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Best Local Restaurant
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L’Hexagone Bistro Français

Norfolk, Norwich - French - Restaurant - £££

Contemporary, family-run bistro in the heart of Norwich

Overall Rating: Good

Uniqueness:Does the establishment stand out in the context of the local area? Good

Deliciousness:How delicious is the food? Good

Warmth:How warm is the service and the hospitality in general? Very Good

Strength of recommendation:How enthusiastically and widely would you recommend the establishment? Very Good

'Perfect hospitality, a true find,' sums up the immense warmth readers feel towards this tiny bistro in the Norwich Lanes. Frenchman Thomas Aubrit and his wife Gemma have been welcoming diners through the doors of L’Hexagone (it’s named after the shape of France) since 2020. He cooks the food he remembers eating as a child with heartfelt honesty, while she runs the place with instinctive charm, and with a small supporting cast they prove the old trope that the best things often come in the smallest packages. So tuck yourself into a downstairs seat in the intimate, dark-painted space – L’Hexagone thankfully swerves any French bistro clichés – or head upstairs where there’s more room but you miss out on Lanes people-watching. This is a place aimed squarely at feeding (very loyal) customers. The menu is short, and lunch could be as simple and pocket-friendly as a generous croque monsieur (add an egg and an extra pound for a 'madame') or sourdoug...

'Perfect hospitality, a true find,' sums up the immense warmth readers feel towards this tiny bistro in the Norwich Lanes. Frenchman Thomas Aubrit and his wife Gemma have been welcoming diners through the doors of L’Hexagone (it’s named after the shape of France) since 2020. He cooks the food he remembers eating as a child with heartfelt honesty, while she runs the place with instinctive charm, and with a small supporting cast they prove the old trope that the best things often come in the smallest packages. So tuck yourself into a downstairs seat in the intimate, dark-painted space – L’Hexagone thankfully swerves any French bistro clichés – or head upstairs where there’s more room but you miss out on Lanes people-watching. This is a place aimed squarely at feeding (very loyal) customers.

The menu is short, and lunch could be as simple and pocket-friendly as a generous croque monsieur (add an egg and an extra pound for a 'madame') or sourdough topped with goat's cheese, radish, pickled cucumber and red peppers. Alternatively, linger over a more substantial meal – perhaps smoked mackerel pâté with cornichons or asparagus with a fudgy-yolked egg and ripples of ham, followed by chicken casserole (tender meat and earthy new potatoes plus some welcome sharpness from capers and tomatoes). Simple, tasty stuff indeed. And yes, there is steak (bavette or entrecôte) with frites too.

Come evening, the repertoire might stretch a little to include, say, herby, garlicky prawn skewers or roast cod with a classic butter sauce. The crème brûlée has its very own fan club, not surprisingly given the snap of the caramelised topping and the velvetiness of the set cream, but also check out the vanilla panna cotta because the beautifully sharp raspberry purée is a delicious bonus. The all-French wine list is as compact and well-priced as the menu, with plenty in the mid-£20 range.

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VENUE DETAILS

22 Lower Goat Lane
Norwich
Norfolk
NR2 1ELGB

01603 926886

View opening times

OTHER INFORMATION

Counter seating, Family friendly, Credit card required

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