Wow! Now this is a rare find - gourmet quality for mainstream prices! I almost don't want to review this place so that people don't flood it, but I want them to continue doing their beautiful thing! We went here after a week in Dijon, where we were sickened by the high prices for relatively little quality. Coming back to London to find this awesome little place was such a contrast. We started off by only wanting main and perhaps dessert, but ended up having wine and all three courses! Every single course was amazing. I recommend this as one of my favourite places in Angel! read more

Went to Le Mercury as a last minute decision with a friend. We got served straight away which was great. This also meant that we got our food very quickly ( a bit too quickly..we were in and out of the door within 40 minutes). Saying that the food was very nice. The prices are so reasonable because of the fast turn around and it is obligatory to order sides with your mains as you won't get any veg or carbs on your plate. All in all a nice little place to go if you don't want to spend hours on your meal or have a play/film to catch. read more

I went here with a french person and apparently it is incredibly authentic. The food was lovely (steak cooked to perfection) as was the wine. No problems with the service. It's in a very busy area so you will be lucky to find a seat, I definately recommend booking in advance. read more

My favourite little restaurant in Islington. I almost want to be selfish and pretend I hate it so that it doesn't get any busier! But in the spirit of paying it forward - GO TO THE MERCURY!! It does get very busy so make sure you ring ahead. Anyway, the food is unbelievably delicious, which is exacerbated by the excellent prices and good sized portions. I cannot say enough to recommend this restaurant. The candle light and the warm atmosphere all add that little extra special something. I remember the lamb main course being particularly yummy, but the menu keeps changing and I haven't had a bad experience yet. read more

I really like this restaurant. My boss put me on to it a couple of years back, and I have been numerous times since. The combination of good value with high quality food and a nice location / layout really make this worth going to. The menu is always varied and changes frequently. As I said, the great value makes it even better. You don't get massive portions, but more than enough to do the job. There is always a specials menu (no, not just the leftovers) which has some stunning dishes. Haven't had a bad dish yet! There are a few French restaurants in Angel, this being my second favourite. A very close second, mind read more

Tucked right on the corner of Almeida Street and Upper Street, this little French Bistro is a wonderful little find. It's no fine dining establishment, but if you are looking for cheap, tasty and typically French cuisine - this is your Ronseal. (Does exactly what is says on the tin). Its dark enough to be intimate, but romantically lit with candles enough to see your dinner (and guest). The waiters are very efficient... some may say a little too eager to get you in, served and out, but I'm quite partial to a bit of efficiency on a cold wintery night when I'm starving. A three course meal will set you back £17. And that's the entire menu - starters, mains and desserts are all the same price. Toilets are fairly interesting... but clean. We dined on Carpaccio of Beef, Fois Gras, Sea Bass, Belly Pork, Marscapone Cheesecake and Sticky Toffee pudding. Delicious. Can't comment on the booze as we were driving, but French wine isn't really my thing anyway. Oh - driving - easy peasy. You can park on Almeida Street and the streets behind the restaurant from 6.30pm Pay and Display. Biking? Bike bay just on Napier Street - it couldn't be more convenient! Go on - have an indulgent Monday night out - and keep your wallet happy at the same time. read more

I`m big fan of Le Mercury. The food here is awesome and the prices are unbelievable. The best ratio quality/price. The main courses are only £9 which for Islington and for the such delicious food is pretty good deal. The wines are around £15. I can`t say enough, just go there and try it. Strongly recommend it, one of my favourite places. read more

My friend and I decided to eat here one day and I am glad we did! Every main dish was relatively cheap for French food which was just great because the quality was amazing! I ordered the duck and the skin was absolutely delicious and crunchy. Underneath, the mash was perfectly creamy. I always recommend people to eat at Le Mercury if they are around Islington. Beautiful setting, wonderful food! read more

Le Mercury - Delicious duck :) - French Near Me - London, XGL

One of my all time fav restaurants in London. Fabulous food and fantastic prices. Every time I have been the food has been of top quality. It is a great spot for groups or for a romantic meal for two. My favourites are the goats cheese to start and the lamb or duck for main. They have a great desert and cocktail menu too. This place is definitely worth a visit you won't regret it. read more

I sit down and am promptly ignored until Meg comes in. The vibe is very French bistro and a bit like Lucien in NYC which used to be our favourite place for a mildly celebratory dinner so that's good. The restaurant is crowded but unlike a crowded NYC restaurant you aren't putting your elbows in your neighbour's soup. Tiny paper napkins and diner-standard flatware/glasses are all that's on the table. Meg arrives, we get the menus, and order drinks. We get glasses of tap water, which are never refilled, and a bottle of chenin blanc which turns out to be a 2008 from Long Beach winery in South Africa. This is a little sweet, but very nice - I like it a lot. The bread is pretty plain-jane white bread, but it has poppy seeds on the outside which make it better than expected. Meg has Tian au Crabe which is described on the menu as Tian of crab and avocado emulsion. What is a tian? We don't know which seems as good a reason as any to order it. It turns out to be something like crab salad. Meg seems to enjoy it. I have Chevre Chaud, grilled goat's cheese with fresh leaf salad and basil pesto. This is quite good although I think rather too heavy on the goat cheese and not heavy enough on the pesto as it's a little dry. The salad is nothing special and in fact I was hoping for more leaves. Weirdly, I guess, I'm asking for them to have more of the cheap ingredients in this dish. For mains, Meg gets Supreme de Poulet Roti - roast breast of chicken, garlic mash, green peppercorn. She seems to like it. I have Filet de Loup de Mer - sea bass with cauliflower puree, raisins, and chili lemon zest. Everything individually is good but they don't seem to go together that well. And that's it. We're tired, Meg seems to be coming down with something, so we skip out after just over an hour for under 40GBP. A great deal, convenient, decent food. We'll definitely be back. read more

Good decor, good food, great prices. Had the crayfish and lobster ravioli starter and the ribeye steak (mixed vegetables). My friend ordered two starters: the ravioli and the calamari. I believe the ravioli was the star here as it was served along a buttery seafood sauce that was balanced very well with the spinach in the dish. Tried my friend's calamari and to be candid, it wasn't the greatest (doesn't match the fantastic fried Calamari I exprienced at the Capital Grille in Philadelphia, absolutely tasty!!!). Seasoned ok, a bit cold for my taste. Out came my steak and it was so flavorful and tasty!! Downside here was that it could've been more tender (ordered it medium) and it felt like it was warm, but not hot. Next time will tell them to bring everything out as its ready so it's nice and hot!! We didn't have desert as we were too full. Final verdict: nice decore, good food, can't beat the prices for a nice, sit down French meal in London. With some fine tuning this place would be amazing and I would definitely return (to try the Seabass and desert!!). read more

Incredible food at a very reasonable price. I went this week and had the grilled goat cheese to start; it was a creamy, smoky and a flavorful beginning to the meal. For my main course I enjoyed the roasted duck breast. It was cooked to perfection and melted in the mouth. I finished the evening with creme Brule, which was, per usual, a delicate and tasty dessert. On top of the excellent food the atmosphere of Le Mercury is very well thought out. The candle lit tables are lovely and the decor on the walls is playful, yet also chic. This place is perfect for a date, birthday or anniversary dinner. read more

Best food in London! Okay maybe French kitchen wise but it's super good. Nicely priced. Perfect for date night! Also good wines and cocktails. The goat cheese and duck that I had were super! I would definitely go back. Try to make a reservation because it's always busy. read more

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This is a friendly and inexpensive French eatrie perched on the corner of Upper St and Almeida street.In my opinion it has carved a good niche for itself in a market where there are hordes of over-priced and over-rated restaurants. The management has particularly laid back attitude towards customers and the food is inexpensive. Starters cost around 3.95 and main course around 6.45. A starter of gnocchi with butternut squash was light and delicious,the steak and chips was cooked just to right level and the banana shortcake with strawberries completed the meal nicely. It has pictures of Paris all over the walls and lit by candle light stuck in arty bottles. read more

Le Mercury - FrenchFood - French Near Me - London, XGL

We made an unplanned visit to Le Mercury a few weeks back and we'll definitely be back. I had the calamari to start and porkbelly for mains, my girl had the pear and blue cheese salad and the veg. cassoulet. We couldn't really fault the food - we really enjoyed everything we ordered. It's not mind-blowing - just really soild food at a great price. It was busy and the service was efficient - we didn't book and managed to walk in and get a table, but other people after us weren't so lucky. Would definitely recommend making a booking. If you're in the area Le Mercury is definitely worth checking out. read more

A visit to Le Mercury was inevitable as I watch this little gem fill up every night without fail. The blue and yellow interior might lead you astray however with a simple menu and excellent prices, Le Mercury is everything French and nothing less. The crayfish and lobster ravioli was minutely salty for my liking but was succulent enough to still enjoy. At £2.95 a plate, it's alright to order the entire dessert menu.. if only I could stomach everything, I would. Mascapone cheese Cake - a lighter alternative but still as rich and as enjoyable as a normal cheesecake. Love, love, LOVE! read more

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This place came highly recommended by some friends of mine so I decided to finally give it a go only to have an awful experience. Luckily I was rescued by a pop up restaurant nearby which served incredible food out of a converted Citroen garage! Having made a booking for 8pm I and my girlfriend turned up only to be told brusquely by the owner that they didn't take bookings at 8(!) so I had to wait at least an hour. I pointed out that maybe his staff who take phone calls should be told of this stringent rule, only for him to shrug and turn his back on me. I cannot comment on the food but I did read beforehand that the service was suspect. I thought i'd put up with this because of the low prices and supposedly lovely food but now suppose the owners are of the impression that as long as you charge people pittance you can be as rude as you like to them. This is true to some extent, until diners start to realise that it would make for a more pleasant experience to pay a little bit more and not be treated like a nuisance. I won't be giving this place a second chance as there are loads of nicer places on Upper St. read more

The Restaurant is great ! I went to Valentine's day (20£ per person all include). It was Very Goooooood. The staff is very nice and One person have spoken french ! (Quand même !). Thanks Mercury read more

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Just superb I had the lobster and crayfish ravioli and it was flavourful and rich. The sauce was tasty not too fishy but had a rich creamy taste and the contents of ravioli were cooked to perfection. My girlfriend chèvre chaud. Goats cheese on a bit of bread with a green salad dressing. Everything on that plate complimented each other and tasted sublime! For main I had the entrecôte cooked medium rare. It was one of the best steaks I've ever had so rich and meaty but cooked to perfection. It was served with au jus and a side of french fries. It was a simple dish but tasted amazing. My girlfriend had the corn fed chicken everything on that was great from the gravy to the beans. Desert well you guessed it, that was amazing as well. I had the poached pear with vanilla ice cream. Just great. Flavoured with cinnamon and cloves the pear was glazed with a crispy sugar shell. It was a light way to end the meal. My lady had creme brûlée. It was pretty standard. We both agreed my desert was the best. The wine was great I had the Shiraz and my girlfriend had the Pinot Grigio. Also the espresso Martini was a great way to finish the meal. If you've read this far the. Thanks! All in all it was a great night. Very well priced for the food you were served and the atmosphere was typically french. A great french style meal in the heart of London that won't break the bank. read more

I visited this place to spend my dinner and I can't go wrong for they served well cooked food and a friendly and attentive staff and it is the key for aneffective restaurant!The food was flavourful and very affordable priced, the service was superb, and the ambiance was lovely. Veryelegant, but in a simple way. They suggesta variety of French classics in a reasonably price.All that you want was almost there, amazing and delicious foods, affordable prices, and a good environment. So what are you waiting for, it is a highly recommended place for everyone. read more

Take a nice bite of the cheese with a swig of the wine and trust me, it's divine. For the main we had both the pear salad and the crab appetizer. Their salad was great, the blue cheese and poached pair were the perfect combination. Overall, I like it! We like it! read more

OK I know I'm going against the grain here but bear with me. I went a couple of weeks ago for the first time with Lucy who raves about it so I had high expectations. A major bonus was the fact that due to volcanic activity (what else?), mutual friend's flight was seriously delayed so we arrived about 45mins after we had the table booked for. There was no problem with this, despite the fact that it is nearly always fully-booked so that was great. Lucy noted that the prices had gone up since the last time she'd been, so while still cheap (7.45, specials of the day around 9 or 10 pounds), not as cheap as they used to be. My starter was great, my steak was cooked to perfection but not of the highest quality as I was still chewing it over literally 10 minutes after Lucy and friend had finished. Not a good look! The sticky toffee pudding (a passion of mine) was a little dry and not as sticky as it should have been. I thought I'd give it another go for boyfriend's birthday meal as everyone else seems to think it's amazing so I wondered if I'd gone on an off-night. Not so, sadly. The maitre d' sat us, a waiter brought over some wine (complementary wine! How thoughtful!) but it wasn't ours and turned out to be the first of many errors of the evening. After some time, the maitre d' took our order without writing it down (why do people do this? I've been a waitress and could NEVER remember orders without writing them down - it turns out that this guy couldn't either) so when the starters came, I got the soup I'd ordered, boyfriend got something he didn't. It was replaced quickly though and we had complementary bread and butter to keep us going which is a plus. My soup was a disappointment though. French onion is another passion of mine but I make it far better than what I was given - watery, thin, with little flavour. Boyfriend's poached pear with blue cheese was lovely though. Some 45 minutes after we had had our starter, I asked where our main courses were and they arrived soon after. I think 45 minutes is a very long time between courses and we were filling up on bread. Anyway, for main I had pork belly which I'd expected to be a slice of meat layered with fat and with a nice chunk of crackling on top. Again, not so. It was a huge lump of tasty pork, not a scrap of crackling to be seen and not enough jus to counteract the dryness of the meat. I ended up drinking so much water with it (I can't leave meat, an animal has died for this so I'm not wasting any of it!) that by the end of the meal I was absolutely full to bursting. So much meat and you only get vegetables / chips etc if you order them (1.95 on top) which presented another problem. I ordered a side salad (mixed leaves, 4 slices of cucumber with only the slightest hint of dressing, 1.95 seems very steep for that) while boyfriend ordered chips and a vegetable selection which it seems the maitre d' forgot. When we reminded him, we were shortly presented a plate of beans, new potatoes and the oddest carrots which looked like they had been boiled, then left in a low oven for many hours so that all the water had been removed from them. Wrinkled, dehydrated and burnt around the edges. Very strange and not nice to eat! By the end of all that, I wasn't hungry for dessert which is just as well as it took another 20 minutes to get the bill. Not bad in that the whole thing was 35.00 for 2 people with a glass of wine and a beer but I wonder if we're all mistaking good value for cheap? Let me know if I'm wrong, but I'm not charmed by Le Mercury. read more

This place is seriously amazing - i'm genuinely stunned by its existence. The food is fantastic bistro fare (heavy on duck, pork belly etc), the service wonderfully welcoming, the place is always packed yet i've never failed to get a table without booking, it is astonishingly good value and it is the epitome of a candlelit romantic setting that adapts to every season and it is not far at all from Angel Tube. If I lived in North London, I would be there all the time. read more

Quaint little neighborhood spot. Very reasonable prices for London. All starters are £5 and entrees are just £11. They have three floors so lots of room. The Ravioli de la Mer was excellent although you only get one Ravioli so don't expect to fill up on it. The sauce on the Ravioli was to die for. We soaked it all up with the generous bread basket. Entrees were Sea Bass (allegedly) that looked nothing like any Sea Bass I have ever eaten. It honestly looked and tasted like trout. That is what kept me from giving a five star review. My companion had the duck which was exquisite! Cooked perfectly and tender and juicy with crispy skin. Just as you would expect from a high end restaurant. I would definitely come here again. read more

It's crazy how quickly this little restaurant fills up at night, but I'm not surprised given the prices of the food. Starters are all £3.98 and mains are £8. For starters my partner and I ordered the lobster & crayfish ravioli and the fried calamari. The lobster and crayfish ravioli was a bit overpowered by the dill stuffed inside and wasn't amazing. The fried calamari is horrendous and I can make better at home but for not even 4 pounds a pop I guess I can't complain. I ordered the duck, and it was very overcooked, but the flavors were good. The garlic mash is delicious. My boyfriend had the lamb and also said it was good but overcooked. I would probably return and ask them to cook everything a bit less than they normally would. The price is terrific and a 5 min walk from my flat, so what's not to love? If I could I would rate it 3.5 stars read more

I've frequented Le Mercury many a time over my 6 years in Islington - it is cheap, decent food and can have a romantic feel if you get the right non-crowded table (I love the candle-lit tables in the first floor window). Le Mercury is always full and they opened a second (exactly the same) restaurant a few doors down - I assume for this very reason. However the past couple of visits to here and the second venue have been disappointing. I think they have rested on their laurels for too long and the food doesn't seem to wow anymore. It's a little stale and samey. Service has always been a little slapdash but that added to the charm when you were getting a great value meal. I hope they realise they need to up their game and soon! read more

Le Mercury is a good solid restaurant with tasty food and reliable service. When I can't get a reservation at Ottolenghi across the street, I'm not disappointed by Le Mercury as a backup. I have them saved in my phone. The moules marinieres are perfect and not rubbery, the duck is always cooked to perfection, the salmon juicy, the lobster ravioli is a winner, and although I've never had it, the pork belly always seems to make my husband very satiated. The deserts are nice, but their strengths are their starters and mains. The wine list has a fair mix of options, most worth buying by the bottle and none too offensively priced. The last two times I have been there I've been seated upstairs which is more private, but I prefer the seating downstairs for a cafe/french style atmosphere. read more

Very unpretentious little place along Upper street. We casually popped in one evening. We had to wait a while, as the place was full and apparently, you are advised to make reservations. Considering the price level, my expecations were low, but I was positively overwhelmed. They keep a simple menu, reproduced in high volume, which is probably the recipe for success. Its not a top class French restaurant, but it is extremely good value for money. read more

I recommend this place to anyone. I've been eating here for over 20 years. It's great for a quiet lunch or a full on dinner gathering with 20 mates. Three floors, drippy candles in old wine bottles, simple, quality French food. Amazingly reasonable prices. They have always maintained a fixed price for starters (£3.95), mains(£8.95) and puds (£2.50) .It's maintained it's quirky, unique, old-school Islington vibe. I hope it never changes. read more

I love this place with absolutely all of my heart. Although the food probably only warrants a 4-star rating, I love this place enough to rate it a 5-star. Honest, unpretentious French food at ridiculous prices, a fantastic atmosphere, and decent wine - and on Upper St. read more

A delicious neighborhood find (and I do mean the 140a version, not the one down the street). Our chicken, fish, and pasta entrees were wonderful, wine was affordable and well-selected. I will say we found the staff a little awkward and were expecting more from a baked camembert appetiser (it was simply a block of camembert... baked. Without pastry, without a jam of sorts, etc. so it was more like an odd fondue), but I'll be back for sure. read more

I love the simplicity of the prices of this place. All appetizers, entrees and desserts are a set price. Whether you get the duck or beef it is the same. It is not Michelin star but the food is really good and the price is right. French food and candle lights, just don't screw it up by saying something dumb and it is the recipe for a really good romantic date. read more

Reasonable priced, quick service, nice atmosphere, decent food. Within their price range, I cannot expect anything better. All the tables have candles, the windows are lined with plants and other decorations. The food wasn't anything amazing but you can tell some care went into the preparation and it surpassed expectations read more

This place was such a find on Upper Street! Very cheap (mains for 10 pounds), and food was great. I got a duck breast that was the size of a steak and perfectly seasoned. It was a cool ambience and very busy for a Wednesday night. We booked for 3 and our table would have been a little bit cramped for a party of 3, but luckily only 2 of us could make it so it was fine. And we had a great Shiraz, wine was also very reasonably priced and altogether makes it a great value for Islington. read more

Whilest the French food here is amazing, their roasts weren't so hot. I had the beef roast and it was...meh. Not bad. Not good. Rather mediocre. If you're coming to a french restaurant, don't eat the British food. Common sense I should have had then but now consider a learned lesson in my culinary adventures. read more

Finally checked into Le Mercury to find out the hype and I am pretty happy of the find. To start, the prices of the food on the menu are considered affordable based on London pricing. The food is michellin star but tasty especially for its price. I had the goat cheese salad with pesto and honey glazed pork belly, while my husband had the calamari, ravioli and lamb. Looking back, I regretted skipping the delectable dessert. All these plus our beverage definitely made our belly and taste buds happy as well my wallet. In addition, the ambiance and the service in Le Mercury quite excellent to my liking. Definitely, enjoyed this dinner date with the Mister in hip Islington area courtesy of Le Mercury. See for yourself. read more

Le Mercury is a great neighborhood French bistro restaurant offering exceptional value for high quality food. For two people we ordered: 1. 1 glass of Pernod- the always enjoyable French terrace drink (that probably no French folks anywhere near my age drink) 2. Mussels starter- white wine and garlic sauce that we dipped the bread in as well. This is one of the most flavorful mussels dishes we have eaten this year and at less than £6 the best value. 3. Duck breast main- cooked a tad more medium than rare, however sauce was rich and good for winter. Potatoes soaked it up well. Also they switched out cabbage for grilled courgette which was nice. 4. Salad and seafood ravioli as a main (normally a starter)- baby girl got this. Very rich with high quality seafood stuffed inside. 5. Glass of dessert wine- Chilean. Went exceptionally well with the cheese platter. We are actively seeking out this sweet treat to have at home. 6. Cheese platter- they graciously switched out blue for more of the others. The others were Brie and Gruyere, the Brie served with perfectly sweet biscuits and the Gruyere with grapes. Bees was a little disappointing as it wasn't French baguette. Overall very happy wit this place. A cozy warm bistro atmosphere of friendly people who were very accommodating. Oh yea and a £35 bill for a lot of food and drinks for two people. C'est la vie. read more

I'm just going to second what everyone else is saying. This place is cheap, and the food is good. I'm not expecting food cooked to level of a good Parisian bistro, but for how much you have to pay, this place is amazing. Gets super packed though, so make reservations at least a few days in advance. read more

Not bad...not bad at all....and when I say not bad, I really mean, really quite amazing actually. Would be a perfect place to go this Valentines on a special date!! The duck was lovely and as for the garlic mash it came with.....OMG...wow!!! mmmm i know what all the fuss is about now! And cheap tooooo... read more

Intimate, romantic, and delicious. All the elements that define French cuisine. Affordable is the one missing element Le Mercury adds to the formula. I love the friendly waiters and will be back whenever I celebrate with my special one! read more