L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon

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

Good atmosphere but highly over-rated and waitresses tried continuously to sell us food before we had finished our dishes. The portions are also miniscal. I would much prefer having a night in with beans on toast and a lager! Will not recommend it.
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Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 3
Sunday, July 08, 2007

In two words:

food:terrific "pied de cochon"and potato pure

service:terrible waitress and cloakroom messy

Sorry Joel,I won't come back

(missing those days at L'Astorg)
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alonso nunez - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 5
Sunday, June 24, 2007

We have eaten at all the Robuchon restaurants in Europe. His two Paris restaurants, Jamin (1981–1993) and Restaurant Joël Robuchon on Avenue Raymond-Pointcaré (1994–1996), held three Michelin stars each. For my husband and me the cooking there was a level above all the other three Michelin starred restaurants we ever tried. For over a decade we travelled to Paris twice a year (before Eurostar) just to eat at his restaurant. In 1996, at the age of 51, he retired - and we mourned.

About 5 years later he must have got bored because he started opening places all over the world with cooking by chefs he trained. Here in London we didn't try the ground floor Atelier (apparently no booking and plainer - but top quality - food) but rather the first floor La Cuisine, where you can book. Almost sublime!

We had the set lunch, available 7 days a week, which at £35 must be one of the best value lunches in London. 3 courses plus half a bottle of mineral water and tea/coffee at the end. Dark, elegant decor and excellent service. We will be back - often!
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Donna Russell
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 9
Wednesday, June 13, 2007

I popped into Joel Robuchon's place on a whim as I was passing last night (Thursday). I didn't know what to expect, but I knew of Robuchon from my last trip to Paris. I was wearing jeans and a short-sleeved shirt. The doorman, receptionist and hostesses did not bat an eyelid. I was warmly greeted and seated.

I like sitting at a bar and this place really makes a feature of it. Although it was quite dark, stylish and modern, spotlights made sure you could read the menu and see what you were eating. Don't complain about the prices. You know you are going to be spending stupid money as soon as you walk in the place. (I spent £85.)

The waiter across the bar greeted me warmly and explained the menu: left side, starters as tapas; right side, mains as starters. I ordered asparagus with crab stuffing and seared tuna from the left, sirloin steak (£8/100g) from the right.

When your spear of aspargus costs as much as a steak sandwich, you really pay attention. It was perfect, slit down the centre with a half teaspoon of fresh crab, the plate drizzled with a little chili sauce. Very nice. The two spears disappeared in a minute, chased with a very nice Gewutztraminer.

The tuna, two thumb-sized pieces, was cooked to order and quite excellent. By now, I was on the pinot noir. I was a bit surprised by the screwtop bottle, but it tasted fine.

Where they stumbled was the steak. The whole slab was brought for my inspection and to inquire how thick a slice I would like. From my seat, I could watch the meat being cooked on the grill. I arrived perfectly cooked, but tough and way over salted. I tried to like it, but sent it back. The waiter lost just a tiny bit of the friendliness I had experienced, but offered me another selection from the menu. The steak tartare was excellent, but the ruffled, perfectly cooked chips on the side were, again, way over salted.

Everyone wanted to know if I enjoyed my meal and I told them. They were gracious. I said it was good fun watching the kitchen staff preparing the food. It gives you some idea of where the money is being spent.

On either side of me at the bar were expensively dressed men entertaininging good-looking, young women. This place does impress. But, for my money, I'd rather sit at the bar in Sheekey's.
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Jerry Davis
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Friday, June 01, 2007

Went to this amazing restaurant last night with my husband for his birthday. Great interior deco is complemented with highly trained staff. They also remembered my husband dietary requirements and immediately let him know what he can and cannot eat from the menu (even I made the reservation 2 months ago). We went for the tasting menu which consisted of 8 courses + coffee. Each of the eight dishes was faultless, and you can clearly see the skills and creativeness of this michelin star chef restaurant. If you are after fine food with twist of creativity, you would love this place. Total cost was £250 including service and £50 of wine. Can't wait to go back !!!
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Pamela
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Sunday, May 27, 2007

Its obvious upon entering the establishment that they have spent a lot of money on creating a look and in terms of decor, the black and red gives it an intimate, almost boudoir feel in parts.

As for the food. We were expecting to experience the wow factor - afterall, Michelin stars have to be worked for and earn't. However, although the food was very well cooked and presented it did not make us feel that we just had to go back for more, or even recommend it to our friends. Food for us is about a visual and taste sensation and although it tickled our taste buds a little, it was overall, disappointing.

Whilst I readily accept that you pay extra, and are happy to do so for the experience of sampling great food, the cost/quality ratio is not in proportion. Service was ok but for us, with a multitude of London establishments vying to attract people who are prepared to pay for a culinary experience, as an overall package this place falls short. There are far better out there.
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sp
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 5
Sunday, March 25, 2007