We love a laidback bistro as much as anyone but sometimes you really want to step it up a notch and these are some of the best restaurants in town for French flair and finesse. 

Neil Borthwick has taken over the kitchen at The French House and is getting rave reviews. We popped down to check out the menu. 

It's most definitely the time of year where everyone's searching for something seriously hearty to eat - and a month-long pop-up in Hackney aims to provide just that. Cassoulet Nights - as the name suggests - focuses on rural French cooking. The chef in charge of things is Jacob Rosen - the former Head Chef of Pitt Cue. He's teamed up with Quite Nice Wines to provide the perfect winter combo.

They'll be taking over Apiary Studios on Hackney Road

A new Spitalfields popup sees a former City worker do just what so many of probably fancy doing - opening a restaurant based on the food in our favourite holiday destination.

Monsieur Le Duck is the result of London Richard Humphreys' many trips to Gascony. Loving the place (and its food and wine) so much, Richard decided to jack in his job and open a restaurant around the corner from his old office.

The restaurant, which is popping up at

Classic French bistro dishes, wines, coffee, and pastries will be the order of the day at this revamped neighbourhood spot.

One of the founders of Le Bun has opened Carte Blanche in Hackney - a mix of French and American food, with some excellent burgers too. We head down for a look. 

Burgers and poutine are given a classic French treatment at this Francophile street traders third London opening in Tooting Market.

One of the co-founders of Le Bun is carrying on the French/American theme with his latest restaurant, Carte Blanche, in Hackney. Expect southern American comfort cooking with a touch of French cuisine too.

With restaurants in all the key globetrotting hotspots - NYC, Miami, Dubai etc - a London branch was way overdue for this upscale international chain.

For its 21st birthday, Marylebone classic The Orrery got a new look and new menu - we went to check both out.

Soho classic Kettner's has been taken over by the Soho House group and turned into a restaurant, champagne bar and townhouse with rooms. We check in for a night

We're really sorry to hear this morning of the imminent closure of Galvin Brothers Bistrot de Luxe on Baker Street. The announcement came today as Chris and Jeff Galvin said; "It’s time to move on...in the world’s great cities things do not stand still. Tastes change and also, as creative chefs, we are restless and now want to do new things not just endlessly repeat the same style of cooking.”

The 12-year-old restaurant really was a game-changer when it

The folk behind Randall and Aubin are behind a new bistro that's just opened on Leicester Square, covering all the French-inspired bases a visitor to Central could need, from pancakes to fish and chips and steak.

Pied a Terre's GM heads out on his own with this neighbourhood spot where it's all about ultra personal treatment and giving the customer what they really want

After enjoying Michelin-starred success in Hong Kong, two of the chefs behind Serge et Le Phoque are bringing their ingredient-led French cuisine to London, including their signature scallop with anchovy and fried leek root.