Le Gothique

Like the last reviewer i also approached with tredidation, having read good and bad reviews. Alas, my experience concurs with the bad ones. There are many other places to eat around here, go to them!

Our complaints? Grubby environment, lacklustre staff, food that we could'nt really be bothered eating, it was ok, but certainly not worth the prices. You can eat better food, in better places, with better staff, for less money and have a much better time. Shame, because it could be (and I am told, used to be about 8 years ago) a much better place. I guess it's lost it.
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Chris
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 1
Wednesday, August 02, 2006

My husband and I recently visited Le Gothique with some trepidation, having read both the good and bad reviews on this site.

We were seated outside in the courtyard garden, which has a fabulous atmosphere and beautiful surroundings. The food was lovely - especially the tarte tatin - and the service was attentive and very friendly. The interior of the restaurant also seemed quirky and interesting, from what we saw as we walked around.

No sign of the raucous locals mentioned in some reviews; the place was about two-thirds full and the atmosphere was lively but not intimidating.

The toilets were a little under par, of the quality more often found in a pub than a restaurant. And we wished we had taken an A to Z instead of just the map on the restaurant's website, as we got horribly lost.

Still, I would highly recommend this restaurant and think it is definitely worth the trip!
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Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, July 11, 2006

I always like the idea of supporting privately owned restaurants believing that the service is more passionate.Match this with the added quirkiness of a uniquely designed environment and personalised service all the required ingredients in the making of a good evening.

The Gothique certainly fits this criteria,There is no better place to eat in London at this time of year. Which has spurred me reluctantly to share my secret so that others can enjoy it as well. Our evening could not have been better the tranquility of the enclosed courtyard made a wonderful setting to enjoy the food and convivial atmosphere. I visit this restaurant occassionaly and the food is always good although you tend to stick to your favourites The Rack of Lamb and the Tart Tatin you would go along way to beat the quality,and always consistently good, plenty of it too. I have always found the staff extremely friendly stopping to talk in a genuine manner, and I have had the occassional free drink enabling the conversation to flow even more!. After all we all like to be recognised and made to feel that we are welcome and special.
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Suzie.Steward
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 6
Wednesday, July 05, 2006

Oh dear. Why oh why did I not read the reviews before I went? We all thought it was awful. Yes, the staff really are as surly as most of the reviewers say, the food is as mediocre as has been suggested, yes it is grubby and the locals in the bar are raucous. I had lunch in Le Gavroche in Mayfair the week before this, it cost the same and was lightyears away in all possible ways. There was also no rude owner, no rowdy locals at the bar (but then again, Le Gavroche, unlike Le Gothique, is not in the middle of a council estate!). It's just a disaster.
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Humphrey DeLyle.
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 1
Wednesday, July 05, 2006

Le Gothique has gone downhill, if tonight's meal was anything to go by.

First, I ordered drinks - a pint of bitter, bottle of cider, 2 small glasses of wine, one lemonade - it came to £18! I was too shocked to even argue. And the barman seemed completely distracted during the transaction. The locals in the bar didn't help either - you could hear fooking this and fooking that, not what you want in a dinner at a French resataurant.The food itself wasn't bad, not too different to previous happier occasions, but portions small and rather mean. Service was again distracted, and you could hear other diners complaining. It just didn't seem good. On the way out the proprietor was having an argument with the chef over the quality of the kitchen's output. An off day, maybe, but I don't think we'll be going back.
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Julian Bassett - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 3
Thursday, June 29, 2006

Thank goodness that it was a nice night and my wife and I could sit outside as that was the ONLY saving grace of Le Gothique.

The food was average at best, we tried the 3 courses for £25. The quality of the food was not worth £15 let alone £25, I will not go into the gory details but would just advise people to give this a miss and save your money.

The attention to detail was non existant and the waiting staff surly and uninterested.

It's a shame as the outdoor restaurant is pretty unique and it would not be difficult to turn this restaurant around.

Inside it looks tired, dingy and past its sell by date.

My wife summed it up as the kind of place that would be great TV on Ramsey's kitchen nightmares.
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Dave
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 2
Thursday, June 08, 2006

An old show-horse, been around for years and cant quite jump the smaller jumps any more, never mind bechers brook.

It really felt like a function venue on it's day off, staff were surly and tired looking, customers seemed bored and the food was tired.

If i ever sit down to tooth chilling terrine, sour chutney, chewy steak and hard chips again I shall assume i am in wetherspoons and am getting it all for 'two for a fiver', so will not be bothered about the price. At these prices though, served by staff who clearly wanted to be downstairs in the bar rather than upstairs, I shall have a minor stroke.
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Peter
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Wednesday, May 24, 2006

Shocked and truley disapointed with the customer service. Waiting staff in particular were very rude and uninviting. Not a place to go if you want to feel comfortable and satisfied when eating. I would not recomend this restaurant to anyone!
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Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Tuesday, April 04, 2006

Our party of six dined on a Monday night. Approaching the huge Gothic pile that is the Royal Victoria Patriotic Building can be quite daunting. Once insde a candlelit cloister leads you to the restaurant itself. Or rather the bar as the dining area is actually located on a mezzanine floor.

The back bar is constructed from what appears to be reclaimed church artifacts. A huge plaster sculpture adorns the opposite wall and a pulpit doubles as a depository for hats and umbrellas. All this sits rather incongruously with the rest of the decor which is more Cafe Rouge than Victorian Gothic.

The menus are presented in buff folders that also give an account of the history of the buiding. Amongst the historical detail the most surprising fact is that the restaurant itself has been in operation for 20 years. I have to admit this was my first visit and I live locally. The menu is uncompromisingly french bistro. You half expect the chap from 'allo, allo' to take your order. With six in our party we were able to order a variety of starters and mains which I think have given us a good overview of the capabilities of the kitchen.

Our starters of fish soup, rabbit terrine, smoked haddock, onion soup and snails all came swiftly. One of my guests has an appartment in Nice and commented that the fish soup which came with a separate plate full of croutons, ailoi, and grated cheese, was identical to that he had been served in France. So full marks for authenticity then. My rabbit terrine appeared to be more pork than rabbit although I was taken by the apple and raisin chutney that it came with. The haddock was flaked and came in an almost soup-like sauce. Best marks were reserved for the french onion soup which rather showily arrived inside it's own cottage loaf.

Our main courses came to the table almost as the starters were cleared which was ridiculous although in hindsight we should have simply asked for a five minute break. My friend with the flat in Nice commented that each dish came with an identical but pointless herbed half tomato garnish. But that it was entirely in keeping with restaurants of this standard in France. I must admit to being instantly envious of my companions who ordered the venison and lamb casseroles. Both came to the table in their own cast-iron cruset pots. The presentation alone made my entrecote look a little sad. Needless to say it was the boys who ordered the big casseroles and they were richly rewarded. Us girlies had to make do with our selections. Farmed sea bass however well cooked is simply that, farmed and rather flavourless. However, full marks to the chef who did at least cook it to perfection and place a rather nice buerre blanc sauce upon it. The skewered red snapper and tiger prawns looked and tasted a lot more appetising. Although it must be noted this fish dish used the identical sauce to my sea bass.

Diet conscious women meant that only three desserts were taken by our table of 6. But jealously soon ensued as the tart tatin was the best I have ever tasted. It came with it's own shot of calvados. But I was only allowed one spoonful as I had foolishly passed on the puddings. The chocolatey roulade and sponge thing with a liquid centre also looked good. But it was the tart tatin that was the star turn.

I word on the wine list which is heavy on it's french content from one of my male companions was that hidden amongst the heavily marked up cheapies were one or two "little gems". Notably a ten year old Chateauneuf du Pape and a heavyweight white burgundy from St. Veran. Having said that we still plumped for the house red and white. Our meal for six came to £240. I reckon that's par for the course in Battersea these days.
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susan
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, January 10, 2006