Situated on Islington’s Upper Street, Le Mercury Deuxieme is known for its creative and inexpensive French food.
Originally opened due to the success of the first Le Mercury and its overflow of customers, the Deuxieme (or second) restaurant has a completely new atmosphere.
Walking in, you notice the wooden flooring, portraits of flowers and colanders hung from the green walls, giving a French countryside feel. The friendly staff coupled with the candlelit, romantic vibe make for a warm and welcoming experience.
For starters I ordered the Chèvre Chaud, crispy grilled goat’s cheese with a fluffy, soft centre, over a bed of chopped artichokes and red pepper salad, complimented with flavourful basil pesto.
Filling but not overbearing, I was impressed by both the presentation and tastiness of the dish.
For my main course I picked Poitrine de Porc, consisting of pork belly, crackling, celeriac and Granny Smith apple. The supple belly had a smooth texture and was complimented well by the gravy, though the apple could’ve been sweeter and crunchier to make it stand out. Overall a very succulent dish.
I’d recommend a visit to Le Mercury Deuxieme. All courses are fixed price, with starters at £4.45 and main courses £9.95 – excellent value for money. Its warm atmosphere, helpful staff and great food make it somewhere you want to be on a night out.
Featured image by James Childs