The brand new Balcon at Sofitel St James has managed to successfully create a warm environment that oozes quality along with superb cuisine and excellent service.

As soon as you walk through the revolving front door you are presented with a wonderful ornate wooden balcony with the restaurant’s Champagne chillers at the top, housing their range of 73 Champagnes and 2 Sparkling Wines and Champagne table and stools underneath.  I just love the dark wooden striped flooring throughout the restaurant, green fabric curtains, columns and big windows letting in lots of natural light.  The leather banquettes add that French ambience.

The menu prepared by Executive Chef Vincent Menager is beautifully presented on a large white card as is the 4 page wine and Champagne menu and both are easy to navigate your way through.  We decided we had to try a plate of assorted meats from the Charcuterie.  We opted for a tasting assortment of meats from Trealy Farm in Monmouthshire, Wales.  An excellent start we agreed.  Christina, The Balcon’s Champagne Angel (Sommelier) looked after us with expert advice as we wanted to pair our food with the right wine.  The Charcuterie was accompanied by the very popular Paul Dethune Blanc de Noirs Abonnay Champagne (which is 100% Pinot Noir).

On to the starters.  Two of us chose the Scottish Diver Scallops which came on skewers with an apple and fennel salad and were just perfect in texture and taste.  I was informed that the escargot was equally good and the Wild Devon mussels marinière on Welsh rarebit was a new experience for one of my friends.  Just to give you a flavour of what else was there, I liked the idea of the Brioche toad in the hole, so British!  We paired all of these with a fabulous 2010 Wairau River Marlborough Pinot Noir (£10.25 a glass).

Next up the main course.  Two of us had the most succulent and tasty Cumbrian beef fillet with wild mushroom and I liked the fact that it was not too huge.  Our other choices included the smoked haddock kedgeree with an organic soft boiled egg and the rotisserie chicken with baked Charlotte potatoes and the most outstanding sage and onion stuffing.  I should just add that the restaurant was superb at catering for the vegetarian in our party.  Our mains were paired with a 2007 Château Gachon, Montagne-St-Emilion, which is a mix of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon (£10.25 a glass).

The Pudding menu is incredibly tempting but after our Charcuterie, starters and main courses, all most of us could do was share, so it’s just as well they offer two desserts to share, either a Cannelés Bordelais or Warm hazelnut madeleines with hot chocolate sauce.  They also have a very nice looking cheese selection of either 4 artisan British cheeses or 4 traditional French cheeses.  My eyes lit up however when I saw that they had warm Rice Pudding with raisins and rum ice cream – it was the best rice pudding I think I have had!

The Balcon is a true London destination restaurant along with the neighbouring St James Bar being a fabulous new destination Bar.  Whether you want to just stop by for some Charcuterie and Champagne with friends or a full meal, you are sure of a warm welcome.  There is also a small private dining area on one side of the restaurant.

The Marché Menu
The Balcon is currently offering a rather excellent special Marché Menu that runs through to 1st May 2012 and is available from 11am to 11pm Monday through Saturday.

The Marché Menu changes every week and comes in 4 combinations, either a choice of 2 dishes for £15; 3 dishes and a coffee for £20; 3 dishes, a coffee and glass of wine for £25 or you can be extravagant and have 3 dishes, coffee and a glass of champagne for just £30. You have a choice of 3 starters, mains and desserts, in other words something for everyone!

Opening times.  The Balcon offers all day dining from 6:30am to 11pm Monday to Friday.  Saturday from 7am to 11pm and Sunday from 7am to 10pm.