Le Chardon (East Dulwich)

I went yesterday with 2 friends and had a similar experience with the surly French lady.

The food was decent, the service was appalling.

She stropped off in a huff when we weren't ready to order, banged things on the table, shoved the table back when we made the fatal error of pushing it out an inch to get our legs in, and generally made us feel like she was doing us a favour. We ignored the service charge on the bill, I've never done that before. Shame.
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Heather
3 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 6
Monday, March 26, 2012

We went to Le Chardon for my husband's birthday on Saturday. Basically, apart from the French woman who I think runs the establishment (who is decent), it wasn't particularly welcoming or outstanding. Even when I booked the table, a guy said that despite the fact that it was a special birthday meal, he couldn't promise a nice table. The food was mediocre, and the overriding feeling is that they couldn't have cared less if we were there or not - probably preferring if we were not. Nicer food at home, at a French franchise like Cafe Rouge or our local pub which wins hands down over Le Chardon. Oh, and they need to provide bread and butter foc for those prices thank you!
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Su
3 Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 1
Monday, March 19, 2012

My girlfriend and I moved to East Dulwich a month ago and decided to treat ourselves to a nice meal out. We chose Le Chardon as I have always had good experiences for eating in French restauraunts. Until now. The tables were very close together, it was extremely loud and we waited over 20 mins to be served. When we were served, the staff were abrupt and rude. The service charge was 12.5%, which considering the service we recieved I object to being included in the bill. I would suggest that this is ammended and that their staff earn their service charge, allowing the customer to decide if a service charge should be awarded. In this case, it was unearned in all regards. The wine was bland and the food was mediocre all compounded by the lack of decent waiting staff. I would not recommend this lacklustre establishment to anyone.
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New East Dulwich Resident
1 Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Sunday, September 11, 2011

We have visited this charming French restaurant previously. This time we decided to look at some of the reviews. Alarmingly, one of the more recent ones was extremely negative. However, we were not to be put off by this and looked forward to our visit. The staff were welcoming and we offered the menu within seconds of arriving. Aperitifs were on the table in minutes. We had grilled goats’ cheese on foccacia and the smoked mackerel – simple starters but appetisingly served. For mains the vegetarian tart was delicious and the rump of lamb was beautifully cooked as only the French do. The wines were superb (although they didn’t have our first choice of red). It was a memorable experience. I hope some of the negative reviewers will give it another chance! We look forward to our next visit.
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David and Hannah
9 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Monday, August 15, 2011

Walked into the Le Chardon and had to wait for the waiter to finish his what sounded like a personal phone call. All we wanted was to sit outside and have a small lunch and coffee.

We wanted to sit outside and were pointed in the direction of the outside garden. Untidy and practically in the kitchen we asked to sit outside the front of the restaurant. The waitress informed we weren't able to do so as it will complicate the system and we will be forgotten about despite the fact there was only 5 customers in the whole property. We then sat down at a table in the garden where again we were asked to move as it affects the waitresses plan, soon we left after we encountered a number of rolling of eyes an huffs from the waitress.

Very disappointed, what a fantastic looking place ruined by it's staff. I have lived in East Dulwich for 6 months now and have really looked forward to having a meal at the Le Chardon but I can honestly say I won't be returning.
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Sarah
0 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Saturday, July 30, 2011

Seeing all these disappointed reviews that mention the staff and value I would like to add my own.

We went to Sunday lunch at le chardon. The service was friendly, competent and attentive from the very outset. We informed them we wanted to use our taste card and they were very positive in telling us that was no problem. We had absolutely superb coqs au vin with especially scrummy patates dauphinoises. I had one glass of very good burgundy but other than that we stuck to water (not for economy's sake - we drink very little).

The restaurant is attractive and comfortable but it is tiled with makes for noise. This doesn't bother me. The tables were close together, but then I'm French - I expect that in a neighbourhood restaurant.

The food was wonderfully cooked and it really was French: not always the case in London restaurants.

I hesitate to suggest it, but it is possible that we had a different experience because we spoke French from the outset which may have created a more sympathetic rapport with the staff.

The prices were reasonable given the standards. Certainly I have paid more for worse, but frankly, rarely have I paid this much for this good. If anyone is a french restaurant geek then I would say this is right up there with L'Eglise in Hove for quality, value and authenticity.

One thing I remember, when the bill came I wanted to supplement the service charge a little because it didn't look like very much for our bill and for the good service, so I asked the waitress whether the charge had been calculated before or after discount - she told me that it's calculated *after* discount and that I was the first person who'd ever asked. Is it possible that this experience conditions the attitude to taste cards?

We are going again this weekend.
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Jacques Levy
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Friday, July 01, 2011

I went to this restaurant on 2 April and I was very disappointed for a number of reasons. Firstly, the waitress forgot my drink and it took over 15 minutes to arrive. Secondly, the tables are all very close together and it is quite noisy. Also, when the bill came I asked if I could pay by card separately, the waitress flounced off and told me I had to add the amount up myself. They had also added a 12.5% service charge.

I would not go there again and found it very overpriced. The service was horrendous and they also tried to overcharge us by adding a bottle of champagne for £40 to our bill which we had not ordered (but which they had been trying to sell us!).
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Marie Griffith
2 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 0
Sunday, April 03, 2011

Went for dinner with my husband and mother in law. Don't get to eat out that often so thought this would be a real treat. How wrong!

The staff were so incredibly rude and abrupt, I felt like I had insulted them by merely walking into the restaurant. Were it not for the presence of my mother in law I would have turned right around and left the restaurant immediately.

The food was OK but nothing to write home about and even with a 50% discount from my taste card the bill seemed excessive for what we had eaten.

Unless you like being treated like a bad smell and eating mediocre food then please, I urge you, save your money and go eat somewhere else.Terrible!
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1 Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Thursday, March 24, 2011

Having put so much care into creating such a wonderful atmosphere to dine in, it's a shame that the experience is completely let down by the grim staff. "Grumpy" and "Surly," the two girls on duty on Tuesday the 22nd did nothing to make us feel welcome from the moment we walked in, despite the fact that we'd booked in advance, and were the only three people they had to deign to attend to. We were welcomed with a grunt, and pointed vaguely towards an empty table as we watched Grumpy's back heading towards the kitchen. Our delight at the warm ambience witnessed from outside the front window was completely sucked out of the room as soon as we encountered our "hosts". Having created such a cool first impression (and maintained it consistently throughout the evening) it would be hard to judge whether the quality of the food merited the price. In times like these you'd think the staff would be grateful to be employed, and might appreciate that dining out is a luxury to their clientele these day. Although, sadly, we were far too reticently English to ask for the 12.5% service charge be removed from our bill, we usually do add a bit extra to the tip, if the service is good. So Grumpy and Surly lost out on a little more spending money, and despite the fact that we live close to the Abbeville Road branch, the Chardon, I'm afraid, will not see our custom again. A great shame really, as it had so much promise.
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Stewart
5 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 4
Thursday, March 24, 2011

Great evening. Went early on a Wednesday night with 2 small children. Although no children's menu, they were very accomodating with mini portions and our were just happy with great chips and vegetables plus a pancake as dessert. The adults loved the baked brie salad, the liver and the duck, all cooked to perfection. Courteous and attentive service, a fanatastic evening.
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10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, February 23, 2011