L'Absinthe

Nice atmosphere but shame about the food, invariably overcooked and a poor imitation of French cooking. Perhaps it is the lack of good restaurants in Primrose Hill that means L'Absinthe and Lemonia can be full every night serving mediocre food. At least a good meal can be guaranteed at Odette's.
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londongal - View all reviews by this user
6 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 3
Sunday, July 24, 2011

We were so excited by the reviews and the buzz of the restaurant. Unfortunately the food on the bust Saturday night did not live up to expectation. The wine was superb, the service excellent, the atmosphere very rive gauche.

Maybe it just cant cope with the large crowd gathered to eat on a cold and gloomy Saturday night. What a pity, the staff were the friendliest I have encountered. Please improve your food.
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nitricoxide
8 Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 7
Tuesday, February 15, 2011

We have eaten many times at l'Absinthe, a true French bistro; no fuss, simple food really well executed, great atmosphere created by JC le patron and his lovely team. Not to forget the wine list, carefully put together, at friendly prices.

Definitely worth a visit !
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Chris
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, February 01, 2011

After hearing rave reviews about L'Absinthe we were really looking forward to eating there. I have to say however that the food was extremely disappointing! My starter of tuna nicoise salad consisted of some wilted salad leaves and nothing very exciting and compely tasteless, in fact, the kind of dish my thirteen year old could put together in seconds. My husband had the marinated herrings which looked as though they had been fished out of a jar and didnt taste much better. My main course of corn fed chicken was distinctly average and accompanied by more wilted salad leaves and far too much dressing and nothing else so had to order the carrot 'mash' which was the nicest part of the meal! The dessert of 'royal sorbet' took the biscuit....three scoops of what tasted like really cheap supermarket sorbet with some champagne thrown over it, swimming about in a sea of 'coulis'. I left the majority of it, which is unheard of for me! Whilst the staff were pleasant and the ambience nice, this place did not live up to expectations and I am not a 'fussy' diner! A distinctly plain, lacklustre meal that any person with basic cookery skills could have put together. At £30 a head it wasn't expensive but sad to say we will not be going back! Also, very squashed seating at ground floor level and one of our guests was constantly being asked to move his chair during the entire evening to let people pass. Really, don't bother travelling too far to visit this establishment.....just not worth it!
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4 Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 3
Monday, July 26, 2010

I was suitably impressed by this restaurant. It's situated in a residential area within walking distance of Chalk Farm tube station. And it seems to have a dual identity as an eating establishment and off-licence!

The interior is multi-level, with a few tables on the ground floor and many more downstairs. I had hoped I'd be seated on the ground floor, but downstairs, I felt, was just as welcoming, if not more. The impression I had was one of a welcoming, cosy space. The tables were perhaps a little tightly packed but I find I don't mind this so much.

Foodwise I had no major complaints. It is true that some of the dishes are a little over-salted, but not to the point of suffering. The standard was very high and the portions were generous. Those who feel the portions are too large should not feel obliged to eat everything if they wish to leave room!

The service was just right. The only thing that knocked it down for me was that the proximity of the tables presented something of an obstacle for the staff! Otherwise, if you're looking for attentive, non-pushy service, this is the place to be.

Contrary to other reviews on here, I actually felt the bill was a little steep. Not so much that it was a problem, however, but steep nonetheless. However, I reminded myself how great everything had been and how much I'd enjoyed the experience and suddenly the price did seem somewhat justified.

This is a place to which I would very much like to return.
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Alan Ingham - View all reviews by this user
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Thursday, August 13, 2009

Went here for lunch recently on a Saturday. Had a very good meal we all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

The service was brilliant, very attentive and accommodating. The food was very good, simple French cuisine cooked perfectly. Wine was very good and price was fine (although by no means cheap).

I would thoroughly recommend this restaurant, although if you book make sure you are upstairs or outside, downstairs looked a bit dark.
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Johnny - View all reviews by this user
8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Sunday, August 09, 2009

In a nutshell: good and honest starters and main courses, interesting wine list, could do more on desserts.

I went last week with may partner to celebrate her birthday. We had onion soup (strangely sweet but good nevertheless) and chicken liver pate (very good) as starters, duck confit and steak and frites as main course (both excellent) and pear tart and colonel (lemon sorbet with vodka) as desserts. The tart seemd and tasted like supermarket stuff (the cook can certainly do more on this, what about a classic tarte tatin?), while the sorbet was OK, if uninspiring, to end the meal.

I drunk a glass of pinot gris from Alsace and a glass of French pinot noir, both very good. The final bill was 66 quid, a honest price for London.

We were both positively surprised by the quality of ingredients (desserts excluded) and the friendly service. Will definitely go back.
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Giuliano
7 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Tuesday, May 12, 2009