selection but we could only manage a banoffie pie to share with ice-cream. The presentation was perfect and the taste matched its presentation.

For about £20 per person we enjoyed a 3 course meal with wine. Also, if you choose your time of arrival wisely, you will be able to benefit from Pierre Victoire's special offers. These include a pre-theatre option, a free bottle of wine for customers arriving at 6.30 or 10pm, and various lunch deals.

There is a wide choice of food to cater for all tastes, ranging from steak, ribs, chicken and vegetarian options including pasta with roasted vegetables. Prices for main courses start at about £8.

All in all, a very enjoyable experience suitable for all occasions - and one I hope to repeat again soon!

Clare (Unverified), 08/09/04