Le Bouchon Bordelais

My son booked this restaurant because he lives close by. It was a mother's day treat. Our table was for 5 people - unfortunately we only had a table for 4 with my daughter having to sit on the end right next to the till area.

After some time of looking through the menu a waitress appeared and said she would take our order because she did not now where the waiter had gone. We were all having the £15.00 per head set Sunday lunch. She asked if we wanted bread and olives - "Yes" came the reply. We waited some 20 minutes for the starters - for them to be just plonked in front of us - the waiter not asking what we had ordered. We had almost finished our starters when the waitress brought us a tray of bread.

We waited a good 20 - 25 minutes and were getting a little anxious because my son had to leave at a specific time for an appointment. The waitress said our food would be with us shortly - it arrived 10 minutes later. Food was delicious although vegetables were not hot, and with the exception of the half a chicken, portions were very small. We had eaten our main course when the waitress came over and said she had just realised she had forgotten our olives!!

Another 15 minutes our ice cream desserts arrived. The whole eating experience having taken almost 3 hours. I thought I had better ask for the bill thinking it would take some time to come, however it arrived very promptly - and they charged us 12.5% service charge. I do not mind paying a service charge, if the service is prompt and efficient.

I then had 10 minutes with my son at his home, and then we drove back home - a round trip of 275 miles!!!
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Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 4
Tuesday, March 04, 2008

Went here last Saturday, as I live just down the road, with some trepidation after reading a couple of these reviews, but I have to say that the experience was fabulous.

Firstly, it's easy to imagine you're sat in a Parisian bistro the atmosphere is so spot on. The menu is French classics, and in our experience, cooked to perfection. The wine list is impressive and the service perfectly good (perhaps even slightly over-attentive if anything!)

I will conceed that it is not cheap (around £40/head with wine and starters) but utterly delicious and fabulously authentic.
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Leon - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7
Monday, February 18, 2008

I've lived in the local area for over a year and am half French so inevitably I'd end up in here sooner or later - and what a pleasant surprise it was. From the moment you walk into the bar with people on their laptops, reading newspapers and chatting and wander into the restaurant itself, you are in a small part of France in SW11. Everything is typically French from the chairs to the decorations and general warm bistro-type ambience.

My party (x4) found the food to be excellent (chateaubriand with bearnaise for two, tarte tatin, creme brulee). The presentation was very good (nothing too chic - but traditional French) and the taste and tenderness of the meat was excellent.

The service was also very good and efficient - they warned us that my chateaubriand would take 20 minutes (as i wanted it well cooked (from experience I know that French meat done medium can be bloody!)).

The only drawback to the place is the price, which makes it prohibitive for repeated visits (sunday lunches etc). We paid £40 per head (admittedly with a £35 bottle of wine) - the chateaubriand at £45 for two was steep.

All in all an excellent restaurant - if you have French relatives take them and they will love it. Just make sure they bring plenty of livres sterling..
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Mark B - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 6
Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Judging by the reviews below we must have gone on a good night!

We had a delicious dinner and were served promptly by friendly and attentive staff. Our waiter was very helpful about wine too, really giving some thought to what we might like to have, and not just plugging the most expensive bottle on the list. We asked for a table for three and were then joined by someone who didn't want to eat - this wasn't a problem at all, although many restaurants kick up a fuss about it. They just took her cutlery away and gave her a wineglass and a sideplate in case she wanted to try something.

We had three courses each (we were feeling greedy!) and each one was delicious. So much so that our non-eating friend was prompted to order a cheese plate so as not to be left out! The cheese trolley was fabulous with about a dozen really good cheeses to choose from. And considering it would have fed all four of us, we thought it was very good value.

We were served by a charming waiter, and the manager came over several times, to see that we were happy and also to serve some of the dishes. He was extremely friendly as were all the staff that we saw there.

No, it is not a cheap restaurant. We went for a treat, and a treat it was, but in no way did we feel that we had been over charged for good quality food, good service in a fun atmosphere.
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- View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7
Tuesday, November 06, 2007

Be very wary about this restaurant. Beyond the miserable service and distinctly average food about which I completely concur, the staff seem to have some sort of agenda to inflate bills beyond their already over-priced levels. Not only did they add an extra bottle of wine to our bill, but then they tried to input an inflated total into the credit card reader when I came to pay. Mentioning this to friends over the weekend I was amazed to find that two other couples had had exactly the same experience at the restaurant. If you bother visiting this place - and I heartily recommend you choose one of Clapham's many better quality and better value establishments instead - then check your bill very carefully!
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Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Monday, October 08, 2007

I came a few times with friends at this place and I should admit since the management changed, the restaurant is on its best way. The food is simple, ok but nice. It's just a shame that the prices are so high, I think the restaurant would be more popular if it'd be less expensive. And I can't agree with the previous reviewers, the staff is not as rude as it says, they're just young and not really accustomed with the catering business for the majority. But they could be very friendly if you take the time to speak with them. The bar is still a nice place to have a drink while looking at the sport. A nice place for the Friday dinner with friends or the Sunday lunch with family.
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Karoll L.
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 6
Wednesday, August 08, 2007

The beef was superb and the wine list good, but this was the highlight in a disappointing first visit to this restaurant. The food may be French, the waiting staff too, so much so that you could easily have been in Paris where it is usual to be treated with such indifference and non interest. This was not expected in an establishment that charges at the higher end of prices for its fayre. There were no excuses, only 3 tables were occupied so it was not busy. The starter was fine, followed by the main course (their signature dish) which arrived first and it took two separate promptings firstly to get the fries and then the spinach (the peas never turned up so we gave up on those), with about 5 mins between each arrival so the meat was substantially colder than when it arrived. No apology was given. We then chose the tarte tatin, which we were assured was cooked fresh and would take 20 mins, and also that it would be the best we have tasted.....it arrived within 5 mins, obviously reheated or defrosted, it was cold - so much so that the ice cream that accompanied it did not even melt. This was sent back and the bill requested. Again, no apology. Would not go again and would not recomment it to a friend.
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Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 3
Thursday, May 31, 2007

if you want the worse food and service go to le bouchon the management team looks useless and do not even speak good english and do not know their dishes

i will never go back and never recommend it and i do not talk about the bar area where the bar manager does not even speak english and does not care about customer
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pc
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Recently went for a first time visit and was very impressed. Real buzz in the restaurant, and the loud cheering from the bar next door (due to Marseille playing football) wasn't a problem at all.

Food generally delicious - had £35 set menu. A bayonne ham salad was delicious and the fillet of beef was gorgeous - the only thing i wasn't impressed with was cold scallops.

Staff very friendly. Would definitely recommend for a genuinely French experience!
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Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7
Sunday, May 13, 2007

If you go to Le Bouchon expecting michelin-starred cuisine and service, you'll be disappointed, but if you go in a group - and I'm sure that this is the best way to enjoy this restaurant - expecting great french bistro food, friendly - if a little inefficient - service and a wonderful, informal evening with your mates, you'll get it!
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Jules - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, January 16, 2007