Ravel's Bistro is an independent neighbourhood restaurant on Fleet Road, close to Hampstead Heath. The dining room has the easy warmth of a long established local bistro, with attentive service and a menu grounded in French and wider European cooking. Dinner is the main event through the week, while Sunday lunch brings a traditional roast to the heart of the offering.
The kitchen makes good use of a changing specials board, allowing seasonal produce and the best available fish and meat to shape each visit. Starters might include a freshly made soup, a terrine, a generous salad or grilled prawns, creating a choice between classic comfort and something lighter. Vegetarian options are also woven into the daily selection rather than treated as an afterthought.
Main courses reflect the bistro character through dishes such as coq au vin, duck en croûte, oven baked trout, salmon and rack of lamb. On Sundays, roasts can include mustard crusted sirloin, lamb scented with rosemary and garlic, corn fed chicken or an almond and cashew nut roast. Roast potatoes, parsnips, beetroot, cabbage, peas, seasonal vegetables and Yorkshire pudding complete the plate.
Homemade desserts provide a comforting finish, with choices such as sticky toffee pudding, fruit crumble and a warm fruit crisp appearing alongside other changing sweets. A concise selection of wine and cocktails supports both an unhurried dinner and a relaxed celebration. With its daily specials and personal neighbourhood feel, Ravel's rewards regular visits as well as a meal after a walk on the heath.
Address: 4 Fleet Road, Hampstead, London NW3 2QS, United Kingdom