Le Boudin Blanc

I totally agree with the previous comments. I came last night with my friends(table of 3), we didn't book, but they managed to find us a table straight away even though it was quite busy. everything was excellent, the food and service and i would like to add something i have noticed, you really feel welcome in this restaurant, it is warm and charming and the staff are really nice and helpful. I recommend this restaurant if you want to have a nice meal with your friends and relax at the same time, because you feel in France ....................
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Tristron mcmiller
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Monday, March 31, 2008

This restaurant is by far one of the nicest discoveries I have made in London so far. And I can only agree with the other review, to give this place even an average score for the quality of food is nothing but disgrace and can - no offense - only come from people who do not know French food. I was growing up next to the French border with French food and found this restaurant through a very very pronounced recommendation from my French colleagues. We had three different starters that were superb and unfortunately all chose the same main course, lamb chops with green asparagus and carrot purree. Absolutely fantastic, the flavour, the texture, simply everything was great. The restaurant is fully French, food, decoration, waiters and waitresses with a service that other more expensive restaurants can't keep up with. I understand that the brown wooden French decor isn't everybody's taste but in terms of quality, service and taste, this is certainly a rare jewel in London. (by the way, I was only on the ground floor, but it wasn't cramped, it wasn't full, we had a lovely table and they're more than accommodating if you ask for any special wishes or requirements.)
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Christina
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, March 25, 2008

I took my girlfriend for her birthday - booked spur of the moment - and they were charming from start to finish, the service was excellent and so was the food. We had the tuna steak and the roast prawns. The champagne was great, no disdain on display for tap water, no hassle and it was certainly one of the best places we have been in London. We live locally and will be returning...
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Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Thursday, March 13, 2008

I am genuinely bewildered that anyone has left a poor review of this restaurant. I live locally and I visit Le Boudin Blanc probably once a month. The staff are truly excellent; the best service I have experienced in London. The waiters are clinical whilst managing not to be aluf or patronising. The somelier is very knowledgable and friendly. I don't pretend to know a lot about wine but I know what compliments a dish perfectly and the somelier will recommend exactly that. The food you will just have to try for yourself. Traditional French cuisine. No frills. It is all about the flavour in this restaurant, that's not to say that it isn't well presented. I would recommend the pork belly, which comes in a sealed, glass jar and is infused with flavour. I would also recommend the tuna steak, which is served with a special subtle sauce that I have never had with tuna before and the fillet steak - sumptuous; I asked the waiter if the chef would be willing to whip a bernaise sauce up for me - 'of course, excellent choice.' I have been through most of the dishes here and I honestly have never been disappointed and I can tell you that I am quite a fussy customer.

The only complaint I have ever had with Le Boudin Blanc is that it can be cramped. To be honest though, for me, it is part of it's charm. If you want to be in a quiet, stuffy atmosphere with 5 metres of space around your table then Le Boudin isn't for you. If you like quaint, trendy, traditional restaurants with very relaxed atmospheres then this is the place for you. When I take people for dinner in London for the first time, I ALWAYS head here because it is consistently excellent and people are always extremely impressed. There is a lovely room upstairs which is part of the restaurant but will accomodate larger parties, (I once went with 8 people) and, when the weater picks up a bit, there are cute, heated tables outside, opposite another restaurant and lining a vibrant, busy alley in the heart of Mayfair and Shepherds Market.

The prices are reasonable. A fillet steak is probably going to set you back a little more at about £20 but your average main course is £15-18. I can't afford to go here every day of course but I never resent the price. I have been to ludicrously over-priced restaurants in Mayfair that have not been a patch on Le Boudin for food, service or, most importantly, a great evening out.

My favourite place to eat out. Simple as that.
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G. Marshall
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Friday, February 22, 2008

Well we both speak good French but had a very different experience to that of the previous reviewer.

A good welcome but then it went downhill. We were shown to a cramped table squashed into the corner of the top floor in an unnecessarily hot and humid brown-decorated room. The service was adequate but not at the level you'd expect from a good restaurant. The food was distinctly dull - I would have been disappointed to have cooked something like that myself. Soupe de poisson was ok but nothing special, and the lamb shank was tender but almost entirely tasteless and decorated with olives which just didn't go. My wife had a goat's cheese starter which was quite good, and John Dory which was - well just a bit of fish. Wine is expensive for what it is and glasses are incessantly refilled even when you've just taken a sip.

Without desserts and only one bottle of wine it was £50/head (£35/head without wine). You'd have to pay me to go back there.
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Paul
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 2
Sunday, February 03, 2008

Four of us came here for dinner last Saturday night.

We sat upstairs and were treated to the most delicious meal and terrific service.

I so suspect, however, that the great service was due to the fact that I speak fluent french as I did here complaints from other diners that the waiters didn't seem to understand their needs.

We were recommended a bottle of wine (£25) which was excellent and we thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere in this quirky restaurant.

Will definitely be back!
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Lady Buttterfly
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Lovely interior and good food spoilt by the service. Our request for tap water was met with open disdain (though they did bring it), we refused an offer of bread and it was subsequently brought. Throughout the meal felt that we were having things 'pushed' on us. We had a two hour slot, so can understand the need to keep things moving, but at no point were we asked whether we were enjoying our meal or whether everything was okay. I understand that a restaurant is in the business of 'selling' but perhaps if the selling was done with a smile rather than a sneer, it would be more palatable.
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Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Friday, November 23, 2007

My wife and I recently had dinner at Le Boudin Blanc and were sadly very disappointed. The restaurant was full and I took this to be a good sign but having found a table, we had to wait 30 inutes before our oredr was taken and then nut much less for the first course to arrive. The service was generally poor and both the waiters and waitresses, whilst their English was adequate, did not listen. The food was pretty good and creme brulee quite up to standard.

When we declined to pay the included service charge, there some considerable disgruntlement and reluctantly the head waiter eventually removed it from the bill. I am a firm disbeliever in the inclusion of discretionary service charges.
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Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 4
Sunday, November 04, 2007

Sadly, I have to say, the review prior to mine has totally hit the mark but I do feel that I should repeat it in my own words.

I ate around a year ago at Le Boudin Blanc for the first time after a colleague recommended that I try it out. The meal and service then was fantastic. Not sure what has happened in the year since, but something has changed and certainly not for the better.

My starters and main were forgettable as soon as I finished them and the wine that was recommended to me by the sommelier for £45 per bottle was "Corner Shop" quality at best. You might ask why I did not say something to the waiter, well, I did try but as the waiter did not understand a word of English (which might have been acceptable if he was indeed French) my complaints fell on to deaf ears.

Not once were either my wife or I asked if the food, wine etc was ok - which if you ask me is one of the basic rules of restaurant service.

All in all, very disappointing and I won't be going back. Which will probably not bother Le Boudin Blanc in the slightest as it seems that they are just concerned about sucking in as many tourists from the street as possible.
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Matthew
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 3
Monday, October 29, 2007

Having been here once before and having had an enjoyable experience we decided to visit again last Friday (19/10) .

The service was extremely hit and miss. It took three attempts to order wine as we kept getting referred to a different waiter before finally speaking to a sommelier who recommended a £50 wine that can at best be described as drinkable.

Starters were ok, but unremarkable. After rather patronisingly being asked if I knew that my steak tartare would be raw, we both ordered the dish. It was extremely bland and was a disappointment especially considering the price tag. When we mentioned the poor quality of the wine this was met with a nod and nothing more.

I don't have a particularly sweet tooth, but the dessert of vanilla soufflé with chocolate sauce was the highlight of the meal.

At no point during or after the meal were we asked if everything was fine with the food. All rather a shame. For £170 for two, I would have expected better.
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Francesca - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 4
Monday, October 22, 2007