L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon

13th Oct 2007

Went to Joel Rubochon for a second time for dinner at La Cuisine - the upstarirs restaraunt. Was interesting to see that prices have moved up - £95+service for the tasting menu and a la carte at approx £20 to £30 for starters and £40 to £50 for a main. The food was very good - BUT - the dining experience was very poor. Waiters who got their drink orders wrong (mainly as they were not listening), wine that was not topped up at ALL until they were reminded, a waiter who forgot to get a drink despite being asked twice, a waiter who forgot to get the mash with my lamb, a waiter that dropped a plate on a client at the next table and waiters that were running around like in cheap Italian restaraunt - to the point we got very irritated and asked for service to be taken off the bill. A complaint to the maitre 'd got a glass of champagne after the meal (which was sort of pointless at this juncture ) BUT it was interesting to note that they did not take the service off the bill - sort of completely missed the point !

At these prices you simply cannot afford to get anything wrong as you are now competing against Tom Aikens, Ramsay, the Square, Petrus - to name a few - and i am willing to bet that Rubochon will be closed in less than 2 years if he doesnt raise his game. We wont be going back

T.Mandana

t_mandana@yahoo.com
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Trishul Mandana
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 2
Sunday, October 14, 2007

been there yesterday for lunch food was ok just ok....service very disappointing with only 10 customers in the restaurant really a shame for a big name like this.
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francesco
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 4
Wednesday, October 10, 2007

I tried this restaurant for the first time on Sept. 19th for pre-theatre dining. After reading all the reviews, I was looking forward to a surreal culinary experience...overall, it was intriguing.

We sat at the "bar" style table and watched the kitchen prepare our meal which was different for fine dining. The service was kind of odd, maybe he was new? he was not all that knowledgeable about the menu and kept suggesting items "off the menu" which was scary (selling more than being attentive to our needs). The worst part was that he asked for our table at the end of our meal and suggested we move into the bar! (I've learned that some hot spots in London are quite pushy for turnovers and aren't afraid to offend the customer).

I did enjoy the presentation of each dish which was stunning but honestly, the food was slightly over-rated as it was nothing extraordinary. I loved the ambiance with dimmed lighting and modern, chic atmosphere. The tapas style starters were a bit pricey if you're used to ordering several for tasting....the a la carte portion was much better..I have to admit, the lamb was excellent! It's a great place for couples or group of friends, not the best for great food or for huge appetites. Definitely worth trying once..but not likely to go back. I much preferred Nobu Berkley!
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Luv2Travel
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 6
Tuesday, October 09, 2007

Great food! can't help myself going back every week after my first visit.
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Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Saturday, September 29, 2007

Went last Saturday night with my husband and was not sure what to expect due to mixed reviews. We found the food to very high standards, classic with a twist. Service was really good, attentive and helpful.

Portion wise I thought this was just perfect but 2 main comments:

- real dissapointment was the cocktail - mine did not have the edge I was expecting in the taste and half a martini glass charged 13£ thought it was a bit of a joke!

- the wine list is horrendously expensive for the quality you get. the more affordable wines have quite a low quality and I was expecting better from a place like l'Atelier.

Compared to places like le Cercle or Club Gascon, the atmosphere is probably a bit more glam a l'Atelier but value for money is far below these 2 for a similar quality of food.

In the future, I would much prefer to spend that kind of budget for a dinner at Tom Aikens.

Question of taste I assume, the place was full though so they won't be missing us as regular customers!!
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Anne-Sophie
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 6
Wednesday, September 26, 2007

We took the menu degustation , i really recommand it !!

it's just super. Food is waouuuu, never eat a mousse of foie gras like that. we had 7or 8 differents dishes...can't remenber. small portion but one after one you get so full . take also the new menu with wine, a different glass for each plate. Fantastic!! specialy who those who are not the best to taste difference it's a very nice way to learn about wine.

The service was super!! very nice and friendly. the atmosphere is relax, not posh at all... still a bit formal due to the service and lot of suits around.

Yes it is a bit expensive but it's london and i think it worth it !! Enjoy
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Latifa
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, September 26, 2007

After dining at L'Atelier, I felt disspointed. I left the place feeling hungry due to the small portions of food, not the mention the prices of the wine list. I had the foie gras tarrine to start followed by the steak (£42!!). But to be honest with you, I'd rather go to Gaucho Grill for a nice steak and a bottle of wine. The bar upstairs was really nicely done but shame about the moody waitress we were served by. Not sure I'll ever go back, unless I have a bigger wallet, as it's really overated and reassuringly expensive.
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Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 5
Thursday, September 13, 2007

After reading such mixed reviews, I wasn't quite sure to bring my husband to L'Atelier for his birthday. Though I am very happy that I booked the restaurant for his special night. As it was a perfect experience.

We ate at a table downstairs, with a view of the kitchen and long bar. The atmosphere was lovely and service was great. After dinner, they suggested we'd have drinks in their lounge upstairs which was equally stunning and romantic.

I will recommend L'Atelier to my friends and family for sure.
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Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Saturday, August 25, 2007

With the famed name of Robuchon on the hoarding, my expectations were raised but, unfortunately, not met.

Dined in La Cuisine last week, and whilst having few complaints regarding the quality of the food and the generally good service, the quantity is another matter. Barely two teaspoons of (it has to be said, tasty) truffled mash served with three bite-sized portions of quail do not a main course make. Fillet steak was off the scale at £45, and not a truffle or slice of foie gras in sight. At that price, I'm expecting culinary fireworks of a high order, and they simply didn't happen. It was a nicely-cooked piece of fillet, a jus, and some vegetables - tasty enough, but not £45 pounds' worth..

Ambience-wise it also wasn't to my taste. Low lighting has its place, but not when it's so low that one has trouble reading the menu. Two 25 watt filament light bulbs, dimmed (I know this, the light was so low I could easily read the writing on the bulb) is just too low. The low lighting worked perhaps for the couples in the room, but not for this table.

Is it me, or are some chefs trading JUST on their name, and at the same time trying to move customers back into nouvelle cuisine (i.e. small portion) territory? Maze is another example of franchise cooking with its eye pointing squarely at the bottom line. Gentlemen, you're in the business of selling extraordinary food - the lifestyle stuff is secondary - so you'd better make sure the punters walk out the door with sated appetites and smiles on their faces.

Tapas-style dining may work with Heston Blumenthal's creations, where the emphasis is on shocking the palette and brain with unusual but exciting food combinations, but when it's just parsimony dressed up as "the new way of doing things", sorry - I ain't buying. There's enough good value, high-end eating in London now. That's your competition.
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Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 3
Sunday, August 19, 2007

I ate here on monday night with the guv'nor. We sat at the bar downstairs which, it felt a little uncomfortable at first but the original seating style does grow on you. However you are only to aware of the waiters a few feet away all the time which is fine but i find that if you are trying to have a private conversation then it can be a bit intrusive, having said that all the staff were very polite and efficient and knowlegable about the food. To start i had veal sweetbread which was awesome it has to be said, the chief had pigs trotter and as well cooked as it was the heavy handed use of taragon somewhat spoile the dish. I opted for steak tartare for main course again it was very very good a hint of pungent horseradish to balnce the richness of the meat the chips were good but then again if you cant cook chips at michelin star then i guess the little tubby fella should stick to making tyres. As for the chiefs main course quail stuffed with foie gras, again brilliantly cooked but small would be an understatement, and for £24 didn't represent good value although the mash was very good i have it on authority old joel as i call him buys it in frozen!?! Desserts were ok nothing to rave about, i had the 'minty' maybe fun to say not so much to eat, look out for the mouthwash egg yolk if you order that. I did enjoy meal but other than my starter it was all too forgettable. And the sense of poor value did leave me and the guv a little dissappointed. But george galloway seemed to like it......... then again he liked saddam do don't go reading to much into that.
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paul
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 2
Friday, July 20, 2007