I was once invited to this special place to see the popular cabaret show 'Bearlesque' and enjoyed every moment of it. The venue is located on a very unlikely street in one huge warehouse conversion. The warehouse contains a bar, the cabaret area with a separate bar and a restaurant upstairs. More recently, I went back to the Bistrotheque, this time for a special celebratory meal and had a lovely time. We started off in the bar with a delicious cocktail then headed our way upstairs to the restaurant. The restaurant is very minimalist with white painted walls, bulbs hanging from the ceiling and a black grand piano in the centre. I ordered the rump steak with fries which was cooked just right, but I would have preferred it if they had added a little bit of greens on the plate as well. I also highly recommend the tarte tatin for desert. The waiters were very helpful and chatty. Altogether it was a very pleasant evening, and my next visit there will probably be for a Sunday brunch. read more

So I actually went to Bistroteque last night for the first time. I have heard many, many good things about it, and I was not disappointed. For a Monday night, the place was really pumping, probably more so than any of the other restaurants and bars in the area. It may have had something to do with the fact that it's Christmas time, and Bistroteque can cater for big parties. I had the chilli squid for a starter, which was delicious but quite small. For a main course I had the softest, most amazing steak that I have had for years. Finding a perfect steak just doesn't happen that often, and I was very excited. There are burlesque/cabaret shows down stairs. I didn't go into the show area, but from what I could here from outside, it sounded pretty wild. The place is has a minimal kind of design with a big emphasis on white. Overall, it was a really good experience. read more

One can't go to Bistrotheque by chance as it is hard to find in a small industrial street in Hackney and getting there is quite exciting. The experience less so. Bistrotheque is certainly worth trying once as it is different and quite cool with its brasserie menu and white decor in the middle of the East End. But the place is probably trying to be too cool and the restaurant experience tends to disappoint. What will NOT disappoint is the amazing cabaret under the restaurant, we attended the Christmas Carol sung by 3 drag queens and it was really hilarious in this small theatre with a bar at the back and a great vibe and crowd really. read more

It's as easy to miss the Bistrotheque venue as it is to miss Wadeson Street. The road itself looks more like an alleyway. Dark, silent, bit dodgy-looking and positioned next to an imposingly large cash and carry warehouse, you'd be forgiven for scurrying past it quickly, in case some hooded vagrant jumped out at you from the shadows and demanded the last fiver from your man- or handbag. But fear not. An undiscovered Jewel lies down there. Home to both a modern European restaurant (top floor) where you can enjoy a range of delights from huge rock oysters to a traditional roast; and two bars (bottom floor), the smaller brighter one of which is more of a pre-drinksy location, the darker cabaret room being the place that has hosted the shows that have given the place its outrageous yet innovative reputation. If you've never been treated to performances by Laquisha Jonz, Bearlesque (Imagine seductively teasing burlesque performed by fat, hairy gay men), Tranny Lip Synching or Johnny Woo, now is the time to make up for lost time. Fusing cabaret, with stand-up comedy, performance art, song and other things that defy classification, this is definitely the place to go for an evening you'll be laughing to yourself about for weeks afterwards. read more

Pics and more: http://hungryinlondon.com/2011/06/bistroteque-bethnal-green/ Every restaurant that serves you 3 excellent courses for 19 pounds (Sun-Thu before 19:30) deserves a very honorable mention. If you get some added entertainment for another 5 pounds that's even better! This is the package you get at Bistroteque in Bethnal Green, located in a little side street just off Cambridge Heath Road. You have to pay some attention not to walk past the inconspicuous entryway, but when you have finally found your destination you are rewarded with a modern, bright and spacious dining room with high ceilings. Since I have moved to London I am a sucker for big open spaces. Compared to Vienna where I used to live before everything in London is so crammed together and I really miss the feeling of vastness and space. Certainly no reason for claustrophobia at Bistroteque. There were a range of really attractive sounding dishes on the Prix Fix Menu, so no reason to order from the a la carte. The Stichelton, Pear, Pine Nut, Chicory, Spinach starter turned out to be delicious. The combination of bitterness from the chicory, sweet pears and pungent cheese worked so well together and even though it was a simple dish I enjoyed it very much. Also successful, fresh and summary was the second starter of Grilled Spring Onions, Romesco, Parmesan, Herbs. I have to say that the spring onions was the most forgettable part of the dish. The romesco however, which is a Catalan sauce containing red peppers, garlic, nuts and olive oil, was beautiful. I would have happily eaten the herbs, the generous parmesan shavings and the romesco without the onions. Stichelton, Pear, Pine Nut, Chicory, Spinach Grilled Spring Onions, Romesco, Parmesan, Herbs The grilled chicken with garlic was again a very uncomplicated dish. The chicken was very nicely cooked, tender and juicy and didn't overpoweringly taste of garlic. They could have put some more effort though into the condiments. There was just a heap of rocket without any dressing. I loved the beef tartare which was just right. Right coarse consistency of high quality beef, right degree of spiciness and right amount of capers and gherkins. The chips it came with were to die for! grilled chicken with garlic beef tartare We only had space for one dessert and went for the Chocolate and Rasberry Cake. The rich and moist dark chocolate with a hint or raspberry and some creme fraiche to counterbalance the sweetness was a perfect end to a very nice meal Chocolate and Rasberry Cake Bistroteque doesn't do sophisticated cooking. If you want this there are other places to go to. If you want to enjoy simple, well prepared, classic dishes with a strong French influence in contemporary atmosphere, you might be very happy at Bistroteque. I haven't told you about the entertainment yet. Downstairs from the restaurant is a small theatre with bar where you can enjoy cabaret at its best. Well, let's say the Lip Sinkers that play there one a regular basis are truly excellent. This time we went to see 'Under Construction' which is performance platform for new and established performers to show their new work. It probably depends on the evening and who is performing, on the evening we went we decided the 5 pounds we paid in entry were about appropriate for the quality of the performance. Having said that I really liked the lady below and even if you might see some acts that are rather let's say mediocre it's still a very different night out. I will go again! read more

Good luck finding the unmarked entrance from the street (look for the white alcove with benches and plant pots and there's a door inside on the left). But once you're in (and upstairs) you'll see the incredible warehouse space that is Bistrotheque. The food that comes out of the big open kitchen is really something special. Seemingly with an emphasis on the veg my hake starter came with very tasty heritage tomatoes and the lamb entree was served on a bed of chard). If you're looking for something pricey but memorable it's definitely worth it. read more

I wish I could love this place. I really do. The design and decor is brilliant, the service is friendly right down to the doorman, and the menu (both cocktails and food) is gorgeous. But the bar staff need measures to make the drinks, and the kitchen is inconsistent at best. The first time I went, the food was good (though not as great as the prices might lead one to expect); the second time, my lobster was so overcooked that I couldn't get it out of its shell, and my companion's stake was tough and flavourless. The one thing that doesn't disappoint is the cabaret. Well worth a look and a reservation, the entertainment includes a drag duo and a young female singer doing covers of rock tunes through the ages, accompanied by a sole piano. Particularly brilliant is her Queen medley. Not to be missed. Shame about the food. I really wanted to love this place. read more

Been here for drinks in the bar after a private view in Viner Street about a year ago. It's proximity to one of East Londons most gallery populated street makes it a regular haunt for arty types. I came back here again this week but this time for dinner. The restaurant itself is quite minimal, with a black grand piano in the center of the floor with flowers on top. The toilets have some interesting illustrations in black paint. Firstly we ordered a bottle of white whine which was quite nice, the bread we got to graze on was quite hard though, i ordered the sardines with orange zest for starter which was pretty tasty, for mains I had mushroom pie which was a bit of a disappointment to be honest, it was pretty bland. my date had fish and chips which he rather enjoyed. The next time I come here I will have to try something different. It's another one of those hidden gem type places. read more

I couldn't love this place anymore. If you go at lunchtimes Xavier is on the Piano changing pop songs into dreamy classical melodies. Ask him to do Tiny Dancer (don't sing along at the top of your voice after 2 bottles of Prosecco). The Prosecco is great. I've been so many times, the food has always been great. Jason, Sam, Claire, you are awesome. read more

An intimate venue cleverly hid down a side street. Great space for dinner with friends or for business and the put on a great show too. The menu is varied and seasonal and the food speaks for itself. Try it out for yourself. read more

Going to keep this short because I could be talking for days. Food - Some of the best in London (I would argue the best). I've had a lot of things on the menu and can say I enjoyed all of them. Drinks - Cocktails are unreal plus they have a stella wine and bar selection Atmosphere - Very minimalist chic. Service - Outstanding. Servers are knowledgable, friendly, and funny. Area - It sits in the middle of Bethnal Green but very hidden, which I love. The hardest part is staying away in order to protect my bank account. Otherwise I think I would just buy the restaurant. read more

This spot is housed in a converted warehouse is massive, really bright and airy. Brunch is what I keep coming back for and normally, they have live piano music. If you get the chance do try their millefeuille with pistachio cream and fresh raspberries - it's amazing! read more

Bistroteque is one of those great places where you can eat really good food, and get very good service, in a really unstuffy atmosphere. We went for a Sunday brunch and had an excellent selection of dishes ranging from the mini fois gras burger (lovely, perfect size), to oysters (apparently very good) and salted caramel tart. At no point did we feel rushed and the waiter was just the right level of attentive. I would give 5 stars, but it is just a touch expensive what for is really just quite simply cooked food and standard ingredients, but really is a lovely alternative brunch option. If you can be bothered to go that far down a Hackney backstreet read more

My second time eating at this fine establishment. It is rare that I can say that the second time eating in a restaurant is better than the first time, but I have been pleasantly surprised. If you can find it, you will have an exquisite mail. read more

Despite being in a bit of a random location, this place is amazing. We had dinner upstairs with a friend visiting from the States. Food was wonderful, our waiter was adorable and we enjoyed every minute. After dinner, we headed downstairs to enjoy the Madonna-themed transvestite cabaret. Love it! Once that was over, we headed to the other bar in the building and enjoyed a night cap. How can a night get any better than this? read more

My cousin came to stay this weekend and I took her for breakfast at Bistrotheque on Sunday morning. It was absolutely delicious. I've been there before about 8 months ago, but the place has achieved the impossible and seems to have improved when it was already fantastic. The ambience of the venue is great with a trendy yet comfortable industrious warehouse feel. The food is delicious. It is not as cheap as other places in the area, but it is worth the expense. The staff are friendly and efficient and despite how busy the place grows, you never have that "we need to speed up before they usher us out" feeling. I'm not sure why I don't go there more, I will do from now on. A great find. read more

We went to Bistrotheque for dinner on a Sunday evening on the spur of the moment. It's extremely hard to find, but the venue is quite decent. The staff were also all incredibly cheery and friendly (engaging waiting staff make all the difference, our waitress was particularly good) There's a 3 courses for £19 menu, if you go before 7.30pm - which is pretty good value for money. However, we arrived at 8pm, so we were paying the full amount for each course. I had the pear and stilton salad to start, which was extremely bland, lacked invention and was served without a vinaigrette - it was not worth the £8.50 price tag, not at all. My OH had the foie gras, which was pretty good albeit quite on the small side. Not sure if it was worth £9.50. I had the Venison Pie as a main at £12.00 (comes just on its own as a small pie in a pot, chips/sides are extra). My Venison pie was pretty ropey, I've made far far better in my own kitchen, the pie was extremely bland and flavourless - albeit quite meaty. It lacked seasoning or the welcome addition of herbs etc, it felt like a rather poor meat pie. I had a side order of chips at £3.50 which were some of the most lackluster chips I've tasted. Just bland and soggy, felt extremely out-of-character for a restaurant with this much ambition. They were so bad I was tempted to complain, but just didn't have the heart to do it on a late Sunday evening. My OH had the mussels, which were pretty decent although they hadn't been cleaned properly - they still had sand on/in them - think we paid £14.50 for this. We shared a lemon pousset for desert which was actually, quite incredible (We paid £5.50). Really light and creamy and not too tart. Extremely pleasant and the best part of the meal. With wine and tip we paid about £78 all in. Definitely wasn't worth it, I've had far better and paid far less. Definitely a bit of 'ye old fashionable east end mark-up' in play here. Considering you can do a 3 course meal with a half-bottle at La Gavroche for £50, Bistrotheque just seemed to be remarkably oversold and over-priced. Although I'm tempted not to write it off just yet. It's a great space with a nice ambience, sure with a bit of work to the menu - this could be a 'hidden gem' of the east-end. read more

Bistrotheque presents *88 This collaboration of Bistrotheque and Restaurants in Residence on 23rd of July resulted in probably the worst meal served that day in London. The Rice and Peas risotto - the laziest and most uninspiring dishes, tasted like baby or hospital food. The main of poussin was equally bad and slightly undercooked. The whole meal consisted of ill-prepared dishes made up of really cheap ingredients. The charge of £45 was therefore greatly exaggerated. For our party of 4, regular Bistrotheque goers this was a great disappointment. read more

I went to this place for a birthday lunch and was sadly disappointed. everyone on our table found the food pretty dry and tasteless. the service was really poor as they never come over to top up our water or offer us more drinks or to ask if everything was ok. the only thing i enjoyed was the desert hence 2 stars I wouldn't visit this place again but maybe i was unlucky and they just had a bad day. read more

We haven't been here for a while and the food was good as always. In temporary downstairs space while upstairs refurbed .... ok-ish. Service was very pleasant and polite but there didnt seem to be enough staff so we waited a good while for main course, then were totally abandoned (up to 30 minutes) - no offer of dessert, eventually we asked for the bill and that did come with an apology, but then it took ages to pay too! Maybe they were having a one-off bad night but they need to sort out the service read more

5 stars for ambiance. Service was average - service was impersonal and felt rushed and tough to pin down a waiter to ask for things (e.g. more tap water, condiments, etc) especially given they tack on a service charge on your bill. Food quality was hit / miss. Went there for brunch for my Dad's birthday. Here are a few thoughts on what we ordered. Starters 1. Labneh was excellent - very good flavor profile. Well executed - was not served with any bread (although bread available complimentary upon order) - this was probably the best dish we had. 2. Charred asparagus - asparagus were on the smaller end and hollandaise was good whilst difficult to tell what to do with egg yolk (execution was mediocre). Waited a long time (30+ minutes) for the mains to come out even though the restaurant wasn't busy. All the waiters seem to congregate around the bar / kitchen but really not much service other than random shouts of orders from the chef (common in kitchens which gives it a real cool feel). Mains 1. Fish and Chips - batter on fish was soft and was fried until almost burned as an effort to cook it - it was still uncooked. Served with chips (which are double fried served on side) and mushy peas. Would suggest they serve a small green salad with this like a few mesclun greens to balance the meal. It felt like the dish wasn't fully put together. This fish and chips could've been executed much better without much additional effort with nothing to differentiate it from other fish and chip dishes at other establishments. 2. Avocado poached eggs. Two words- disorganized mess. Not sure how I was supposed to eat this. It was basically unseasoned cornbread topped with 2 poached eggs, avocado smash (which was over processed into a baby purée) with an entire bush of coriander (coriander wasn't cut up so there were stems and everything). There was a puddle of Tabasco on the side which didn't help the fish at all as the cornbread base sucked up the spice. Too many strong flavors on a plate with no cohesiveness. The avocado smash is probably some of the worst I've had, unfortunately. 3. Chicken - pan seared leg, thigh and wing (cheap cuts that can withstand overcooking). Skin was tough and not crispy. This was served with an arugula salad. Again, the presentation wasn't great and the dish was very underwhelming. Drinks 1. Santa Clara was good - could be served in a highball instead of an old fashioned glass. 2. Americano was luke warm when I received it. Wasn't a good brunch roast. 3. English breakfast tea was served loose leaf which was nice. Overall I gave this place 3* based on the ambiance which trumps the downside of the food / service experience. Unlikely to recommend. read more

Ordinary would be the most accurate adjective for Bistrotheque. I probably wouldn't take a friend there. I had the fish and chips, which consisted of battered fish (nothing special), chips that looked liked they'd come from a frozen package, overly minty pea mush, and tartare sauce that had been prepared well in advance, to the point where there was a dry film over the top of the sauce (served in small bowl). My partner had the roast chicken. All in all, our opinion converged. Ordinary. Nice service. A bit pretentious with its lack of signage, but nothing at all special for the price of £61.00 (including 12.5% gratutity [sic.]). read more

This is a great place to take people from out of town. It's still holding up after all of these years being a trendy hot spot. It used to be the only place to go for fancier fare in these parts of London. My, how things have changed in recent years. I have never found the food to have been memorable, never bad, I have pretty high standards in this department, it's just not "wow I'm going to remember this dish for the rest of my life" so this is not a foodie paradise. However, every evening that we have spent there has always been remembered fondly by whoever I have taken there. The ambiance is still pretty hard to beat. read more

Bistrotheque features seriously amazing food and entertainment in a random corner of the East End -- even knowledgeable London cab drivers don't always know how to get there! The brunch is particularly delicious, and the cabaret should not be missed for a night of cheeky fun. read more

I really like the look and feel of this place, there is no sign out front so you just have to miraculously know where this bistro is. Its beautiful, a walk thru kitchen and nice lighting. Food is good, grill peach dessert was very nice, great frites... moules a little gritty. The Foie gras tasty and beyond rich. There is a burlesque show underneath the restaurant which is supposed to be very entertaining. read more

Industrial, spartan feel fits well in Bethnal Green. Great place for brunch on a sunny day (lots of natural light) and there's live piano! Menu is unoriginal but the quality of the good is pretty good read more

Bistroteque is not your typical bistro. It's much more... a trendy bar, a cabaret, and a fantastic restaurant. It's located in Bethnal Green close to many trendy galleries and artist studios and many of its patrons come from the creative world. The bar and cabaret are located on the ground floor, the bistro on the first. Stop in the bar for a stiff drink among artists, fashionistas, and performers in drag. It makes for an entertaining start to a fantastic experience. To get to the dining area, one has to pass through the kitchen which is always interesting to observe. The restaurant is clean, simple, and lit by candle light. The food is exceptional and highlights include rump steak, tartar, and duck. The salads are always divine as are the desserts. I love this place and return often. Try it and I am sure you will too. read more

The food is predominately classic french bistro: I recently had a very good Game Hen and a roast chicken with a nice amount of garlic and au jus. The Moules Frites smelled amazing as well. Decor is modern loft-esque and one of my personal favorite dining spaces in East London. read more

Cool restaurant. Great service. Good food. On the higher-end of things for sure, but not out of the ballpark for the area. We enjoyed our time here and would recommend it to others. I don't think any of us walked away with a 'that was the best place I've been to' vibe, thus giving four stars instead of five. read more

God I love this place!! good to see it on qype - the food is fabulous and the service I experienced was great. Did a bit of celebrity spotting when I noticed Jarvis Cocker having a meal with friends/family. A brilliant night then ensued as we went downstairs for the LipSyncers fabulous Caberet, an added bonus if you're here on an evening when they are performing. I've only been here in the winter but it was lovely, stylish and the food was to die for! Great! read more

Difficult to find - but worth the effort. Very nice for brunch on a lazy Sunday, with live piano music in the background.

I had heard about this place for ages and I finally was able to go with a small group of friends. What a GREAT night out. Pre-dinner drinks at the light and airy bar on the ground floor were great. There are also a few tables outside, if you're so inclined. The food at the restaurant (open plan, you walk through the kitchen, impossibly hip wait staff and clientele, but all in a very friendly and welcoming environment) is very good and not overly priced. I had oysters and steak tartare and they were delish. My companions tried the razor clams, which they said were a bit too salty, the steak and the pan fried gnocchi, which they loved. The post-dinner cabaret was spectacular. Johnny Woo and Gateau Chocolat were fantastic, mixing old school cabaret with stand up comedy, razor sharp, slam-worthy poetry, opera and even mime! I can't wait to return and even try it at brunch. read more

Good for a special night out or just looking for a really good meal. Everything on the menu is recommended. Dont be fooled by dishes that sound ordinary - the flavours and presentation is awesome and it is matched by a fantastic wine list. Make sure to book! read more

OK so this is a food review, if it was a cool place review it would be 5 stars, a bar review, probably the same but a Sunday Lunch/Brunch review only 3 stars, sorry. They may well all have been a little hung over from a good Saturday night as that is the only explanation I can think of to explain why the delicious food was let down by two annoying things. Let me start with what I really like the venue is just brilliant, real warehouse style, great decor, cool attitude, great design, easy booking, really tasty food, good drinks. In particular I loved the taste of the food I had crab salad, black olive gnocchi and a creme brulee, well presented, well seasoned and intelligently put together. The others in our party of five were similarly complimentary and there was not a bad or even average dish amongst all that we ordered. On the down side there were a number of items on the menu not available at 2pm on a Sunday afternoon and we only discovered these by trying to order them a small point but bigger was the idea that 5 gnocchi are sufficient for a main course - a starter maybe but wow, that really is light eating. Particularly mysterious as other mains were a good size or even generous (check out the half roast chicken on the menu!). I was going to say something however our waitress disappeared and that was the other issue the service started brightly and was pretty good but then had a major hiccup and at one stage I had to stop a passing waiter and ask for the dessert menu suffice to say we felt forgotten. When I mentioned this however the reaction was really positive which shows this is a good place to go the desserts were given complimentary and there was an additional discount on the bill when it came. Perhaps I am being a bit harsh with just 3 stars, I will have to go back and try an evening and see what that is like, perhaps I just hit them on an off day. I would definitely recommend it for a cool place to eat and I expect it really is much better than we found it. read more

Love this place. It's the second time I've been there. The food is amazing. I will definitely be back next time I go to London!

Bistrotheque has all the right elements of the most perfect Saturday morning brunch - hidden East London venue, grand piano, fresh flowers, an aesthetically beautiful menu, espresso martinis, Aesop hand wash in the loos. We ordered some bloody Mary's and espresso martinis to start - both perfect. But the food was utterly disappointing. Within minutes of ordering, our food was served - the Bistrotheque breakfast and avocado poached egg on sourdough. It was clear the food had been cooked earlier in the day and warmed upon ordering. The avocado toast was covered in red onion, unnecessary amounts of unchopped coriander and the egg not properly cooked. I have always been a real fan of this place and have had many great meals there but for me, Bistrotheque has lost its 'pizazz!' read more

Absolutely great food, one of the best steaks I've ever had. Desert (banana custard tart with peanut butter ice-cream) will go down as one of my favourite deserts of all time. Waiters are incredibly handsome and service is good. read more

I just got to love this place. Its so big and stylish, its just perfect for either a dinner/lunch with the family or friends or for a romantic evening with the loved one. Visited recently with my boyfriend and it was an amazing experience. The staff are incredible, dont know how they found such intelligent, kind, polite and yet professional people. They are just enough to make you enjoy your stay and to be satisfied. The decoration is stylish and gives the place a really expensive look. There is a wide range of starters, mains and deserts in the menu, which is designed really nice. Not to forget about the classic wines and other drinks, which are a lot as well. In overall this one of the best restaurants in London, I strongly recommend it! read more

My favourite restaurant in Hackney. They relaunched Steak Tartare into London 15 years ago and it is fantastic. Great wine list and a Cosmopolitan to die for. Fantastic waiters with real penache and personality. Plus the white washed industrial space and long bar. You cotta love Bistrotheque. read more

I really liked this restaurant in Hackney. I found out about it from Eat.Shop.London, a book about locally owned eating and shopping establishments. It is a little difficult to find and once you've found it, you need to navigate upstairs to get to the restaurant (no signage). The converted warehouse space is great though. excellent food and ambience and they have tasty unique cocktail list. Reasonably priced as well! read more