La Buvette

I last visited La Buvette in the summer and had a lovely time in their courtyard with my partner on a Saturday afternoon. My work colleagues and I got together just before Christmas and they looked after our party of 16 very well. We ate off their prix fixe menu which was fantastic value for money and it offered plenty for quite a difficult bunch. Service was charming. Can't wait to get back there when the weather warms up to enjoy there beautiful courtyard.
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Laura
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Monday, January 05, 2009

Just what you want for an intimate night out. Very French, surprisingly helpful staff who offer a warm welcome. Very comforting "bistro" type food - very satisfying as the cooler days set in, with a lovely terrace to finish off your coffee on. Very reasonably priced and an easily understood very French wine list.
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Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Friday, October 17, 2008

I last went here about six months ago and things have changed for the better. Before it was good and as before, good, tasty French tucker was on offer. The people and ambience seemed different. Notably a younger crowd than before, creating a different "buzz", with not too many business lunches. Ladies that lunch seemed to be the dominant force. They were kept in check by a small team of lively young people who seemed rather gracious in doing the job they had chosen to do. Just a great little place for an informal, friendly lunch.
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Sacha Rimmer
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Sunday, July 06, 2008

My boyfriend and I found this hidden gem on a day out in Richmond. He is always difficult to please, being a chef, but was enthusiastic about our lunch that was excellent value. Lovely garlicky snails, onglet steak (a French cut apparently) and a rich chocolate dessert to finish. Lovely petit fours ended the meal on a high note. Very busy for a mid-week lunch time with pleasant, restrained service. I look forward to returning in the warm weather to their courtyard area that I expect to be packed in the Summer. The room was a little noisy, but I suppose a small price to pay.
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Marion
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Friday, May 16, 2008

I went to this restraunt hoping to treat my fiance to a lovely meal. Instead i was left utterly dissapointed by the entire evening. I found the hostess to be extremely 'frumpy' and genuinely bad mannered.

The food was good however and was delighted with my snails and with my main course. The deserts were delightful but this may have been because we knew we were about to leave.

The hostess could not manage a smile all evening and i felt as though she was taking out her disappointment of her lowly career on us the paying public.
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Martin
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 5
Tuesday, February 05, 2008

This one takes a lot of beating.

It's in a charming and quiet location (right by Richmond's parish church), it's comfortable and cosy - practical, too, with a good use of the available space - and with none of the glacial and sterile nonsense that goes with a lot of modern restaurants. You can even hear yourself think, as the only extraneous noise is the conversation of your fellow-diners.

The staff (everyone from the Chef and Maitre D downwards) are unfailingly pleasant and polite, and genuinely enjoy praise. Nobody hassles you, but you are not forgotten about, either. In a word, the place is professional.

And the food is absolutely lovely.

Recent experience: a delicious salad of beetroot and green leaves with warm new potato and poached egg; belly pork that dissolved on the tongue, leaving a fabulous aftertaste, accompanied by new potatoes and choux-croute (I hope I've spelled this correctly, apologies if I haven't), all cooked to satisfying perfection; rounded off with a chocolate mousse, complete with liquor-drenched cherries submerged in its heart ... An utterly satisfying meal, and astonishingly good value at £17.95 a head.

For those whose alcohol capacity might be limited, for whatever reason, La Buvette is sensible enough to offer the option of half litres of wine from a very affordable £9.00.

This restaurant is a treasure, and it is to be valued and enjoyed. Long may it last.
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Francis Wright
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, January 31, 2008

Always a welcome, the service friendly and the wine list good. The food is out of this world. The desserts are yummy so make room for that too. Have to book in advance as they are always busy. The only trouble is that they don't take large bookings - mind you is that really a problem?
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Anne Harrison
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, October 23, 2007

La Buvette is a charming restaurant the food is fantastic & the service always spot on!
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Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, September 04, 2007

First visited this Summer and sat in a beautiful courtyard in the shadows of the town centre church. Food was summery & great value. Revisited last week on a packed Tuesday night. Food had shifted up a gear - great snails in garlic butter & a beautifully cooked fillet of beef. The other half just had a large crab salad & announced it deliciously fresh. Decent selection by the glass. Will definitely return
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ellis - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, February 01, 2007

I have lived in Richmond all my life and I am relieved that Buvette has arrived. Simple French food at great value prices.

Vive La France
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Debra Starr
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Friday, December 15, 2006