A modern, French-inspired bistro near Stroud has been hailed by journalist and food writer Giles Coren in his latest review, scoring it 10 out of 10 in every category.
Giles paid a visit to Juliet in the centre of Stroud – a part of the West Country that he 'loves to death' and describes as a 'local hub and a hippy mecca' – to review its service, cooking, location and give it an overall score out of 10. It's safe to say he left very impressed...
Sister to The Woolpack Inn, Juliet opened in October 2024 to initial applause from The Guardian, with food critic Grace Dent branding the apple tarte tatin 'breathtaking'; while writer at FT Magazine, Tim Hayward, claimed that eating at the restaurant might be 'the most life-affirming act of meditative self-care I’ve managed all year', when he dined there November 2024.
And it continues to cement its incredible reputation with this latest review in The Times, as Giles Coren joins the fanclub, along with Cheltenham-based comedian, Dom Joly, who 'loves Juliet. Big time. Think Romeo', according to Giles.
Visiting on a Saturday lunchtime, Giles ordered glasses of Juliet's gazpacho, drizzled with olive oil, alongside a 'devilish' pan con tomate and a plate of matchstick zucchini fritti, the latter he described as the 'crispiest, saltiest and sweetest' he'd seen in England.
He then moved on to try the panisses, the vitello tonnato and a hogget chop with a glass of Rhone red recommended by Juliet's sommelier and manager, Ophélie Théberge.
And for pudding, Giles enjoyed a chocolate cremeux and an Amalfi lemon tart. On finishing his feast, the famously hard-to-please food writer claimed that everything at Juliet, 'the menu, the servers, the soft leather banquettes, the linen and paper-covered tables, the execution of the dishes, the pace of their arrival, is all that you dream of when you think of a bistro.'
He concluded his review by awarding Juliet 10s across the board, with specific praise for its affordability, encouraging readers to 'get there now while stocks last and PUNISH them for their generosity' – high praise indeed!
