La Tante Claire
| Company type | Restaurant |
|---|---|
| Industry | Food service |
| Founded | 1977 |
| Founder | Pierre Koffmann |
| Defunct | 2003 |
| Headquarters | Chelsea, London , United Kingdom |
| Products | French cuisine |
La Tante Claire (translated as The Aunt Claire) was a restaurant situated in Chelsea, London, established in 1977 by Pierre Koffmann. By 1993, it had been awarded three Michelin stars and retained this prestigious rating until its relocation in 1998. The original location was subsequently acquired by Gordon Ramsay, who transformed it into his flagship venue, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay.
Description
Originally located on Royal Hospital Road in Chelsea, La Tante Claire became renowned for its signature dish featuring pig's trotters accompanied by chicken mousseline, sweetbreads, and morels—a recipe that later inspired chefs such as Marco Pierre White, who referred to it as "Pig's Trotters Pierre Koffmann." The establishment secured its third Michelin star within six years of opening.
The restaurant transitioned to The Berkeley hotel in 1998; however, it lost one Michelin star during this period, reducing its rating to two stars before ultimately closing in 2003. Following this closure, the initial premises were converted into Gordon Ramsay’s flagship restaurant.
In 2009, Koffmann reintroduced La Tante Claire’s menu through a pop-up event at Selfridges in London. This was followed by the launch of Koffmann's in 2010 at The Berkeley hotel, marking his first permanent culinary project since La Tante Claire.
Reception
In a 1994 review for The Independent, John Wells commended the culinary excellence at La Tante Claire on Royal Hospital Road, particularly praising a dish of croustade de pommes caramelisees à l'Armagnac as an example of "inspired and loving work in the kitchen," although he remarked on the unexpectedly high prices, with starters beginning at £19.
Jan Moir, writing for The Daily Telegraph in 2002, lauded the ambiance, attentive staff, and comprehensive wine selection at La Tante Claire located within The Berkeley. She also compared the two Michelin-starred lunch menus available in London and emphasized the quality of the side dishes served alongside main courses.