Le Petit Pois is a small, friendly place to enjoy French cuisine, French cheese and French wines.
Through the picturesque stone archway at Victoria Place, not a stone’s throw from the bustle of Eyre Square, a once neglected space is now a culinary oasis. You pass through a laneway that has been transformed into a heated wine garden, with twinkling fairy lights and brightly upholstered stools. Inside the door is a cosy bar and reception area, and at the top of the stairs you will find a dining room with character, casual darkwood tables and comfortable chairs - a white space punctuated with little pops of colour.
Since opening in the summer of 2015, this restaurant owned by Gallic husband and wife team, Philippe and Michèle Renaut, has made a name for itself in the French community and with the wider dining public in Galway and beyond, and is now one of the city’s most popular restaurants.
After many years of extensive travel, the couple settled in Galway and found a location for their dream restaurant. Michèle is the Chef, specialising in traditional French dishes, whilst Philippe is front of house and always on hand to advise you on the perfect wines to accompany your meal. The service is relaxed and the food is the classic bistro offering, less formal than a restaurant and with a simpler menu and wine list. The menu, with ingredients sourced from both Irish and French artisan suppliers, reflects well-informed care and enough adventure to make it stand out from most of its peers in Galway city.
The respect that Philippe and Michèle extend to their suppliers is exceptional, and it is undoubtedly a key element in their success. Stating an aim “to build with them a long term relationship of trust and excellence”, they express pride in working with great providers. These include the local producers from whom they get “all the products that can be found on the Irish ground”, the trusted French suppliers of speciality French cheeses and charcuterie - and the winemakers that they know and have seen at work.
The local producers that they value so highly are named and profiled - including Stephane Griesbach’s Gannet Fishmongers; John Colleran & Son butchers and Le Petit Délice, traditional French bakery, both of Mainguard Street; Sheridans Cheesemongers, who supply any cheeses they don’t get directly from the Rungis Market near Paris; and Burkes Fruit & Veg, a family business specialising in growing and distributing top quality fresh produce in the Galway area - but the Renauts go even further than food and drink in acknowledging their team, by including their designers and builders in their heartfelt vote of thanks.
It’s all a great foundation for terrific food and, if you like traditional French cooking, this is the place for you as the kitchen specialises in the hearty, full-flavoured dishes of regional France, serving starters such as octopus salad or a signature dish of foie gras. The short à la carte dinner menu changes every three weeks, to showcase snails, frogs legs, maybe a veal blanquette or slow cooked pork cheeks, and several set menus are offered - a 3-course Discovery Menu, a Platter Menu (any large platter with a glass of wine and dessert) and a 2/3 course Pairing Menu which matches each course with a wine by the glass, either selected or introduced by Philippe as a surprise.
Hearty platters of cured meats and cheese are good value, the charcuterie sliced gossamer thin in-house and the specially imported cheeses in perfect condition. If you have left room for dessert, (Michèle is an accomplished pastry chef) try a chestnut cake with homemade pear sorbet or a chocolate fondant with a melting heart of salted butter caramel.
Michèle rules the kitchen, but Philippe is the star of the show when it comes to wine. As a qualified oenologist he has put together a list of diverse and interesting wine, which he imports himself to create a list that is unique to Le Petit Pois - an impressive menu of French suppliers. There are usually more than thirty wines by the glass, all at €6.50. Try a Pinot Blanc from Riquewihr, a Côte de Loire or their Vieilles Vignes Chenin Blanc, the knowledgeable Philippe is more than happy to guide you in your choice and all wines can be tasted before you commit. He also offers wine classes (see website for details.)
Le Petit Pois follows the recent trend that has seen many new openings pitch their prices low and produce simple, well-made food focused on seasonality, local produce and artisan foods. Le Petit Pois successfully brought this casual and affordable model to Galway's city centre, with high quality French food and wine and efficient French staff to create true authenticity - a treat for all Francophiles.
