All reader reviews by Franco

La Buvette

A visit last Tuesday evening was a welcome treat. As ever, La Buvette comes out on top for just about everything: sheer professionalism, friendliness, quality, and excellent value for money.

Have been to this gem of a restaurant many times now, and it loses nothing with familiarity. If anything, it's very nice (and a great relief) to find a place that is so reliable in Richmond.

Richmond is difficult when it comes to eating out, as too many premises rely on the mystique of the nearby river and the proliferation of noisy bars and clubs to paper over the cracks in what they offer.

La Buvette is quietly and pleasantly run, and the perfect place for an evening or lunchtime that will pamper your tastebuds and not bankrupt you.

Long may it thrive. It deserves every one of the many excellent reviews on this site.

Friday, October 02, 2009
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10

Tootsies (Richmond)

The sad thing about Tootsies is that the place has one of the nicest locations in Richmond. It directly overlooks the Thames, and gets evening sunlight. It should be lovely. It isn't. It's decidedly average.

The staff are pleasant enough, certainly - but that's a basic entitlement, and the lasting impression is that the place is just not very efficient, and frankly mediocre.

It's just not good enough.

We were there midweek, and fully aware that the place can be very busy. That's no excuse. In a place that must have upwards of 200 covers, efficiency is as important as public relations.

There was a birthday party of about 25 people, and a few other tables occupied, so it wasn't exactly rushed off its feet. The time it took to get fed dispelled any allowances one might have been prepared to make, and the manager's apology -which was genuine - unfortunately sounded as though it had been delivered a little too often to inspire confidence in the place.

Chains like this have an immediate advantage - they are so huge, and their turnover is so great that a few gripes don't matter to them, never mind what they might say to the contrary. Most of their trade is 'passing' and probably won't ever bother again. Which all makes it even sadder.

Save your money as it isn't particularly cheap (the wines are too pricey for a place like this) and go to a safe bet like Pizza Express round the corner.

Richmond deserves better than Tootsies. It can only be the extortionate overheads in the borough that seem permanently to exclude anything really good. One day, perhaps ...

Saturday, April 11, 2009
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 2