David Cameron has dinner with Samantha at French restaurant Oslo Court

  • Cameron had half a dozen oysters and the veal chop at French restaurant Oslo Court in north London

By
Amy Oliver

03:57 EST, 16 May 2012

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07:27 EST, 16 May 2012

His foreign secretary said last week that the only way to revive Britain’s flagging economy was to work harder.

But it appears William Hague’s blunt words may not apply to David Cameron who found time to go home and change into jeans before whisking his wife out for a swanky meal last night.

With thoughts of the recession, the euro meltdown and LOL-gate placed firmly to one side ‘call me Dave’ seemed determined to enjoy ‘date night’ at Oslo Court in north London.

With its salmon-pink decor and retro puddings, critics say the French restaurant is like stepping back into the 1970s .

Did you have to wear that coat darling? David Cameron and wife Samantha dress down for a night out at French restaurant Oslo Court in north London

Did you have to wear that coat darling? David Cameron and wife Samantha dress down for a night out at French restaurant Oslo Court in north London

Sartorial flair: As ever Mrs Cameron got it right in a classic Breton top and navy trousers unlike 'Call Me Dave' who looked like he was off to scoff pie and mash down the local boozer
Sartorial flair: As ever Mrs Cameron got it right in a classic Breton top and navy trousers unlike 'Call Me Dave' who looked like he was off to scoff pie and mash down the local boozer

Sartorial flair: As ever Mrs Cameron got it right in a classic Breton top and navy trousers unlike ‘Call Me Dave’ who looked like he was off to scoff pie and mash down the local boozer

That decade was dogged by strikes and economic decline too, which may explain why Mr Cameron chose to dine at Oslo Court instead of his regular haunts in upmarket Kensington.

According to a source, the Camerons had been celebrating a family birthday at the restaurant. After tucking into half a dozen oysters and the veal chop the Prime Minister is thought to have eaten a slice of birthday cake before heading home.

In a recent interview he explained how his weekly date night with his wife was important for maintaining a healthy marriage.

But the only way to bring colour back into the economy’s cheeks after the UK plunged into its first double-dip recession since 1975 is hard work, according to Mr Hague.

Speaking to The Sunday Telegraph, he delivered a hammer blow to the country’s bosses saying they should stop complaining and get on with reviving economy.

Work harder: Foreign Secretary William Hague delivered a hammer blow to the country's bosses saying they should stop complaining and get on with reviving economy by working harder

Work harder: Foreign Secretary William Hague delivered a hammer blow to the country’s bosses saying they should stop complaining and get on with reviving economy by working harder

LOBSTER COCKTAIL AND EGYPTIAN NEIL ON THE DESSERT TROLLEY

Oslo Court Restaurant

With its salmon-pink decor and tempting dessert trolley, French restaurant Oslo Court has changed little since opening its doors in 1970.

It attracts an older, loyal clientele who wolf down bulging glasses of lobster cocktail and whole globe artichokes.

David Cameron last night dined on half a dozen oysters and veal chop, according to a source. But the restaurant in north London also serves up classic beef Wellington, steak, Chateaubriand and is well known for its fresh fish and seafood.

The dinner menu is a fixed price of £42.50 with some dishes carrying a small surcharge, allowing you to splash out on a nice bottle of plonk. A bottle of the Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru will set you back £199.

Puds come courtesy of Egyptian waiter Neil who wheels out his dessert trolley groaning with lemon meringue and tarts in every colour.

Current owner Antonio ‘Tony’ Sanchez – who is ‘sadly not French but Spanish’ – says he’s well used to seeing famous faces in the restaurant.

‘Alan Sugar was in last week and we’ve had Joan Collins. Everyone comes here,’ Mr Sanchez told the MailOnline before adding that bar Mr Cameron he hadn’t seen many Cabinet members for a while.

Mr Hague may be glad to hear it.

‘I think they should be getting on with the task of creating more of those jobs and more of those exports, rather than complaining about it,’ he said.

Asked if his comments could be compared to Lord Norman Tebbit’s ‘on your bike’ message to the unemployed in the 1980s, Mr Hague said: ‘It’s more than that. It’s get on the plane, go and sell things overseas, go and study overseas.

‘It’s much more than getting on the bike, the bike didn’t go that far.’

His comments are a direct riposte to business leaders, including chief executive of Sainsbury’s Justin King, who criticised the lack of measures for economic growth in the Queen’s Speech last week.

Mr Hague, a former comprehensive schoolboy from Yorkshire whose parents manufactured soft drinks, is seen as the best person to deliver the tough message, rather than David Cameron or George Osborne, who have been criticised for their privileged backgrounds.

But Mr Cameron’s privileged background does not appear to have influenced his sartorial choices.

In a classic Breton top, stone-coloured jacket and navy trousers, his wife look her usual chic self.

But with his shiny ‘dad’ anorak and pointy work shoes, ‘call me Dave’ looked ready for pie and mash down the local boozer rather than a lobster cocktail in plush surroundings.

In a recent interview the Prime Minister described himself as a ‘romantic’ and revealed that he tries to take his wife out for dinner on Valentine’s Day – if he remembers to book a table early enough.

He also revealed he and his wife have a couple of favourite Italian restaurants in upmarket Kensington, west London.

Mr Cameron’s image took yet another battering earlier this week when he revealed that The Dark Side Of The Moon, by Pink Floyd was his favourite album.

Already hounded for being ‘out of touch’ during the economic crisis, critics pointed out that the album appears a fitting choice, featuring tracks including Us And Them, and Money.

Labour leader Ed Miliband also delivered a hammer blow during the Queen’s speech at the State Opening of Parliament last week. He said: ‘In two years, this prime minister has gone from David Cameron to David Brent.’

Keeping it alive: Mr Cameron said the couple's weekly date nights help to keep their 16-year marriage going

Keeping it alive: Mr Cameron said the couple’s weekly date nights help to keep their 16-year marriage going

Here’s what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts,
or debate this issue live on our message boards.

The comments below have not been moderated.

Good heavens! The PM takes his wife out to dinner! Shame on him! He has no right to relax at all! Ever! Damn him! Burn him!
Whatever next! He might think he has the right to get a bit of sleep at night! We can’t have that!

Grreat,
And I had 1 pita bread and 69p yoghurt for dinner….Well done DM,as always proved to be just a tabloid….
He could feed couple of families for what he paid for his ‘modest’meal’…SHAME,SHAME,SHAME….
I would rather stay out of sight at No 10 than publicly annoucing what I ate….
Do not forget to mention your bowel movements afterwards….People are dying to know…

He has got a really attractive wife whatever happens to him.Take her out campaigning YOU RE GNNA WIN THE SEAT !!! She could keep me talking on the doorstep as long as she likes !!!

Womble 20.37 don’t get too upset by the red cards. It was not about your comments on not having much money left over. You should not have mentioned that you work in the Public Sector!! Worse than swear words on here. I get abuse down the pub about my Gold plated pension, by some who are earning 60 grand with a car and expenses thrown in.

oh come on…it’s just dinner with his wife get over it!

I was at the Dorchester at Alain Ducasse, and we had the most funny experience in London! I and my partner make less than any assistant of Mr Cameron, but still threw money on that experience…we had to check if the fame is well deserved for the French restaurant there
It was really like snob spotting and some good snacks! definitely not worth the price for the food, but snob spotting and once behaving funny as French inLondon:) oh mu god when they said the rum baba is like in Monte Carlo we almost fell off the chairs after they did not see us, it was so embarrassing name!!! oh what fun! and one great place to eat was at Punchbowl , but beware the snobs in military uniform… in London the snobs of the universe congregate 😉

This article is pathetic , is this what passes for journalism nowadays? Get a grip! Man takes wife out to dinner. Er….that’s it.

Get a grip, folks. Was Samantha meant to go to her dad’s birthday dinner on her own, leaving Dave at home to keep working 24/7? It’s right to make time for your families.

“” After tucking into half a dozen oysters and the veal chop the Prime Minister is thought to have eaten ….his words realising that we are, after all, NOT all in this together”.
As full time working parents in the public sector we are left with £125 a week to feed and clothe 2 adults and 3 children.
Don’t choke on your veal, Dave.

Christ Amy – You must have been desperate to conflate Hague geeing up the economy with Cameron going out for dinner! Never mind it looks like it generated required controversy? Big up hard working journos…

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