Hidden above a 300-year-old pub in Clerkenwell, an unassuming family-run French bistro has been crowned the National Restaurant of the Year 2026 and the Best Restaurant in England.
Bouchon Racine: A Hidden Gem
Located upstairs at the Three Compasses pub on Cowcross Street, Bouchon Racine was opened on a shoestring budget by chef Henry Harris and business partner Dave Strauss. This "secret dining room" transports diners to the back streets of France, drawing inspiration from traditional bouchons of Lyon and Parisian bistros. The restaurant serves unapologetically traditional, "gutsy Gallic food."
Surprisingly Affordable
Despite topping the National Restaurant Awards Top 100 list, Bouchon Racine remains accessible with a ££ to £££ price rating. Diners can enjoy authentic French staples at reasonable prices: a baguette with salted butter for £4.50, Chicken Liver Pâté with cornichons for £9.50, Rabbit with mustard sauce and smoked bacon for £23.00, and Bavette steak with shallot marrow sauce for £24.50. The celebrated Crème Caramel dessert is just £6.00. Vegetarians may find limited options.
Critical Acclaim
Bouchon Racine has won over both the public and tough critics. Jay Rayner called the menu a "masterclass in French cooking," while Jimi Famurewa described the dining room as a place of "gutsy flavours and twinkling magic." Nigella Lawson praised the return of "beauty of brown food," and Giles Coren declared they serve "the best crème caramel in England."
Everyday diners are equally impressed. One Google reviewer called it a "wonderful discovery in London," praising a "delicious rabbit and chicken pie" with a "remarkable cream and mustard sauce." The chef personally greeted them in French and treated them to a prune crème brûlée, which the reviewer called "probably one of the best I've ever tasted."
How to Visit
Bouchon Racine is at 66 Cowcross Street, London, above the Three Compasses pub. Open Tuesday to Saturday, lunch from 12:00pm to 3:00pm, dinner from 6:00pm to 10:00pm. As a small family-run operation with tables for up to six, reservations open 30 days in advance. Book quickly to secure a spot.
Top 10 National Restaurant Awards 2026
- Bouchon Racine – Clerkenwell, London
- Joint 2nd: The Ritz – Mayfair, London
- Joint 2nd: Osip – Bruton, Somerset
- Dorian – Notting Hill, London
- The Ledbury – Notting Hill, London
- Restaurant Moor Hall – Aughton, Lancashire
- Ynyshir – Machynlleth, Powys
- Mountain – Soho, London
- Trinity – Clapham, London
- Woven by Adam Smith – Sunningdale, Berkshire
- Legado – Shoreditch, London
