Le Gavroche [London]

[Tweety2004]

hi, i have a reservation for le gavroche for a saturday dinner in 2 weeks time. it was so hard to secure a reservation even though i emailed them 2 months ahead of time. then i found this forum and it seems that there are mixed comments about this restaurant, but leaning more towards the unsatifactory side.

so my questions are: is it still worth trying out le gavroche when i have only 3 days in london? is it really that bad? and if i do go, should i order a la carte or their menu exceptionelle??

[trueblu]

I last dined at Le Gavroche about a year ago, but I can say that at least then, it was still superb. Michel Roux was in the kitchen every time I've gone, but I would guess that it's probably excellent even when he's not there.
It is a rather diff experience to many other establishments. It is v. old fashioned, and the decor probably hasn't changed much in 20+ years. The food is of outstanding quality, but there is no pushing of the envelope.

The cheese souffle is justifiably famous, but many other dishes also stand out: the soups are invariably excellent, the veal is just out of this world. My last meal I had grouse for the first time, which was v. gamey indeed. The most disappointing dish I've had there was some rabbit dish, which was good, but not outstanding. The desserts, other than the cheese are good, but no more -- but I'm not a dessert person.

I've not had the lunch there, but I think it's probably superb value. As a restaurant, it's much, much better than the Square, which another poster mentioned.

It's not an inexpensive dining option, but it's no more expensive than many other London choices, and I for one rather like the atmosphere. However, if you're really anti-stuffy, it's not for you.

tb

[Harters]

I am prejudiced against restaurants which are so old-fashioned that they still require men to wear jackets and will not eat in one, so I've no first hand experience of Gavroche.

However, I'd suggest that there must be much to recommend it, for someone without my prejudices - one of only a handful of UK restaurants with Michelin 2*, the country's 7th best restaurant as listed by the current Good Food Guide. It also continues to be completely praised, by recentish diners, on the UK forum of another well known discussion board. Similarly, praise is heaped upon it by contributors, this month, to the capital's two principal review sites.

I've used the search facility and have to say I can't find any recent posts which indicate the experience may be unstatisfactory. I'd be interested to see who said what - could you link please.

John

[limster]

Sounds like this post: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/7284...

[Harters]

Thanks for that. The OP will have to weigh that negative comment against the positives posted elsewhere than Chowhound.

[limster]

The best is just simply to try it out and directly answer the question for oneself. Do it over lunch, which is probably less of an investment.

[Tweety2004]

sorry, i have the memory of reading that the food standard was slipping, and only the cheese souffle was great, and even service standard has deteriorated with the new maitre d'hotel, these may not be from this forum but some blogpost which i've read in the very frist stage of my planning (eg. http://fatrobinreviews.blogspot.com/2...). the link that limster posted kind of just add to my worry, that's why i asked the quesion.

and i think limster is right... i'll go and try for myself. i wish i could do lunch there, but my lunches are already fully scheduled, and my reservation is for dinner. but that's a good suggestion still, so i will see if i could swap things around. thanks for the recommendation for lunch.

[Tweety2004]

oop, the link should be:

http://fatrobinreviews.blogspot.com/2...

[PhilD]

Try Felix Hirsch's site - Felix eats at a lot of the top places in London which are unfortunately under-represented on the board(http://felixhirsch.wordpress.com/2009...). His summary:

"Overall I was quite astonished. This meal was a sound 2* experience. I can’t see why many in England claim it to be 3*, but the overall quality of the cooking, and products was much higher than I’d have hoped it to be. Despite the fact that Michel Roux Jr. wasn’t in the kitchen (which shouldn’t change a thing btw), I had a very enjoyable, very English time. I think that this is a place, which everyone who comes to London for a while should visit, not so much for the food only, but rather for the whole experience. I doubt that one will find a place more British than this, with better food. It is really hard to find any faults in the meal we had, the only one being the very slight overcooking of the pheasant, but apart from that, this was a perfect meal. If one enjoys such a cuisine is another question. I certainly did hugely enjoy the food, even if it isn’t anything that will engage you intellectually or will blow you away.

Ah yes, in terms of pricing the whole thing seems rather fair. A lunch (with half a bottle of wine, water and a possibly a coffee) is no more than £48,60, whilst alc prices are around £100. What is incredibly fairly priced, is the wine list. Here one finds treasures at great prices. Glasses of wine start at a very fair £5, and a glass of 1989 Yquem (125ml) is no more than £90."

[limster]

125ml of the '89 d'Yquem at £90 is roughly 1.5-2x markup, which is probably not a rip-off but not a steal either, although I know restaurants to markup wines less on the higher end (e.g. some of the most expensive stuff on La Trompette's wine list are barely above retail). How much do they charge for '90 d'Yquem?

[Tweety2004]

"I had a very enjoyable, very English time. "

thanks phil... without trying out for oneself, it's quite hard to know which blogger to follow. i quite like foodsnob but most of his entries for restaurants which i want to try were from early 2009 or before, and i try to look for more recent comments on these restaurants.

anyway, i thought le gavroche is a very french restaurant, wonder why felix is having a very "english time". if that is true, it would be very worthwhile for me to go. i just don't want any ordinary french restaurant 'cos i'll be spending the bulk of my holiday in france this time, and should be having plenty of good french food anyway.

[PhilD]

Given the French part of your trip it may be better to try the modern British style (albeit still with French influences). The Ledbury in London is getting many plaudits and is in the vanguard of the UK restaurant scene (although an Aussie chef).

If you can spare the time jump on the train and head to The Sportsman in Seasalter near Whitstable. It isn't a very long journey and very doable for the mid week degustation lunch. For me it is THE destination restaurant in the UK as Stephen Harris is cooking superb local food with real passion where the quality of the ingredients can shine through the simplicity of the dishes. It is a pub, it feels like a pub, but the food is better than many starred restaurants, and best of all Stephen is a great bloke who loves serving great food to his guests. Don't miss it, it can't stay this good for ever.

http://www.thesportsmanseasalter.co.uk/

[Tweety2004]

thanks phil... the ledbury is indeed on the top of my list and that won't go away for certain. i always have soft spot for aussie chef 'cos i've spent the best part of my life in sydney.

"If you can spare the time jump on the train and head to The Sportsman in Seasalter near Whitstable. "

i wish i could but i have only spending a short weekend in london, arriving on a Saturday and leaving on a Tuesday morning. it looks like that i have to give the tasting menu a miss. but would it be worthwhile to travel there for a sunday brunch/lunch? i could do a bit of an excursion on sunday i suppose. just have to back in london in the afternoon so i could take some sunset shots at the londone eyes.

[Nancy S.]

I would add The Square as well (The Ledbury's "sister"). I had a phenomenal meal there in March and an even better tasting dinner in June. If you decide not to go to The Sportsman (you may not have enough time if you want to return by the afternoon), I would go to The Harwood Arms for Sunday dinner. Reserve at all places as soon as possible -- they fill up fast.

[Tweety2004]

hi nancy, harwood arms is on my list for a sunday roast too. i was thinking of sunday lunch before considering the sportsman. would you say if i go to the sportsman, then i don't need to do harwood arms as they're similar sort of places??

[Nancy S.]

I don't think they are mutually exclusive. I love Harwood Arms, but it's not mind blowing cuisine. If it's a choice, I would probably pick The Sportsman, assuming timing is not a factor. If I were you, I would go to The Ledbury for Saturday (and have the tasting menu), meet Brett the chef, who is an owner of Harwood Arms as well. He's quite charming and will provide an introduction to Harwood Arms for you, most likely. Sunday I would have dinner at Harwood Arms. Monday night have dinner at The Square (again the tasting menu)..

[Tweety2004]

nancy: yes, in fact i'm going to the ledbury on saturday but i'm thinking of a la carte 'cos i'm having dinner at le gavroche the same night. however, i'm not sure if i should do it vice versa, i.e. tasting menu at ledbury and a la carate at le gavroche?!

Sunday, i think i will do what you suggest if i could get the timetable right, i.e. The Sportsman for lunch then light dinner at Harwood Arms.

Monday, I can't do the tasting menu at The Square 'cos i'm going to see a musical that night. Thinking either St John or Hereford Street for lunch, then either Golden Hind as pre-theatre or Quilon as post-theatre. Hard choices there again!

[zuriga1]

We've been to the Sportsman and not had the tasting menu. It's still very worth the trip as the food is really wonderful, but book ahead.

[Tweety2004]

thank you zuriga... sunday excursion it will be then... but could anyone tell me how to get there? their website doesn't seem to state the nearest train station etc and i don't have a car.

[Nancy S.]

I think you can take the train from Victoria Station and then a cab. You probably won't be that hungry for dinner, so Harwood Arms for a snack and a dessert would be perfect, at least for me!

[Tweety2004]

thanks nancy, will i be able to get the ticket on the day at the station? or will have to make a reservation for the train ride?

[greedygirl]

Train to Whitstable then a short cab journey. I think you can get to Whitstable from St Pancras or Victoria, but you should check. You won't need to reserve, but try to travel after 10 or it will cost you a fortune!

[mr_gimlet]

this is all very laudable, but when the OP is only in London for three days is it worth writing off one of them on a dull train journey through Kent for an admittedly excellent lunch?

I realise the Sportsman is a big favourite on the Board, but a reality check please!