Imagine this picture perfect place, French rustic furniture, taupe and purple backdrops with lovely flowers draping the walls against the natural and soft lighting. Yes, this place exists right inside the department store inside of Selfridges behind the shoe department. Aubaine Selfridges takes you away from the busy streets of Oxford street, and a break from shopping.
Once you entered you forget you’re inside a department store, but step into a relaxed sophisticated French restaurant. Aubaine serves French cuisine all day long and what better way to start my birthday celebrations then some French brunch against the picturesque setting.
I solely came for the brunch menu, I mean I love my eggs cooked any way, I have it fried, poach, boiled, in an omelette, scrambled etc but sadly when I arrived around 11am they stopped that menu. I didn’t fancy anything too heavy or meaty so opted for the sandwiches.
A brilliant time to try a proper French croq’ monsieur, ordering Le Croq’ Aubaine the wait was long and I had a basket of bread to stop my hunger. Aubaine beginnings started with bread made freshly on site by boulangers. They do their bread very well, crusty on the edges with a soft fluffy inside, best smeared with some butter.
When the Le Cro’ Aubaine arrived it was surprisingly large, two layers of sourdough bread, sandwich inbetween bayonne ham, the sourdough bread is soaked in béchamel the mother sauce of French cuisine, topped with melted grilled gruyere cheese. The Gruyere bubbled the toasted sandwiched; there were places where it was burnt. The bayonne ham was the best part of the dish, flavourful and good in quality.
Rustic fries a great complement to the sandwich. Aubaine Selfridges is a fantastic hidden treasure escaping the crowds for a quiet peaceful break from shopping.
Selfridges, 400 Oxford Street , London , W1A 1AB
{google_map}Selfridges, 400 Oxford Street , London , W1A 1AB{/google_map}