What can we tell you?



New Friends Table?

New Friends Table is a secret eating and meeting club which occupies several tables across Paris, London and more recently Sheffield. The guiding principle? Fun: the best fresh, seasonal ingredients, cooked with enthusiasm, feeling and sometimes bravado and a warm host, bringing together a group of strangers around a table, who all share an interest in food, travel and people.

Where are the dinners held? 

In Paris the dinners are held in one of several cool apartments in the centre of the city and are often co-hosted by our French friends. We realise that although 1000’s of people visit Paris, many of them are looking for a taste of micro-Paris, a chance to sneak a peek behind the shutters of Parisien apartments and see how people really live in this romantic city.  We also know that many Parisiens love to meet fun minded  foreigners.

In East London we have created a clandestine fantasy dining room for adventurous eaters, in the  eclectic and stylish home of an artist, hidden away from the crowds, lit by candles and hosted with the same hospitality and wit that has made us so popular in Paris.

In Sheffield we have a table for 10 in a grade 2 listed building, overlooking the City of Steel.

We bring French produce to England and surprises such as English cheese and Yorkshire rhubarb to France.

Why would I want to go to dinner in a place I don't know, to eat food I can't choose, with people I never met?


New Friends Table is known for its diversity of guests, it's great conversation, its amazing food, its humour, its sense of fun and its vivacious style. 
Guests come from around the world and most of them can speak English, although we have had evenings where Spanish, English, Italian  and French have all been spoken at the same time.  

There is no decision to make about the menu, no worry about choosing wine, no struggle with splitting the bill, no annoying service charge.


We ask you to bring an open mind, enthusiasm and an appetite. 

Take a look at Nice Things Our New Friends Say

What can I expect?
No two dinners are the same. New Friends bring their own flavours. You may make friends with dishes you never tried before.  New friends come from across the globe, age and social range. Some people come alone, others with friends. The tables seat between 8 and 12 guests. We hope that you will make new friends and that it will be a memorable part of your trip if you are visiting, or an unusual dinner date if you live in Paris, London or Sheffield.


We welcome our New Friends with an aperitif and canapés, followed by a seven course feasting menu including cheese, paired natural wine served with generosity, followed by fresh mint tea, rose bud tea or coffee and hand made chocolates.  
You are asked to arrive promptly for 7.30 and  dinner is usually finished by about midnight although guests are loath to leave.


Is there a cost?
The suggested donation on the evening to cover the costs of all that you will enjoy is currently 100 euros per person in  Paris and £80 per person in London.
 
Unlike some other supper clubs we don't ask for payment in advance. We have had a few cancellations in advance due to unavoidable circumstances, but never a no-show.  We weigh up our guests and like to get a feel of their cloth from their applicationNew Friends know they are lucky to get a seat.

How do I apply?

We receive many, many emails of application so how do we choose?  From your email we have to feel something authentic, something that tells us you will not be a lazy guest.  The best tables are mixed and vary in age, income and culture but all of them are lively,  curious and exhilarating.
 
For a seat at the table first take a look here
How do I find the table?
Once we receive your email with details about yourself, your food appetites and your general character we will tell you if we can offer you a seat.  You then confirm you want the place and we send you further details. You will receive an email/ text by midday on the day of the dinner, and only then will you know the address and  door codes.
Are vegetarians welcome?
We can arrange vegetarian and vegan suppers to order, but unless we indicate this in advance dinners will usually contain meat, fish and dairy.  If you are vegetarian, vegan or gluten free we will prepare a special main course for you and you will also be able to eat all the other courses.  We ask you to let us know about any food allergies so that we can avoid those foods for you. 

In both France and England many of our ingredients are organic such as eggs, milk, fish and chicken.  Our cheese comes from small producers, often using unpasteurised milk.  Our vegetables come from our local market and meat and fish comes from the suppliers we know and trust. We offer an increasingly diverse selection of natural and biodynamic wines.

Do you also do private dinners?

Bien sûr! If you are looking for something unusual for a birthday celebration, an anniversary or a special event,  we can organise  a private dinner for you, either in one of our locations or in one of your choosing, such as your home, a gallery, a boat, a shooting lodge.  The options are endless and we are extraordinarily flexible.  Secret dinners are an original and unique way to entertain business clients, or to promote your product or event in a cool way.


Contact us by email with a brief description of what you have in mind and we will get back to you to discuss ideas and costs further.