Looking for a French restaurant near Oxford Circus? French restaurants don’t come much more legendary than the Richoux group, a proper Parisian-inspired all-day brasserie. A favourite with Londoners and French diners alike, it even earned the seal of approval from my Parisian dining companion.
Established back in 1909 as a patisserie and confectioner on Baker Street before moving to a larger high society tea room in the 1970s, Richoux has been serving exceptionally good-value French fare for decades. Last autumn, Richoux’s Oxford Circus flagship restaurant officially reopened. The much-loved French brasserie on Langham Place, a stone’s throw from Oxford Circus station, is the perfect spot for a leisurely lunch after a Psycle spin class, just a minute’s walk away, or for a post-shopping pitstop.
Inside Richoux Oxford Circus
From the outside, Richoux looks every inch the traditional Parisian café, with bistro chairs on the terrace perfect for people-watching. Inside, there’s warm wood panelling, mood lighting, navy leather banquettes, sleek marble tabletops and colourful artwork dotted across the walls – serious date-night territory without the stuffiness.
A real focus is placed on French classics, cooked the Richoux way, with an emphasis on quality and provenance. Offering all-day dining, brunch, Richoux’s cream tea, a kids’ menu, plus what we were here to sample – the two-course summer prix fixe menu for £19.95, available Tuesday to Friday from 12pm and Saturday from 4pm.
What We Ordered
Starters offer a strong line-up of five dishes to choose from. Top bites include the Truffle Croque Monsieur, the Beef Tartare and Richoux Smoked Salmon.
Meanwhile, the mains are a masterclass in French brasserie favourites. Think tender sautéed chicken breast with jus and perfectly crisp French fries. The Richoux Cheeseburger is pure indulgence, oozing with melted cheese and all the trimmings, packed with over-the-top flavour. Lighter options, such as the Caesar Salad, are also available. Or go for an homage to French bistros with the Steak Frites for an additional £4.95 supplement – tender and juicy, served with a choice of sauce and French fries.
Finish with dessert for an additional £4.95. The Crème au Citron is zesty lemon perfection, while the classic Richoux 1909 Chocolat Chaud – made with 54% hot chocolate, tonka bean and Chantilly cream – is outrageous, indulgent and everything a chocolate dessert should be. So much so, it’s worth fighting over the last spoonful.
Drinks and Cocktail Hour
As you’d expect, the wine menu flies the flag high for French wines, offering bottles of white from £35 up to £250 for Chardonnay, plus a range of cocktails, including a boozy take on the classic Frappé – the Absinthe Frappé and the Madeleine, made with Chase vodka, vanilla, honey and cedro, served over a supersized branded ice cube with a madeleine cake perched on top. Talking of cocktails, it would be rude not to take advantage of Cocktail Hour, which runs Tuesday to Friday from 3pm to 6pm, with 2-for-1 cocktails, house wine and bottled beer.
If you’re looking for one of the best French restaurants near Oxford Circus, Richoux is always a good idea. The Summer Set Menu offers excellent value and is well worth trying.
Richoux 14-15 Langham Pl, London W1B 2QS
