Le Colombier

A group of us six went there last week to celebrate our new success. We found the place quite lovely and our evening started well, although the food and the service were disappointing. The only memorable dishes were the oily fish and overooked meat. The evenign continued. Our high spirits kept the evening cheerful and compensated any shortcomings. When the bill came, it was erroneous, we were charged twice for some of the drinks. It might have been an innocent mistake but it ended not very well for us. Nevertheless, we enjoyed our celebration. I hope they will improve when we return in future.
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Said K
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 2
Sunday, June 07, 2009

I work in the hospital next door and occassionally browse the menu which seems very expensive. My work colleagues do not seem to know it. So I never ate there, not on my NHS salary. But after reading such as good review, I finally took my wife there for our wedding anniversary last week. The restaurant was lovely with nice tablecloth, and good lighting. But it was the food and maybe also the service, that we were disappointed and let down. The dishes were consistently poor or mediocre, the main course was lukewarm and did not taste very fresh. We wonder if there was ready food brought in and not properly heated up in the microwave, and if the credit crunch led to quality compromise. Even the highly rated desert was very average. The wine list was impressive but quite expensive, this we did enjoy. The bill was over 200 pounds, I guess it is fine for an anniversary meal , not something I can afford regularly, but we will not be returning, not on my NHS salary anyway.
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Elaine Miller
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 1
Saturday, April 18, 2009

I took my mother for Mothers day lunch today. The level service, from the moment we arrived, was perfect. Not overwhelming or stuffy - light, but attentive - which is perfect in my opinion.

The menu is diverse - and offers a taste of France. Several clients were French - but the vast majority were local residents intent on Sunday lunch with their mothers.

All the items delivered to the table were perfect. None were overcooked. The vegetables were crisp and flavoursome. The desserts were excellent.

It is true of any restaurant that you can pick fault - I once had a detailed discussion with Michel Roux the Younger about the consistancy of lobster mousse. In that case it was his signature dish and I was happily paying £45.00 for a portion - and while Le Columbier could add a few extra flourishes, what difference would it actually make?

Consider the Tarte Tatin. I've had it three times this month at 3 separate restaurants (The Petersham and Cheyne Walk Brasserie were the others) in every case the base was undercooked and soggy. Primarilly because they are individually prepared like tarts and not made upside-down in a large frying pan to ensure a crispy, flaky base, as it is supposed to be.

Do I think at £6.50 a portion I was robbed? Definitely not - it was fine at the price. Charge me over £10.00 a portion and I'll tell the Chef to buck his Ideas up.

Of the 3 restaurants, Le Columbier was the most relaxed - it's not pretentious.

I generally only eat at establishments that have linen table cloths. Check.

Linen (not paper) serviettes must be offered. Check.

The bread/rolls/baguettes must be freshly prepared in the restaurant. Check.

The butter must be of a high quality & arrive wrapped in paper or foil. Check.

The cuttlery must be clean - and fit for the course being consumed. Check.

The glassware should be clean and not scratched or unpolished. Check.

Portions should be generous - not meagre. Check.

Food should be hot, not overcooked. Check.

The food should arrive in a timely way. Check.

The restaurant should not be to hot and stuffy nor freezing cold. Check.

Bathrooms must be kept clean to the highest standards. Check.

From this simple list Le Columbier meets most resonable expectations.

I paid £45.00 per head for 3 courses, including 2 glasses of red wine, one bottle of Badoit and service of £9.70 (12.5%).

Do I think that was resonable in Chelsea on Mothers Day? Absolutely, we'll be going again in the next few weeks. The trip is enjoyable.

My advice - take your mother, wife or girlfriend along for a nice lunch or dinner! Take all three and you'll be too busy to worry about the food!
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Richard Norman
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Sunday, March 22, 2009

It is some years since i visited Le Colombier and i had forgotten why i had not been back for so long. Now I remember. The food is appalling and it is over priced. The service wasnt much to write home about and when my spinach turned up to accompany my fish main course just as I was finishing it then i knew it was time to head on out. The staff were perfectly pleasant about it but that wasnt really the point. It is a shame that this establishment seems to have fallen to new lows as it is a perfectly pleasant venue for a mid week supper. i will have to return in a year or so to see if it has got any better or perhaps should i say any cheaper!
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Timothy Becker
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 2
Sunday, November 16, 2008

We went to this restaurant to celebrate our friend's temporary discharge from the hospital next door after reading the good reviews. We were very very disappointed by the dinner. The food was not good, the meal was overcharged and the service was less than desirable. We ordered fish and meat, both were overcooked and the fish tasted especially past the date. The waitress was clueless and mixed up our orders, not once, but twice. The desert tarte was soggy and the cake had too much suagr. The meal for three came to be over 200 pounds. Considering we had only one bottle of average wine, this was very expensive for what we had.

Now we read the reviews again and we are really upset. Some of the more critical reviews reflect our sentiment, but we are very puzzled by the over-the-top compliments by some French guests, who have repeated their praises over and over with little variation and little specifics. Our rare opportunity to have a good meal with a dear and ill friend was ruined and we are rather upset by this.
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F Braun
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 0
Sunday, October 12, 2008

I have been introduced to this lovely smart restaurant by my girlfriend and since then, I cannot stop recommending it everyone around me.

I have taken my family there and now they regard it as their favourite restaurant too!

The location is so nice - quite and romantic when you leave. It's fantastic when it's really warm and the front is open.

I have to say the oysters are such a great start but then I've got to make a choice between the Oeufs Pochés and the Foie Gras as always and though I tend to go for the Steak Tartare because I can't get as good any where else; I love to try what those with me are having. I guess what I'm trying to say is that there are few restaurants where you truely are spoilt for choice.

From the wine list to the staff, everything is exceptional.
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Warren Biggs
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Sunday, August 31, 2008

this place is far too overrated, average food (nothing special), the worse fish soup i've ever had, fruit salad a shame, below average waiters (keeping wine bottle on glass while pouring?!?!)
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Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Saturday, August 30, 2008

I can't believe what the previous two reviewers are on, as I had a simply delightful meal at Le Colombier just last week.

The tuna starter was to die for, the steak well cooked with a generous portion of chips and French beans. The wine list was extensive with the typically French manager happy to recommend reasonably priced yet good drinking wine.

I didn't have a dessert although I did sample a little of the crème brulee which let me to regret that decision.

In all a very slick operation reminiscent of a typical French brassiere in Paris. The waiting staff was friendly yet not too eager to please. In all its good to see a restaurant that prides itself on giving its guests a good quality feed without a too hefty price tag. In all around £55 a head, which in my book is worth every penny.
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Nick B
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, August 12, 2008

I wish we had read the recent reviews before going there, the food was uninspiring, and the experience was so underwhelming.
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Michel
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Monday, June 16, 2008

We were rather disappointed by the food. It was better before, I do not think we will return again.
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Sam
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 0
Monday, June 09, 2008