Dinner with Meesha at Savoir Faire

Savoir Faire French Bistro (42 New Oxford St, cnr Coptic Street, London. Station: Tottenham Court Rd)

I started with an entree of 'Salmon Tartare encased in Avacado with Basalmic Sauce'. This was a fairly average dish, both in conception and flavour, and suffered from the demerit of being a bit too chilled. Meesha always without fail orders the 'Garlic Mussels', the house speciality, and they are delicious - a dozen little tender mussels served up in a snail dish and each bubbling away in their own little dimple of garlic butter. I wish I knew who their supplier for them is. However neither of us were very impressed this time when the mussels turned up lukewarm and had to be sent back to the kitchen to be heated properly. Once returned they were happily and swiftly demolished however.

We both had the main of 'Rib Eye Steak with Stilton Butter', carrots and beans; mine rare and Meesha's overcooked medium. The steak was tender and tasty, the butter delicious and the vegetables nicely cooked. It was a hit with both of us. In line with my 2007 New Year's Traditional Laughable Idea Resolution to drink less, I had a single glass of the house Merlot. Meesha drank the house Pinot Grigio, both of which proved smoothly quaffable.

Conversation mainly revolved around our latest television obsessions (her: 'Dexter', me: 'Torchwood'), Meesha's US visa application, upcoming marriage and all the trials, tribulations and girly stuff attendant thereto. I had promised to make my wedding ivyleaf hairpins for her a while back. Due to Meesha wearing a veil and comb, we've decided those little spiral hairpins will be the way to go, so I just have to work out how to make them and ensure the ivyleaf part is hardy enough to be taken in and out. A challenge, but it should be interesting!

We would have stayed for coffee but unfortunately some prat in the corner started smoking a cigarette, which was very unpleasant in the small, warm room. So we fled the smoke pollution out into... the city's exhaust pollution.

Including a large bottle of still water, the bill came to a very reasonable total of £40.20, excluding 10% tip. The service was good, and friendly as always. Overall, a bit of an uneven experience, but the steak was lovely and the company even better. Still one of my favorite Cheap Night Out With Friends places.

Comments

[Jeanne]

Hey - you're back!! Sounds like a fab dinner - and I adore those hairpins :-) All the best for 2007 and hope to see you soon.