Le Vacherin, Chiswick. Restaurant Review - March 2009
I was actually going to go to Kew to check out this Bistro that I’d seen when I was there getting guitar strings yesterday, but the weather turned and what I really needed was somewhere close by to eat.
In the interests of full disclosure I have to admit that I used to go to Le Vacherin a lot, usually for big decadent dinners instead of sensible Sunday lunches, but I haven’t been in a few years.
They are currently doing a “France for a tenner” deal; steak frites and a glass of wine for £9.95 (+ tip). It sounded much better than a tin of soup at home so I thought I’d brave the wind & rain and see how it stacked up.
The place can seem a bit daunting for a lunch destination. It is really nice inside, and unless it’s hugely busy the room by the entrance is usually empty, all the white table-clothes, cutlery and wine-glasses laid out everywhere made me a feel a bit out-of-place in jeans and an old, drenched, army parker.
The main dining room though, was reasonably full and had a great atmosphere. The standard cliche would be to say that it was a mixed crowd, but it wasn’t. A few families and larger groups but mostly the usual Chiswick clientele of older couples and friends.
Complimentary bread & butter was served within a couple of minutes. The butter was this anchovy & green peppercorn stuff they make and it is great, but could’ve done with 20 minutes out of the fridge before serving.
The rump steak was medium and had that great charcoal smell and flavour like it had just come off the bbq. Simply served with a thin gravy-ish sauce, it wasn’t a huge steak but was a good size for lunch. There was a choice of mustards to go with it.
The fries could’ve been crispier but overall, a cracking good meal which was finished off nicely with the free glass of wine - a Duras Cabernet from south-west France (Is that Vin-de-pays? I don’t know).
The real surprise was how quick the steak came! Honestly, I had ordered, eaten and could’ve got up & left within 30 minutes of stepping through the door. But a glass of wine and the fact it was still pouring with rain outside had left me in a more contemplative mood. In for a penny, in for a pound…
Another glass of wine and the desert menu sil-vous-plait…
I ordered a lemon tart for dessert which I can highly recommend.
Not too sweet, not too tart…
It really was a great desert, the filling wasn’t too eggy or heavy either.
So to conclude. For about £11, including tip, its a damn good, quick, steak, fries and glass of wine. If you’re like me and can’t really stop once you get started then go for the lemon tart but kiss the budget option good bye.
Total: £27 including water (when will I remember to order tap!), 2 glasses wine, dessert, coffee and tip.
The £10 meal option is available for lunch on weekends and dinner during the week.
Le Vacherin
76-77 South Parade
Chiswick W4 5LF