Cafe Luc

Marylebone is very happy with the new opening of Cafe Luc!

I have been to Cafe Luc a few times now and must say the quality of the food, staff and decoration is grand and the costumer feels really important in this place and that's what I like.
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restohopper
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Friday, August 12, 2011

We've been regulars at Cafe Luc since it opened and I always thought this was a great casual venue. However, the last 3 visits have been less than satisfactory and we've now crossed it off our list.

With the odd exception, the staff are invariably miserable, there's no warmth or feeling of welcome when you enter and the waiters, whilst efficient, rarely give a smile.

There's also been a significant and very noticeable cutting down of portion sizes. The prix fixe at £15.50 used to be good value but is now just a joke. My grand-daughter of 13 months has bigger portions. They argue that's not the case but it's absolutely obvious if you've been coming here from the beginning. The Sunday Brunch menu is equally poor value.

I don't know what the Manager does but it certainly doesn't include getting involved. He never interacts with the diners and just hangs around the bar area without ever walking among the tables. As I've said, we've been regulars yet, although he admits to knowing us, never exchanges a word or smile. When we challenged him about portion sizes he argued and said he disagreed. I'm afraid you should never argue with a customer - like it or not they're always right. Even if he thought I'm the biggest idiot on earth, he should have just said ' I'm sorry you feel that way sir' and offered us free coffee or something.

I'm sorry but we do feel that way and, after three strikes, you're now out. You were great when you opened but there are better value places now - and they give you a cheery welcome. Galvins is just round the corner and, whilst they also aren't quite as good as they used to be, we always get a great welcome there.
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3 Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 3
Sunday, June 26, 2011

Having read recently a good review by Joseph Connolly in the ham and high

We went here last week for lunch the shrimp croquettes spicy absolutely delicious

And then the lobster salad , now lobster I love but how many times eating

Out it's a question of "find the lobster" here it was not ,a quite generous portion of

The tasty flesh on top of a tasty salad with pomegranate seeds -delicious finally

The petit pot of chocolate served with additional warm chocolate sauce better

Than the many of these I have had in my life -ok a cliche but my goodness. Delicious.

Returned again last night and had the same again, very busy on a Tuesday night

Bright service. Yes it's not galvins bistro but although I did like it there that place

Has become rather impersonal this has a better feel ,perfect for the non grand

But reliably enjoyable lunch or dinner .
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Alan fowle
8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, March 09, 2011

Amazing restaurant. But very busy!
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Mateo
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Friday, December 17, 2010

This new restaurant is already one of my favourites in London and surely in Marylebone. Almost always a great buzz in a very enjoyable decor, consistently good service and the food is amazing. Check out their £15.50 set menu...very good deal!!
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Jake & Katie
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Friday, December 03, 2010

Very disappointing food! I'm a Belgian living in London, so was looking forward to check out this place at lunchtime. The bread offered before the meal was warm and tasty. So far, so good. But then came the main meal. I ordered a steak and chips, which is not the most complicated dish in the world. The steak was much too salty and the chips were badly overcooked and swimming in oil. The chips were barely edible! To me, a restaurant claiming to be Belgian that serves such chips is shocking.

Now for the positives: the service and the atmosphere are very good. Service is attentive and the decor is very nice.

This place has huge potential, but for goodness sake employ a cook who can actually cook a meal!
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Steve
5 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 3
Tuesday, November 02, 2010

Just come back from a feel-good lunch at Cafe Luc. I was lucky enough to bag one of their £1 introductory offers, and my friend had the same 3-course set menu for a very reasonable £15.50.

The decor is relaxing and comfortable (excellent toilets too), and the service was also relaxed but attentive and smiley. It wasn't full, but it was a Monday lunchtime and there were enough people to make it buzzy. It didn't look like a business clientele, but then it is Marylebone High Street.

We had a decent glass of champagne to start, then stuck to glasses of the house wine, which were good value and very drinkable. I'll be perfectly happy to stick to that in the future. Tap water came in a stylish looking flask and was refilled without having to ask.

We both had smoked salmon and horseradish cream on a crumpet, which worked very well, a bit like a big blini. I had steak and frites, to test out something basic, and it came rare as requested with a jug of peppercorn sauce on the side (very nice) and some watercress. Simple but satisfying. My friend's pea risotto was a good portion (I forgot to ask what it was like, but she seemed happy). Desserts were the best lemon tart I've had in a long while, and a nutella creme brulee that was served in a large shallow bowl giving a good expanse of brulee.

The bread and butter was perfect and lived up to my expectations (assuming they get their bread from Le Pain Quotidien... but maybe not? Anyway, it was good).

It was hard to fault the place, particularly for the price of the set menu. I'd paid well over twice as much for a much poorer meal in a french restaurant a few nights before, so I'll be recommending this to friends as a replacement.
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Anne
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Monday, August 16, 2010

Service: good

Food: good (red mullet, tartare, desserts, bottle of rose Bandol)

I really, loved the decoration and overall I enjoyed my dinner at Cafe Luc with my boyfriend.

Two drawbacks: the wine list was a bit too expensive and - for goodness sake - the French fries served with the tartare were as hard as a diamond. Kitchen brigade, you need to do something about your allumettes!
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Wolfia
7 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 6
Thursday, August 05, 2010

I've been to Cafe Luc twice - sadly both occasions were marred by poor service and uninspired food. Won't be going back in the near future. Too bad as Marylebone High Street could use a competitor to the always over subscribed Providores (must be a reason!). The decor of Cafe Luc is pleasant and sets the right mood for a casual bistro. The compliments stop there. I'm unclear of the service 'model' but I personally don't like being waited upon by 6-8 different servers. Confusing to them and unsettling for me, the diner. The first visit was for brunch and the eggs Benedict were dry, small and so minimally garnished that they the eggs looked 'lost' on the plate. Larger portions or smaller plates please! I returned with 3 colleagues for dinner last Wed. The 3 sole orders had to be returned to the kitchen as they resembled and smelled of a burnt panini sandwich! The complaint was handled swiftly and kindly which helped an otherwise unpleasant experience. My steak tartare arrives sans salad and chips as listed in the menu. It was corrected but only after calling it to the attention of one of our many waiters. If Cafe Luc takes seriously some of the negative comments on this site, it could be a decent place but for now, I agree with others that Galvin is where we'll head for a French-inspired bistro meal.
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Jeff
5 Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 5
Wednesday, August 04, 2010

Poor, inexistent and amateurish service, you are better off going to Galvin two blocks away to sample true and genuine brasserie dishes at decent prices.

Cafe Luc is a decent place for a coffee and pastries though.

Overall an overpriced restaurant, small portions and poor service will not make me come back.
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chris
2 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 1
Monday, August 02, 2010