Le Vacherin

No complaints at all from our visit for lunch on Good Friday. Food to a high standard, nice atmosphere and good service. Reasonably priced and good quality wines judging by the 3 different ones we enjoyed. The only minor quibble was a slightly dry Duck Confit by one of our party but apart from that all very good. Hope to return soon. Superb value if you are lucky enough to have a Travelzoo Voucher. (Service would have scored higher if it had not been for the 3 attempts needed to get our bill correct!)
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Richard de Twickenham - View all reviews by this user
8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, April 02, 2013

My husband and I went to Le Vacherin last night with an Amazon Local voucher having lived nearby for a while and never tried it. Our first impressions were not good as we entered through what looked like the front door to be immediately herded out by a waiter who ordered us to 'use the other door'. The other door had a piece of paper stuck to the window indicating that it was hosting a corporate dinner but as instructed, we went in anyway.

We had pre-booked and were given the last table for two next to the corporate party's table right in the doorway, although to the waitress's credit (she must have seen our faces!) she immediately offered to lock the door so other patrons wouldn't squeeze past us to use this one - especially given it was a freezing cold night outside.

On to the food, they honored the voucher impeccably (as some places often don't) and we could choose any starter and main each with no exceptions or surcharges except on the larger sharing dishes such as chateaubriand which is to be expected. Whilst making our selections, we ate some lovely bread with delicious anchovy butter, although the amuse bouche of leek and potato veloute that followed was nothing special.

The starter of snails was well received, although the pasta of my crab ravioli was rather thick and undercooked but not inedible. The main of pork belly was again polished off with ease and declared wonderful, whilst my lemon sole was also very good. The side of frites were fine although over-salted, as was the spinach which is a shame. Like many of the other dishes we consumed, the potato dauphinoise suffered from being very heavy on the butter, to the point where it had pooled at the bottom of the dish. Dessert and a cheeseboard were ok although they took a while to arrive by which point the rich French food was taking its toll and making us drowsy and keen to get back in the cool fresh air!

Overall, I would say the meal was pleasant enough although there were problems which may have been a symptom of having to cater for a full restaurant and one large party. To their credit, the staff were great and did their absolute best to keep things running smoothly, never treating us differently for 'being on a voucher'. Our waitress even bought a complimentary drink each at the end and apologised for any noise from the large group (which to be fair wasn't any louder than you'd expect a full restaurant to be anyway).

I definitely would have appreciated being told about the large booking when we phoned to confirm our table the day before, and I'm not sure that we'd hurry back simply because of the heavy use of butter and salt and the fact that there are other restaurants of the same calibre locally who I feel do a better job. However, I'm glad we've now been and if the same offer appeared again on a voucher website I would still say it's worth a go to others.
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SJP - View all reviews by this user
7 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 7
Thursday, March 14, 2013

Last night at Le Vacherin we waited one hour between our main course and starter only to be served over cooked monkfish, gristly steak and limp salad. To make matters worse they over charged on the bill. With so many great places to go in West London, I will avoid this over priced disappointment in the future.
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Steve Butler - View all reviews by this user
4 Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 2
Sunday, December 02, 2012

Having had a couple of good meals at Le Vacherin over the past year, my wife and I were looking forward to revisiting for Sunday lunch - what a disappointment.

They only operate a set menu (which I have no problem with), but it seems Le Vacherin have taken this to think they can reduce the portions down to kids' sizes...

A salad of smoked trout and gravlax was over in 3 mouthfuls, a main course dish of slow cooked veal was embarrassingly small, as was the portion of summer vegetables that came with it.

The quality was OK but the blatant profiteering stuck in the throat.

Real shame as I used to rate this place and the groups fish restaurant in Putney is consistently good.
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hungry viking - View all reviews by this user
4 Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 2
Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Saturday night at le vacherin, very busy .Food was delicious, service polite and attentive. Finished with decent and well presented cheese board.

Recommended.
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anna
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Sunday, March 11, 2012

Le vacherin in chiswick is having a new youth. Everything, from food presentation, customer service and wine selection, is exactly on west end standards! Whilst you probably gonna experience the best bernaise in town, try the blanquette de lapin or the beef bourguignonne for an authentic culinary trip to paris! One of the food mecca in town
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andreaa
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Friday, March 02, 2012

Slightly puzzled by some of the really bad reviews here, as the food here was very good - excellent ravioli to start, perfectly cooked duck and then a great tarte tatin to share straight out of the oven. Competent, pleasant service as well.

The food is relatively simple "classical" French cookery, well executed. My main criticisms is that for food of this level the prices are relatively high, even by West End standards, and that the tables are too closely packed together for a restaurant at this level - it shouldn't be necessary for the waiters to have to squeeze between tables.

A perfectly pleasant place for a meal, though!
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- View all reviews by this user
7 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 5
Thursday, February 16, 2012

A new management is in place. I have been visiting this lovely local restaurant

for the past three weeks, especially on Sunday lunches. It got busier and busier, the staff is upbeat and unobtrusive, but the standard of food presentation and quality is definitely above average. I would say that is the best French food in South London.
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maria michelazzo - View all reviews by this user
9 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Monday, February 06, 2012

It's ok. In a thoroughly ok-ish kind of way. You would, if you had to, and you wouldn't mind. But afterwards you wouldn't fantasise about it. Within a month or two you'd hardly remember it. So really: why bother?

Unfortunately the owner Malcolm John didn't swing by on the evening we were there, which is a great shame, as I gather he's quite the local celebrity bon viveur ...in Chiswick... Perhaps it would have been a more memorable evening if we had experienced him live, and in person.
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KwevPagne
5 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 5
Friday, December 16, 2011

WHAT A HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT!!! It's barely worth the time writing this but we were appalled at the rude waiters/waitresses, and i mean rude - utterly disinterested and arrogant. Food was ok but this would be the last place i would want to go back to, i advise everyone to look elsewhere - this place should be an absolute last resort!
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1 Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Thursday, December 15, 2011