Le Colombier

It has some good recent reviews, so we went for our Christmas party this week. We were disappointed. Good wine (at exorbitant prices). The cooking was uninspiring, they seem to have recycled the veggies on my plate for my friend's vegetable soup specifically requested! The fish was small portion but high price and the desert was bought in, not house made as claimed. Service was not consistent - one was good the others not so good.

Watch your bill, ours had several mistakes that significantly increased the bill.
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Etienne Fattse
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 0
Friday, December 18, 2009

I visited Le Colombier for the first time this week- I was so pleasantly surprised to discover it! I have lived in Fulham for years and am a huge fan of French food, and this was an excellent restaurant- by far the best bistro in the area. In particular the seafood was magnificent and genuinely it was as good a meal as I have had in France for years. The sommellier was superb- he recommended some delicious wines for my partner and I over the courses. Excellent value (we had the set lunch menu at just £18.50), delicious food, a traditional bistro atmosphere and great service- Le Colombier might have just become my favourite local restaurant.
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Patrick Hayden
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Thursday, December 03, 2009

i have been going to le colombier for the last 4 years ,my last visit was last week on monday lunch and the restaurant was full . the service was very efficient delicious french bread and butter as soon as we arrived . two of my guest had the set lunch at a very good value price of £18.50 for two courses and coffee .mussels as a first course and brill on a bed of spinash both dishes were first class .i had six very good fines de claire oysters follow by one of the best veal chop you can get in london .the wine list at le colombier is simply fantastic we had a bottle of montagny 1er cru at only £30.50 and a very nice ch cantemerle 2003 at £39.00 another very good buy . i will be back very soon to my favorite restaurant in chelsea square .
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pierre courtier
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, November 17, 2009

It has a good location, and the restaurant looks lovely, can attract people to come. Just wonder why don't they serve better food? The reviews are quite contradictory, I tend to agree with the more critical ones, although there are people who give it 10 in every category!!! Wow.

It should do better, and can do better. Disappointing food, not much to write about. We are French and we do not like the food and the price is even worse.
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S Gangnat
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 0
Sunday, November 01, 2009

I took my girl friend there after work on Friday night, hoping to have a good start of a long romantic night and maybe a long romantic weekend. How disappointed I was. The food was way short of expectation, the service was worse. The place was not full, but the waitresses consistently ignored us despite all that ordering of expensive dishes and wine. When asked any question, they had no clue of the food - be it preparation, be it tastes, be it ingredients, be it sources, be it appearances, etc. We had a distinct feeling that they had not been trained, or briefed, for that matter. So we ate, we paid and we left, forever, FULL STOP.
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Lawrence Mashaw
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 1
Friday, September 04, 2009

It serves very average food, OK wine list and is way overpriced! We have had a lot better restaurants, in the neighbourhood or elsewhere in London, for a fraction of the cost. The waitresses were clueless, the manager was indifferent, food was half cooked, the appetiser had ingredients from a can (!), and some of them were brought in. We could not believe for the price they charge, they brought in store made food, such as deserts.

The restaurant does have a good location, and the deco was OK, trying to be French, maybe a bit too hard. So if you want to pay a lot of money for very inferior food, you can at least watch people in the summer there.
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Christine Burpee
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 2
Monday, August 03, 2009

I was delighted to be told I was going to celebrate at Le Colombier until I read the reviews here. However, I have to redress the balance and say that the meal my husband and I shared was truly wonderful. It was a beautifully warm Monday evening and we sat on the terrace. The service was impeccable, with friendly and attentive waiters, and a helpful and knowledgeable wine waiter who chided us gently for asking for burgundy glasses for claret.

The food was superb. We didn't have starters and were told that our main course would be at least 20 minutes but that it was worth waiting for. And it was - the char-grilled rib of beef for 2 was perfectly cooked and tasted magnificent. The puddings were fabulous, (I can thoroughly recommend the crepes, which had just the right amount of sauce with just the right amount of tanginess) although we were sad not to see Roquefort (or any other blue) on the cheese board.

We felt that the meal was exceptional value for money - a little over £100 including champagne cocktails, a decent bottle of wine, water and service and would have no hesitation in either returning or recommending Le Colombier.
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CLA
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, July 16, 2009

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