Charlotte's Bistro has come of age
2017 marks the year Charlotte’s Bistro has come of age. Starting life in 2010 as “more fun-loving daughter than sister” to owner Alex Wrethman’s first restaurant, the iconic Charlotte’s Place in Ealing, Charlotte’s Bistro breathed life into Chiswick, opening to rave reviews and packed tables. Cleverly filling a niche between high street chain brasseries and top end fine dining, the Bistro quickly won a place in locals’ hearts as a younger, buzzier spot, with a relaxed, friendly atmosphere and quality food at reasonable prices. Whether visiting for lunch with friends, popping in for a quick drink at the bar and an early dinner or celebrating a special occasion – it ticked all the boxes.
Over the last seven years, Alex and his team tried various other formats in the Bistro, to try to improve, evolve and keep the concept fresh and new. Some of these worked really well – and quite frankly, some didn’t – sweetly referred to as their rebellious teens!
Having spent the last few months talking to their customers, and more importantly, listening to what they liked most and didn’t like, Alex and his team now know what diners want from them. So now, after a ‘facelift’ at the end of 2016, they really feel the Bistro has come of age and is confident in its own skin. It is their go-to, dependable local bistro with friendly service, tasty, quality food, a relaxed convivial atmosphere – and great value.
So they have gone Back to Bistro in a number of ways:
Firstly, Alex has engaged new young gun chef Michal Snela at the start of the year with his perfect bistro background of Chez Bruce, Artichoke, Arbutus and Wild Honey. Alex says he knew from the minute Michal’s CV landed on his lap (he doesn’t have a desk) that he was ‘the one’.
Secondly, now that Michal’s found his ‘culinary feet’ and is expressing this through our monthly changing menus, they have reintroduced the original bistro format – with two and three course options for both lunch and dinner. Diners’ feedback said they like the set price formula and it’s going down a storm. They might be banging their own drum, but food of this quality just doesn’t get better value than a three course dinner for £34.50 (two courses £28.50) or a weekday two course lunch from the same menu for under £20 (£19.50).
Thirdly customers are lapping up the revival of Bistro’s Early Diner Offer – that’s three courses & an aperitif at just £29.50 (5.30-7pm). Perfect for nights when there’s nothing in the fridge and you just fancy a quick bite to eat on the way home or before meeting others for drinks.
And finally, last but definitely not least, sees the return of the famously irresistible Sunday Roast – medium rare beef sirloin with potatoes, winter greens and Yorkshire pud – packed full of flavour and already getting a great reaction from everyone. If you haven’t tried it yet, it’s well worth a visit.
Advertorial
April 11, 2017
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