Le Gothique

We received a flyer through our door for this restaurant last night and decided to try it, as it was so close. Le Gothique turned out to be about 10 minutes away from our house and proved itself to be a pleasant neighbourhood restaurant.

Service was warm and friendly throughout the evening,and the restaurant/bar area on the ground floor, where we were seated, had a cosy, relaxed atmosphere. There was no-one sitting upstairs and it looked a bit gloomy up there.

Bread and butter were a bit of a disappointing start - pappy "par-baked" french bread and overly soft butter - a shame as there are plenty of good bread suppliers out there! The menu was very French - starters included frogs legs, warm goat's cheese salad, pate, etc - and being pregnant there were quite a few items that I couldn't have - but our waiter was very accommodating and said I was welcome to choose a started I liked to combine with the set menu. The mains on the set menu were sausages and mash, fishcakes, beef casserole and roast lamb, whilst the a la carte mains were rather more elaborate sounding and with prices to match (rising to some £19 - and the 3-course set menu was only £20).

My husband chose a crab salad starter and I had whisky smoked salmon with cucumber relish. Both were fresh looking and prettily garnished - the crab with dressed mixed leaves and marie-rose dipping sauce, and my salmon with twists of cucumber, cherry tomato halves and quenelles of relish. If I was quibbling I'd say that the tomatoes were unnecessary and some other fresh crunchy garnish would have suited the salmon, and I would have like some brown bread to go with it. However, the the salmon was very tasty (tho I confess I wasn't overwhelmed with any whisky flavour), a good sized portion, and the relish was delicious. My husband wolfed down his crab and actually looked a bit sad that he couldn't eat the shell.

Food service was a little slow throughout the meal, but we were quite happy to chat about the building and its history, which was detailed on the back of the menu. For mains I chose the Arbroath fishcake with tartare sauce. My husband went for an item described as "beef casserole" on the set menu - upon further consultation we were told it was "boiled beef in a red wine sauce" but I assumed that it would be a classic beef stew and that the beef wouldn't arrive looking like a ragged shadow of its former self. Thank goodness I was right - the beef had been braised in a rich sauce which had a slightly sweet flavour - probably due to the type of wine used - and was very tasty. It was served with steamed peeled baby potatoes and green beans - and another slightly unnecessary cherry tomato garnish. My main course came as one large fishcake - I always think it's nicer to serve 2 smaller ones as you get more crunchy coating and it looks nicer, but then that's more work for the kitchen of course. The filling was fluffy and light, and I did find the odd bone in it - but this didn't really bother me. It came with lots of mixed dressed leaves and a flavoursome tartare sauce, made with proper caper berries for a change. I thought the whole dish could have done with some more herbs - in both the cake and the sauce - but it was a tasty, filling plateful. Incidentally I saw the roast lamb main on its way to another table and it looked generous and nicely cooked, so perhaps one to try another time.

For dessert (my husband commented that there were lots of things on the sweet menu that he'd like to try, and this in itself was unusual - I would agree) I went off the set menu again and opted for the crepes suzettes, my favourite dessert of all time - but alas they'd run out - a bit annoying as the waiter should have been told before he brought the menu to us. I ordered rum raisin ice cream instead which was very good, a generous portion and actually served at the correct temperature, a rare thing. My only quibble here was that it came inexplicably drizzled with raspberry coulis - a waste of money and effort as it just interfered with the pure flavour of the ice cream. My husband had the French cheese selection - which all looked ripe enough to start singing and dancing, never mind running off the plate. From memory I think there was a hard cheese, a chevre rolled in ash, a brie and possibly a reblochon or some other yellow rinded cheese - these were garnished with crisp biscuits, walnuts and grapes. My husband loves his cheese and he seemed very satisfied with this plate.

Overall we enjoyed everything and expect to return. Le Gothique offered good value without trying too hard and I liked the relaxed, informal feel of the place.
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Robyn
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Wednesday, April 16, 2008

I entered with trepidation, having got horribly lost en route (don't rely on multimap, ring ahead to get correct directions), through a council estate.

Don't be put off. The place is a real find. Once you're nestled inside the beautiful courtyard, it really doesn't matter (and you can't see the estate that so many have moaned about on this review page before me).

The food was delicious, as was the wine. The service was attentive but not overly pushy. The lighting and decor really added to the ambience.

If you're going to a restaurant for the quality of its toilets, you may be slightly dissapointed.

Worth the money, but GET DIRECTIONS FROM THEM DIRECTLY!!!!
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Philippa
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Friday, August 31, 2007

My partner and I went for dinner last night and whilst the reviews can be negative we had a wonderful meal, food divine! I tried the goats cheese for starter and simply mouthwatering divine. The brocoli tarte for main wonderful, gorgeous and the most amazing chocolate foudant desert! Perfect meal in very romantic settings, we dined in the courtyard and were not disappointed.

Staff very friendly and no sign of mouthy lads after work, great peaceful place to dine with a difference.
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Margaretia
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Thursday, August 02, 2007

OK, so I heard that this restaurant has had an overhaul. I live locally and I thought that I would go and find out for myself. I had been once before, a couple of years ago and I thought it was, well, average to poor and very expensive for the quality of food on offer.

It certainly looked different, not to my taste, unusual, but different. Alas, as before, the first impressions are of a grubby hallway and, really, seriously substandard toilets for a restaurant in London in this century. The bar area has been considerably smartened up, however, and was much enjoyed by the rest of my group. The restaurant seemed to have had a clean up as well.

The one thing which stuck in my mind from the last visit was the seriously grumpy staff and I detected a lightening of the mood there, although I would not go as far as to say that they were welcoming.

Now the food. And, my dear, the prices. The food was OK. Nothing to write home about, nothing above a 1980's average for a suburban bistro. Nothing to compare to Chez Bruce and Ransomes Dock.....apart from the prices which were very, very expensive. Now, let me get this straight, I have paid much, much more, and much, much less in London, for a quality of food which has matched the price, but here I felt that the quality was so far disproportionate to the cost that I felt considerably short changed.

So, adequate grub, standard Burger King service. Below par wine list, grubby loos. Sorry, Le Gothique, but for me, you did not make the cut. And, looking around at a very quiet dining room, you did not for many other people either.
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Peter Hargreaves.
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 0
Friday, July 13, 2007

We held our son's christening lunch on 1 July in the courtyard at Le Gothique, which turned out to be an inspired choice of venue.

The buffet lunch was first rate (the piece de resistance being a succulent poached salmon) and the large contingent of 10 or so children with us tucked into tasty sausages and chips.

The courtyard is an ideal location for children to play in as it is large and safe, so the grown ups could enjoy their lunch in pleasant surroundings with peace of mind.

The draft Shepherd Neame ales also went down extremely well and in large quantities.

Whilst it may or may not have been the proprietor's original intention to run a truly great restaurant for families, Mark Justin has certainly achieved it.
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Jim Dennis
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Monday, July 02, 2007

I ve been lately to this charming place with a couple of friends, and we were astonished by the meal we had overthere. Starters to desserts were simply gorgeous, pleasure shared beetwen eyes and palates, one tips try the scallops suggary cauliflower mash and a musroom sauce cheap as you can't believe from the so supposed standard of this building. Definitely we ll go back.
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dean
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 7
Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Le Gothique seems to have undergone a spring clean since our last visit. The garden is as lovely as ever but the downstairs bar area is entirelty repainted and now has a "clubby" feel with deep leather dining chairs and huge thick solid oak wooden tables. We ate from both the £17.50 menu (up from £15 on our last visit) and the a la carte . The onion soup served in a cottage loaf is still there so is the pork and rabbit terrine. Both mainstays of the old menu. But there is evidence of a new pair of hands in the kitchen? My "three mash" sea bass was wonderfully presented one spoon of celeriac mash, one of carrot infused mash, and one with a hint of garlic served with a smallish fillet of crispy skinned sea-bass. This was one of three specials on the menu which has lost it's long a la carte in favour of a slimmed down version plus daily specials. My last visit was in 2006 and although I liked it then, this is somewhat of an improvement. Hence my suspicion of a new influence in the kitchen. Our desserts, a chocolate fondant with liquid centre and a perfectly executed tart tatin were served with a complimentary dessert wine and a shot of calvados. Go now while these guys are out to impress with both quality AND price.
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Susan - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, May 23, 2007

DO NOT GO TO THIS RESTAURANT!! It is truly awful. I always read the reviews on London-eating before i go to a restaurant but unfortunately did not for this one.

We thought it would be a good experience as the building is really beautiful. We went at 8pm on Saturday night and there was one table and us in there. There was one waitress running around, I seriously do not know if she even had teeth as she did not smile once. In fact she was rude. I thought, "ok hopefully the food will redeem this place" It was disgusting!!!!!!!. I had a leg of Duck which was burnt and horribly put together on a plate with red cabbage and pale pasty baked beans...... My boyfriend had apple tart which was also burnt and you couldn't even cut the pastry, it was just stuck as one piece. We paid £66 for the worst meal ever. The restaurant was really shabby and dirty and it reminded me of a hotel in the middle of nowhere that hadn't been renovated for about 20 years.

Possible the worst restaurant experience Iv ever had.
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Elaine
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Tuesday, April 03, 2007

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