It has been a long time since I last dined at a Malcolm John restaurant, back when his duo of restaurants in Croydon ‘Le Cassoulet’ and ‘Fish & Grill’ were still around. Of course, this was before the recession when the restaurant industry was booming and there was plenty of money to go around, even in less fashionable areas in South London. Le Cassoulet has sadly closed down and Fish & Grill was subsequently rebranded as Brasserie Vacherin, incorporating the bistro style menu served at the former. Nevertheless, his flagship restaurant in Chiswick has come out unscathed and had recently received a refurbishment.
Good Dinner at Le Vacherin. We had a great dinner at Le Vacherin recently. I had chicken liver and foie gras paté, aged rib eye steak and a delicious Venezulan chocolate fondant. It was very dark and rich and had an excellent flavour. The service was very attentive and the restaurant was well lit and attractively furnished.
The food was excellent for most of our dishes (bare in mind it's a pricey venue), but some were disappointing - one starter with scallops had 2 miniscule bits of fish (it felt mean), one of our desserts (apple fritters) had industrial ice cream (the other, home made vacherin cheese ice cream). It was also sad that our nice bottle of red wine was let down by glasses that smelled of the dishwasher. Despite all this we did enjoy ourselves, I just hope it can pick up on the details
I would certainly come back to Le Vacherin when I'm in the mood for classic french food, the food is great and the service is also good. The food was faultless and full of flavour and good ingredients. The restaurant was filled and apparent that it must be a popular place to dine in Chiswick. It is clear a lot of effort and attention has been put into the dishes at Le Vacherin producing high quality, faultless dishes.
There might have been a few small niggles here and there, but this was a sound and thoroughly enjoyable meal. The cooking was solid, and the produce used was excellent. And to have truffle in each course with wonderful matching wines for only £85, including service, was excellent value.
If ever they come for me in the middle of the night – figures round the bed, door in splinters, torchlights red on sweaty face – I know what I’ll fight them for. I know what’ll get me wriggling and writhing, the thought that’ll fling me out the door, unsh
I started with the warm salad of hand dived scallops, black pudding and Ayrshire bacon. This was a bed of dressed lettuce leaves topped with four tender scallops (four! wow!), two long streaky strips of bacon and a lump, for that is what it was, of squidg
Classic French at his best
I'm still amazed at the beautiful private party we attended and the service we received. Every steak was cooked perfectly to each person's preference despite being a completely full event.. Service was faultless, food was amazing.
Highly recommend.
Worthy of 6 stars… a warm and inviting welcome… thank you Marco and Claire… impeccable service and a menu so good you will be a returning patron… highly recommend.
My son got me a gift for father's day to come to have lunch here.
Very pleased with their service and food.
Thanks.
Lovely dinner with good cocktails excellent wine selection and superb desserts. I recommend the starters and desserts above the mains. Seasoning was a bit lacking in the main course- we got the chateaubriand. Carpaccio and Vacherin were delicious, and baked fig was unexpected treat. Do try the dessert wines! Bill for two just shy of £200, we will return to try the prix fix.
We tried out La Vacherin for my wife’s birthday lunch. Very comfortable restaurant offering some good French food. The snails and mussels were a great way to start along with the house bread and great salted butter. The steak was nicely cooked and the coq au vin was delicious. Great desserts too and friendly staff.
On the recommendation of a very foodie friend I took my wife for her birthday. Oh my Lord I wish we had found this place before. We had a sensational meal including loin of Venison topped off by a dessert of mango souffle which my wife is convinced was cooked by an angel. My turn to highly recommend.
Good food, good service, quite expensive. Waiter didn't know what a rusty nail cocktail was, even though it was on their menu. Waitress gave wrong dishes to us - they should know who ordered what.
Expensive yet very tasty restaurant! Been here many times and enjoyed the food every time. Escargots are a must try! Menu prix fixe is a true find. Highly recommend!
French cuisine presented impressively.
The service could do with some finessing. If you have just filled all the water glasses, why immediately ask if I want another bottle?
Ask me if I want red wine before you pour it.
That's courteous service. You may as well ask me 'do you want fries with that?'. At a place like this, I expect classier.
This was our third time coming to Le Vacherine together with mom. First two times we came for the set menu and were satisfied. This time we had à la carte.
General feeling of the restaurant is warm and welcoming: attractive classic decor, clean and with the loveliest staff. Especially we were touched by professionalism and sweetness of Marianna.
Now to the food. Overall it was a bit overpriced. We were very happy with the main course, cod and halibut and crème brûlée for dessert. But the scallops for appetizer were bland. The biggest disappointment was soufflé. 19£?! We ordered it anyway since it is mom’s favorite but what came… I am still in shock, sour, grainy. Just awful.
Please adjust the price and taste on the soufflé. It was very disappointing.
We will come back again to the restaurant but probably for the set menu.
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