Le Vacherin Malcolm John

We worked closely together with Malcolm John and his Vacherin/Cassoulet team to prepare a special drinks/canapé reception for 300 at a prestigious venue. All I can say is very well done, great canapés, excellent service that went above and beyond what was expected. Highly recommended!
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A London-based Northern European Embassy
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Thursday, July 31, 2008

We held a party at 'Le Vacherin' recently, taking over the restaurant for a Saturday evening and could not have chosen a better venue, with regards to food, drinks, service and ambience.

I gave Malcolm John the number of guests and next day I received a suggested very interesting and creative 5 course menu with 5 different wines. The all inclusive price quoted compared very favourably with all the other venues we had looked at.

The evening was a huge success; it started with excellent Champagne flowing freely and trays of delicious canapes being passed around. The dinner was exquisite, cooked to perfection and where applicable,using the very best of seasonal products; each wine was delicious and perfectly chosen for the course. The balance of the courses and quantities served were just right so that one felt very comfortable at the end of the meal. We have received the most complimentary letters of thanks regarding the food and drink from many of the guests some who had travelled from France for the occasion and who now know that there is really good food to be had in England!

The service was impeccable, the manager supervised everything unobtrusively with calm unfussed efficiency and our guests commented on how friendly and helpful the people serving had been.

Malcolm and his manager had said 'leave us to do all the worrying' and they were so right. Malcolm was a pleasure to deal with, both because of his knowledge of food and wines as well as his patience and good humour. They took care of everything and ensured that all ran smoothly. I am sure that they have acquired many new customers as a result of this party.
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C.F. Barnett
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Friday, July 11, 2008

I held my daughter communion party - 87 people ! The brief was simple - everyone was to eat well, have fun and leave wishing the party could go on. Given my Sicilian family origins we all had a lot to gain by getting this right......

The food was outstanding. The fish (Sea Bream) was outstanding. The Pasta was properly cooked and the sauce got an applause from my mother in law.

The wine was chosen by Malcolm John - a great French red and white......

Of the 87 people - 8 were from the UK - all of the rest were Italians and french.

i can only say that i will be going back many more time....and my overseas guests have reminded my that they wish to return when they're next in the UK !!

Enjoy this place - tell me what you think...
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Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Saturday, June 21, 2008

I've been dining at Le vacherin, for almost three years and I must say that this is one of the top restaurants in London. We were there last Friday. The menu has developed but Malcolm has sensibly kept the house specials . My wife had steak Tartare, what a delight, hand diced fillet, with all the correct condiments. I took Lamb sweetbreads in crispy non greasy batter, brilliant!

For mains, we shared Rack of Lamb for two, with beetroot , Chantenay carrots and Boulangere potatoes. The Lamb was perfectly cooked. The wine list is all French with a good selection from the South-West and well priced.

We shared the cheese board boasting 17 different cheeses.

All in all another great evening at LeV. £100 for two inc coffee wine and champagne Bargain!!!!
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Archie Halford
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Perhaps Le Vacherin is capable of producing OK or good food, if the other reviews are accurate, but that wasn't my experience last night (15 March 2008). The food I was served was poor -- and poor value.

Ballotine of foie gras was, frankly, close to inedible. It was just a slice of greasey, tasteless, pale goo. Even adding salt and pepper left it devoid of flavour (apart from the salt and pepper!). I gave up and didn't finish it.

Pencil of lamb arrived looking more like an hors d'oeuvre or free sample than a main course. When I queried it with the waitress, she said that was always how that cut came because of its inherent size. I would hate to challenge her honesty, but (i) my guess is they had almost run out of the meat on that busy Saturday and she was making an excuse, or (ii) if that wasn't the case, they should use another cut, such as fillet.

The friends we were dining with were similarly under-whelmed by their food. So we decided to skip dessert and just have coffee. When I finished my double espresso another one arrived, the waitress explaining that it was "to make up for the lamb". Bizarre! They should have taken the price, or part of it, off the bill.

All that said, the place was packed and I can't imagine that our experience was typical. But a good restaurant must always be consistent and not serve any bad dishes.

Finally, our waitress was delightful, but rushed off her feet because the place was so busy and a bit under-staffed.
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Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 3
Sunday, March 16, 2008

I am surprised by the sudden deluge of good and bad reviews. I looked two weeks ago and the last diner review was in February, but we went, because the Feb and earlier reviews were excellent. NB We actually dined here Sat lunchtime 29/12.

I had the opposite beef experience; Chateuabriand here lovely; at La trompette, we got free cheeseboard to compensate for an (unusual) difference between mine (tough) and hers(tender). We've been there before and had perfect lunches it has to be said.

We liked Le Vacherin. The leather banquette and decor were top notch, service not prissy, but wife still gets fed up having her wine filled especially towards end of bottle. No other complaint. Sweetbreads "beignet" (battered) with perfect sauce gribiche, the C'Briand med-rare as requested was beautiful. Bottle of Carignan to go with was good too.

Would recommend both restaurants for a posh Saturday Lunch unreservedly. I dislike this "mine's better than yours nonsense". If you book ahead and like langourous gaps between courses in which to chat , its La Trompette. If you can't be bothered booking, and want the courses to come a little quicker, its Le Vacherin. Both do excellent sweet wines but we had no room for pud at Le Vacherin.
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William
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Friday, January 04, 2008

Although many are saying this restaurant is better than Chiswick's La Trompette, i would disagree purely on food. I found the sets of Chateau Briand + other cuts of meat very dry and not so tasty at all. The price came to £50 as well per person. The restaurant is very nice as are the staff, food i am not so keen on.
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Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 6
Wednesday, November 28, 2007

We took our next door neighbours there for Sunday lunch and I was embarrassed at the prices - they did not have a lunch menu it was the evening menu and cost us £50.00 a head for Sunday lunch.
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queenie
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 0
Thursday, October 25, 2007

Where to start? A few phrases come to mind, such as "Total Throw Down" or"Bring it!" because I enjoyed one of the best meals I've ever had to pleasure of eating at Monday night's Le Vacherin Gala Dinner - a 5-course, Vacherin cheese themed fete.

First off, I was overjoyed to find, once again in Chiswick, Matthew (formerly at La Trompette) who had more than once saved the day with last-minute accommodation and always makes sure that we are clued-up on the best/most special food and wine on offer. Nice surprise!

I’ve been to Le Vacherin for lunch, dinner, and a previous Truffle Dinner (this years is coming up in November!) having had a superior meal each time. The recent Gala Dinner was, by far, the best meal I’ve had for some time. To have such DELICIOUS FOOD so PERFECTLY PAIRED with EXCELLENT WINE is a rare treat. The chef came out and talked to us about the food (he hangs his own beef!) and the wine (he was explaining how he sources,) and this is what it is to be DOING IT RIGHT! Seriously, for someone to care about food to this degree – to put together such an outstanding menu with well-sourced ingredients, to prepare it with such care, to serve it with absolutely complementary, high-quality wines, and to talk to you about it!! P-E-R-F-E-C-T-I-O-N! What a treat, and I dine out frequently...

Surprisingly light and tasty souffle with vacherin, endive, and toasted walnuts - served with a Loire white so well-matched to the food - they just "Went together!" The most tender and succulent aged beef filet served with truffled macaroni & vacherin cheese (OH MY!), more vacherin and fig tart... Fond, fond memories now...

A perfect dining experience, and I can’t wait for Truffle Night! I'm sure I'll be back before then, not only to give Matthew and chef Malcolm John a BIG HUG, but also to have another amazing food fete!
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Becky Jane
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Le Vacherin has just had the most amazing transformation. Located in West London, Chiswick, nearest tube station, Chiswick Park. The entrance is beautifully inviting as is the Art, the totality of Decor, the Furniture, the Fabric, the Lighting, all highly complimenting what you will experience in flavor and taste. And then we get to the fabulous, talented chef and his love for food and wine. His name is Malcolm John. The ambience at Le Vacherin now totally embraces the exquisite, incredible cuisine and exceptional wine list offered by Chef John. Malcolm's undeniable talents begin and end with his ultimate passion. His passion is consistent, which is what makes this restaurant amazing. The combination of a caribbean background twisted into a flavor for French cooking - is a taste and style quite unique. From the creative appetizers thru to the lucscious deserts - your eating expereince at Le Vacherin will be memorable and precious each and every time.

Le Vacherin in Chiswick, West London - has everything and more and will leave you with a mouth-watering desire to return again and again.
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Melissa Strawser
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, September 06, 2007