L'Art du Fromage

To be honest, our experience at l'Art Du Fromage was a succession of disappointments. My friend and I were really looking forward to visiting as we are true cheese lovers, but what a terrible night out!

The place is tiny, and everybody inside looked a bit ill at ease. Some would call it charming, I would just call it narrow. Although the staff was friendly at the beginning, we couldn't really make ourselves comfortable.

Food was good but extremely overpriced. We picked a middle range bottle of wine, just a starter and a main each and ended up with a £95 bill (which includes a huge 12.5% gratuity). And the worse part of it is we've been asked to leave since the table was booked over at a certain time.

Well, if paying a lot of money for average food that needs to be eaten in a short time doesn't bother you, then go for it. Othewise, just go on your way.
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4 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 2
Thursday, January 03, 2013

My friends and I (we are all cheese lovers) were looking for a place to eat Fondue. And we found this restaurant."L'Art du Fromage" So we booked there for diner on a Friday night. Honestly, we were a bit sceptic when we first enter. The place is tiny and from the outside it looks a bit like a cheese shop. Anyway, our scepticism has quickly disappeared with the very warm and friendly welcome we had. The waitress took us to our table ( on the top floor, this place is actually separated in two different areas) and we really liked the cosy atmosphere that was upstairs. The restaurant looks like a "traditional Chalet de Savoie". We then had a look to their menu. We first just wanted to have a cheese fondue but their starters were so interesting that we each ordered a different one. We've tried their Onion soup, which was absolutely sublime, also their Foie Gras, Salade au Chèvre Chaud (with smoked salmon) and their Brie pané. We were really impressed. Generously served, beautiful presentation, very tasty at all this at a reasonable price. We then had the fondue Savoyarde. I still can't believe how good their fondue was. And you can eat as much as you like ! They serve it with toasted bread, slightly salty... just amazing. We then were so full that we only had one pudding to share. We've tried their "Crêpe Suzette" which was also properly made and very tasty.

I wrote this review to say a big thank you at L'Art du Fromage, for the kindness of the staff, the quality of the food and for the wonderful evening we all had there.

Highly recommended !!!
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Jacqueline Fortier
4 Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 3
Tuesday, October 23, 2012

This french restaurant's opening times are 12-15.30 and we made the journey up from Ipswich so as we sample the cheese board. We arrived at the premises at 13.55 and outside looked quite understated but easy to find. We walked though the door and a young guy jumped up from his chair where he had been what looked like sleeping. He informed us that as they had no customers they were now shut and we would need to come back at 18.30. This was surprising as was a Friday lunchtime and when we walked around Chelsea looking for alternative places to eat everywhere was packed. I did email L art Du Fromage once I got home but they have not responded.
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IpswichMrsA
1 Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 0
Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Good food and atmosphere but widely overpriced. We paid £50 (!) for a fondue for 3 while we just wanted to share one. Although we complained the waiter couldn't really explain us why he charged us for 3 fondues and didn't even give us a little discount. It's a pity since we had a good time and that kind of ruined the evening.
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Emily
6 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 4
Thursday, July 19, 2012

Lovely food, great portions, attentive friendly service. I really cannot fault this place. It is small and they have not crammed in the tables so it is a brilliant place to go if you want somewhere cosy and intimate where you don't have to shout to be heard.
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jo
10 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Sunday, November 20, 2011

This place is just great. I've been a few times now and never taken the time to write anything about it - just out of laziness to be honest. But our visit last week was so lovely that I just wanted to say a big well done to the restaurant and staff and chef and say that we'll be looking forward to returning.

Food, service and setting were absolutely fantastic.

Thanks L'Art du Fromage!
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Alex - View all reviews by this user
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Wednesday, November 02, 2011

My girlfriend and I have been a couple times now and had an excellent experience each time. First time we had this huge cheese board that the owner, who also works there, cut and arranged and described to us in a great amount of detail. Lots of interesting varieties, many of which we had never tried, and a very enjoyable way to spend a couple hours. Last time we tried the fondue and were equally impressed by the taste and presentation. The owner is clearly an cheese enthusiast and he seems keen to share his passion with others.

If you like cheese, and we both love it, you need to try this place out!
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Dorota L
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Saturday, October 22, 2011

My boyfriend took me there for my birthday and we had a wonderful time in there. The place is lovely, we had a table upstairs, in a little corner, it was very romantic.

Staff was very friendly and food was just delicious. We shared a goat cheese and salmon salad, and then we had the raclette. I had been waiting for so long for that and it was so yumi!

The waiter recommended a bottle of Sancerre to match the raclette and it really did.

I would definitely recommend this place to anybody looking for an authentic place to eat.
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Lilly
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Thursday, October 20, 2011

I went to this 'French' restaurant as a special treat for my sister. But i was very disappointed. I have eaten absolutely delicious tarte flambee in Alsace many times and this is one of my favourite foods. So I wanted my sister to try it too, but this was nothing like the original tarte flambee unfortunately. It had too much toppings. Service was average. Restaurant as such is cosy with good atmosphere. But a bit pretentious on the whole - no fizzy drinks. Drink too pricey.

I shall not return to eat here.
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Tripsy
4 Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 2
Monday, September 12, 2011

I made a reservation in November for a table in December for my boyfriend's Birthday- I wanted a table at 8pm, however was told that there ws only 2 sittings 6:30pm (?!) or 9:30pm, I opted for the latter and so I was very surprised to receive a phone call at around 7pm on the evening to say that we could come earlier if we wanted to- so it seems I could have had my 8pm slot after all!

When booking, nothing was mentioned to me about a Christmas menu, therefore when we arrived I was very disappointed to be given their Christmas menu with several of the cheese dishes (that I knew my boyfriend would love to try) missing,and to be offered lamb and duck instead!! We were also informed that they had had a very busy lunch and so they had no Brie de Meaux Pane left for starters nor any of the Escargots Du Chef- not a good start as I had made this reservation 4 weeks in advance, so they knew we were coming!! Also, I ordered the last plate of Assiette Du Marin, therefore if we had arrived any later we would have had just 2 starters to choose from!

When the food arrived it was good and my other half loved the 20 diifferent types of cheese- the waiter was helpful and informative and even wrote the name of the cheeses down that were our favourites. The Christmas menu also meant that the legendary cheese ice cream was not on offer, which again was very disappointing.

Overall the restaurant is a great idea, however I think they need to iron out a few of the issues that I have mentioned above as these partly ruined what I had hoped would be a fantastic evening for my cheese loving boyfriend!!
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8 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Thursday, December 30, 2010