Le Vacherin

A funny one. Set lunch was generally good but some of the service was a little off. Not the waitresses, but by the maitre d', who at one point gave one of his staff a really aggressive sotto voce bawling out (in the middle of the room) for some solecism we hadn't seen. Whatever it was, it can't have been as unprofessional as his display. That kind of thing is the difference between a local restaurant and a destination, I suppose.
Comment on this reader review

6 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 6
Saturday, June 12, 2010

Le Vacherin is an attractive and atmospheric restaurant, a pleasant distance away from the busy Chiswick high road. The interior decor just about makes up for the less attractive outlook which casts the eye across the road and to the district line in the distance. The chef has opted for a fixed price menu and, at £33 for three courses, it is neither cheap nor extravagant . Despite delicious entrees, we were disappointed with our main courses- it certainly felt like cheaper cuts of meat and fish with the intention of maximising profits. One might expect that during tricky economic times but surely the art of making money in this trade is not to let your customers feel the pinch- Le Vacherin didn't quite pull that off. The reasonably priced wine list did go some way to alleviate the blow. An extensive cheese plate, served with panache, also helped. Service is exemplary; attentive but not intrusive. All in all we had a pleasant evening. But I think there lies the problem with Le Vacherin; it falls between two stalls. It is neither the restaurant you would choose for a very special occasion nor the excellent local you would frequent on a regular basis. And for that reason, we won't be rushing back.
Comment on this reader review

Alice Gunn
8 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 7
Sunday, May 16, 2010

Superb cooking at very reasonable prices.

I think this place sells itself short. The Michelin critics will have noted the wine list that's only one page (plenty for most of us) and the cheerful, unpretentious bistro decorations and for those reasons will have withheld the star that the food deserves. Damn nearly as good as the starred food at La Trompette down the road. But considerably cheaper. Last night they were offering 3 courses, with a wide selection for each course, at just £22! Excellent place, I fully recommend it. The signature dish- baked Vacherin cheese with delicious extras - is a must.
Comment on this reader review

9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Monday, March 01, 2010

We had an opportunity to treat ourselves the other day. After perusing restaurant reviews, we decided on Le Vacherin in Chiswick – a restaurant within budget and one with a terrific reputation.

The decor is extremely French, being under stated, yet homely. It is modeled on a classic French dining room, with an elongated mirror and the odd bistro-style print. The ambience was lovely with romantic French music playing in the background.

The food was exquisite; seasoned & cooked to perfection using the very best of seasonal products with a good selection of wine sourced from the South of France.

The starter of plump scallops, with apple purée, melt-in-your-mouth black pudding and crispy rashers of Alsace Bacon left your tastebuds tantalised.

For mains we ordered the 28 day aged chateaubriand which is Silver Served. Whilst balancing the silver platter on one hand; the waitress meticulously placed each item one by one onto our plates with her free hand. First the marrow, then the mushroom, followed by three slices of perfectly cooked rare fillet (cooked to your liking) followed by beans, frites and then finally the béarnaise. The meat was melt in the mouth material with a hunk of the fatty marrow to add to the sumptuousness. The very French side dishes of fresh seasonal vegetables, including peas, young asparagus spears and baby carrots made it taste as good as it looked - Heaven on a plate.

My dessert was incredible too with a hot chocolate pudding that oozed rich chocolate sauce once broken open & served with amaretto ice cream. We also shared the cheese board which I believe boasted 17 different cheeses.

The service was impeccable, the manager supervised while the staff were extremely friendly and attentive, leaving us to enjoy the evening without unnecessary interruption.

Malcolm John has most certainly succeeded in creating a sensational neighbourhood restaurant serving traditional French food using top quality seasonal ingredients at keen prices. I look forward to dining at his other ventures, Le Cassoulet & Fish and Grill, based in South Croydon, as they seem to have had outstanding reviews as well.

All in all the perfect setting for a decadent night out. I will certainly be back!!!
Comment on this reader review

10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, September 24, 2009

not good! we went as a table for 2 on saturday night. there is nothing particularly wrong with the food, it's fine enough although not as good looking as the restaurant's web photography makes out.

the problem was the service. the place was full and there were two or three big tables (8 people). clearly the restaurant had taken those bookings on the basis that the kitchen could cope, but from our experience the kitchen and the waiters were unable to do so. we were seated at 2040 and left two hours later having had a starter and a main and had just been offered a menu card for dessert. the gap between starter and main was eternal. the couple on the next table threw a wobbly when their mains eventually arrived. we should have done too but were too hungry by then to bother. I should say that we would happily have had cheese and a dessert but everything had taken so long that we didn't have time and had no idea whether that might take another hour or two.

so, after 2 hours we had had half a meal, and we ordered the bill. despite the obviously ridiculous delays, they were happy to present us (after another delay) with a bill, with 12.5% service charge added to it. we made it clear how dreadful our experience had been and they came back with two pre-dinner drinks removed and no service added. thinking back, it was bad enough that we shouldn't really have paid at all, save perhaps for the bottle of wine.

all in all, a shabby experience. those tempted to go in should consider trying the pub next door instead.
Comment on this reader review

ateit - View all reviews by this user
4 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 2
Monday, March 16, 2009

Made my fifth visit to Le Vacherin for my birthday on November 8th and once again it was superb. This is REAL dining: an excellent menu, relaxed but knowledgable waiters, great decor. I really can't fault this place on anything at all.

Even lunch with my mother was a success: a minor miracle! Can't wait to return...
Comment on this reader review

Simon Patterson
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, November 24, 2008

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!
Comment on this reader review

A London-based Northern European Embassy
9 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.
Comment on this reader review

C.F. Barnett
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Friday, July 11, 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!!!!
Comment on this reader review

Archie Halford
10 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.
Comment on this reader review

4 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 3
Sunday, March 16, 2008