The Investment in Joel Robuchon
Ambience
Cuisine
Cuisine
Service
Value for Money
Value for Money
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L'Atelier de Joel Rubochon must have taken over an old sushi bar, and that's not where the similarity ends. You can also spend a lot of money in a little time and wonder if it was worth it.
In our case, we decided it wasn't, even though the food was absolutely delicious. But at £75/person (on an alcohol-free night), I want a little more.
For example, I want a chair as opposed to a stool, and ideally one that supports my back. And in that comfortable chair, I want a sort-of-leisurely dinner.
But beyond that, there's no fault to be found (except for an early, slightly snarky comment from our server, who turned out to be pleasant enough).
The downstairs restaurant has what open kitchens aspire to be - in this case, an extension of the stylish, dark restaurant where the cooking takes place. Food decorates both halves of the space, with an emphasis on the colour red. It's pretty sexy. A bright accent wall covered in living green plants provides a contrast and makes you properly confused as to what's going on outside. Is it dark yet? Did the rain start falling?
At the suggestion of our pleasant-enough server, we shared everything, and started with Iberian ham, painstakingly cut by a woman visible in the kitchen. It was simple and delicious. A langoustine fritter followed, which was consumed in all of four perfect bites (making each bite approximately £3). We also loved the clams stuffed with garlic and mushrooms, but my husband didn't love the bed of rock salt on which they rested (warning free). We shared two main courses - a boat of a courgette filled with mozzarella, sundried tomatoes and olives - one of the best vegetarian options we've ever had. Then, just as we were complaining that the value for money wasn't exactly there, we received our shared lamb cutlets - with a fourth cutlet thrown in for free.
Leaving without dessert would have been the wrong thing to do, despite being stuffed. And there it was - a chocolate thing with some more chocolate - topped with Oreo crumbs. Oreo crumbs!
I don't know much about Joel Robuchon, but he clearly has sense of humour - which I am sure keeps him laughing all the way to the bank.
For example, I want a chair as opposed to a stool, and ideally one that supports my back. And in that comfortable chair, I want a sort-of-leisurely dinner.
But beyond that, there's no fault to be found (except for an early, slightly snarky comment from our server, who turned out to be pleasant enough).
The downstairs restaurant has what open kitchens aspire to be - in this case, an extension of the stylish, dark restaurant where the cooking takes place. Food decorates both halves of the space, with an emphasis on the colour red. It's pretty sexy. A bright accent wall covered in living green plants provides a contrast and makes you properly confused as to what's going on outside. Is it dark yet? Did the rain start falling?
At the suggestion of our pleasant-enough server, we shared everything, and started with Iberian ham, painstakingly cut by a woman visible in the kitchen. It was simple and delicious. A langoustine fritter followed, which was consumed in all of four perfect bites (making each bite approximately £3). We also loved the clams stuffed with garlic and mushrooms, but my husband didn't love the bed of rock salt on which they rested (warning free). We shared two main courses - a boat of a courgette filled with mozzarella, sundried tomatoes and olives - one of the best vegetarian options we've ever had. Then, just as we were complaining that the value for money wasn't exactly there, we received our shared lamb cutlets - with a fourth cutlet thrown in for free.
Leaving without dessert would have been the wrong thing to do, despite being stuffed. And there it was - a chocolate thing with some more chocolate - topped with Oreo crumbs. Oreo crumbs!
I don't know much about Joel Robuchon, but he clearly has sense of humour - which I am sure keeps him laughing all the way to the bank.
Here Is The Writer : Sarah Western Balzer
Sarah Western Balzer is the managing director of HITC Life and is always on the lookout for reader-writers, so if you'd like to be one, make yourself known (sarah.western@hereisthecity.com). Sarah moved to London six years ago from New York but is originally from Florida, and still suntans like it's 1989. She is so grateful to the banker who introduced her to Here Is The City that she married him, and they live in Wapping with their son.
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