Wow. I really ended up abandoning this. I'm sorry, foodie followers, but a pesky thing called real life got into the way more than it should have done. However, I'm back with more reviews, more deals and more advice ... I hope!
So last week I ended up at Le Bouchon Bordelais, a restaurant I have wanted to try for quite some time. I'm a fan of French food - I lived there for a year - and so the idea of good, French food at affordable prices ticked every box and then some.
Toptable has some great deals to start with - 50% off food on most nights, a complimentary cocktail, toptable Tuesday (50% off no matter what time you eat). It's really worth taking a look on there. They also have some great set menus and it was this that we chose for our culinary expedition.
The restaurant is French, from the posters on the wall to the slightly knackered looking dark wood furniture. It all comes together to remind you of a Parisian brasserie and it does this very well. When I rang, the person taking the bookings spoke to me in French - don't worry, he does speak English! - and it made me look forward to the evening ahead. Upon arriving, I saw a big, scrubbed wooden table with lots of cheese on (winner!) and got escorted to a lovely table near the front.
The food is good. No photos this time - I was so hungry I didn't pause to take photos - and the set menu was really good. French onion soup with gruyere cheese & a crouton for starter, chicken brochettes with frites & salad for main and a delicious - and large! - creme brulee for dessert. It was all very tasty, the only criticism I would have is that the chicken was slightly undercooked on the skewers and this made one of my friends very uncomfortable.
We did get overcharged on the bill - we drank tap water not bottled - but they were very quick to remove it and apologise. All in all, a great meal with friends! The food was served quickly and piping hot, the staff were delightful and the atmosphere in the restaurant was enough to make conversation flow easily. Apart from food envy for the couple eating the chateaubriand, I couldn't have expected anything more for £20.
Vitals
Le Bouchon Bordelais
5 - 9 Battersea Rise, Battersea, London, SW11 1HG
Tel: 020 7738 0307
Website: http://www.lebouchon.co.uk/index.php
Nearest tube: Clapham Junction Station
