Le Cafe Anglais

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 6 reviews

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8 Porchester Gardens,
Bayswater,
London,
W2 4DB

0872 148 0077
Note: Calls cost 10p per min plus network extras.

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Le Cafe Anglais
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Reviewer Missweb
06/02/2011
I loved the décor of this restaurant, it was light and airy with a warming atmosphere. The waiters we very attentive but not intrusive. Initially I felt that the portion sizes were a little small but in saying this I ending up leaving food as I was totally full. All in all a very enjoyable experience, good food at a reasonable price.
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Reviewer TaraP
17/01/2011
We thought we were onto a winner when we first saw this place. We live in Holland Park which is only 5 minutes away and the restaurant menu looked varied and the place looks great. We were unfortunately however horrified. The service is so awful that i would not recommend this place to anyone. I complained to the manager and he said he'd come over to find out what was wrong. He didnt bother, even though he came to surrounding tables and looked straight at me but kept walking off. As we were leaving i thanked him for ignoring us and he shrugged and gave us a dirty look as we walked out. In light of the horrendous service, we were charged a £2 cover charge per person (i have not seen this in years) and 12.5% service charge (even though we complained about service they still added it on). We will never go back.
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Reviewer Ines806
18/03/2010
I've been going to Le Cafe Anglais since it opened it. I've always loved the food, the atmosfere and the great service. And for all of those reasons I've chose Le Cafe Anglais to celebrate by husband's 40th birthday. Unfortunately this time, the service and the atmosfere were great but the food not so much. The Menu served at the dinner was completely different from the one I had chosen the food from. The one that was served at the dinner, was full of ham. And I'm jewish. So, I have to say, not good. The canapes were not what I expected, they looked cheap and not tasty at all. The hors d'oeuvers were not enough. Tiny portions. My guests were saying :"do you mind if I have the artichokes, you can have the chicken liver".

When I throw a dinner party, I expected that my guests would be able to eat without feeling guilty. There were only 4 choices instead of 5. There was the saumon, the artichokes, rabbit and chicken liver. But no sign of the oysters! The main course was ok, but nothing special. The dessert was ok as well. The chocolate cake was the only thing wonderful. Overall, if that was my first time at Le Cafe Anglais, I wouldn't be coming back. For sure, I'll never be hosting a party there again, because it was extremely disappointing.

And the last thing, on the web site it is written that the host would have a complementary parking; each I was informed that "you do not do that anymore". So, it would be a great idea to remove it from your website. I'm at the restaurant business as well, so I know a lot about food cost, and I feel that 38.50 (chef's choice) + 4.50 (canapes) = £43 a head for what I got was soooooooooooo over the top! I wrote an email to the manager, and she didn't even bothered to get back to me.
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Reviewer daleboy
16/01/2010
My partner and I went to Cafe Anglais a week ago. We dined out to the tune of 251 pounds and had several courses. The service was over attentive initially which was fairly welcomed and then tailored off after a complaint over the main course. The chateaubriand which we ordered was supposed to be medium but arrived very rare and when returned had merely been flash fried and re-served. The mont blanc dessert was virtually inedible with a meringue base that could only be broken with a hammer and a glutinous sauce. The potatoe dauphiniose was also as equally hard. Several of the guests were dressed as though they had also just fallen out of a local back packers. All in all an over priced restaurant with a broad but patchy menu and variable service. Extremely disappointing for what was supposed to be a special night. A visit never to be repeated!
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Reviewer turnerw
31/07/2008
I know it is heresy to knock Rowley Leigh and his restaurant but the food really is variable. My first visit was just after the restaurant opened and I gave it the benefit of the doubt for mediocre service and mediocre food ( really, that rotisserie chicken is not that exciting and is extremely overpriced).

Months later the service has improved immeasurably and so have the appetisers and first courses. The Parmesan Custard with Anchovy Toast and the Pike Bourdin were delicious but my main course of pork sausages with lentils and mostarda - a strange take on two Italian dishes (cotechino and bollito misto con mostarda) -was truly disgusting and I sent it back. Whoever thought that cooking the lentils with the mostarda was a good idea?

To the restaurant's credit, I wasn't charged for the dish but this really isn't like a French brasserie at all but more like eating in an airport departure lounge (that carpet has to go!). Hereford Road, nearby, is far more exciting.
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Reviewer Nigel Green
30/07/2008
I went to Le Cafe Anglais for a private party. The room we dined in was more like a boardroom, than a dining room, with absolutely nothing personal or decorative in there, and the long blinds over the windows, completely obscured any view there might have been.

Before the food was served, we were served hors d'oeuvres
which consisted of a few cheese straws, and some radishes. We ate from a set menu, which lacked in imagination. There was no choice of starter, just asparagus all round, and for anyone who didn't like asparagus, it was hard luck.

There was a choice of overcooked fish or grey looking beef for the main course, plus a vegetarian option, which I think was aubergine.

This was followed by two plates of cheese and a few biscuits, which was supposed to go round twenty four people?

After the meal, a few of us decided we would like to smoke. We were directed to an outside area, where no ashtrays were provided. This turned out to be their car park. We were supposed to stand out there, inhaling vehicle exhausts in order to smoke and not bother fellow diners with our cigarette smoke. I somehow think the exhaust fumes did a lot more harm than our cigarettes would have done.

All in all, this restaurant did not provide a very good experience at all, and for the price we had to pay, I certainly would not dream of ever going back there.
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Reviewer Anonymous
07/11/2008
haven't you heard?- smoking is actually banned in the UK..Sounds like all the restaurant was doing was complying with the law. Seeing as you would not be allowed to smoke inside whitleys either, the car park would have been the nearest place to smoke!
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20/11/2009
As yours was a private party the menu served was entirely the choice of your hosts. Frankly, it is very antisocial of you to request to smoke in a restaurant. And how selfish and unhealthy. Do not criticise this restaurant in such a public manner. If you want to protest, speak quietly to your hosts. My personal view is to suggest that you examine instead your own behaviour and preferably behave in a less combative manner. If you want to smoke, stay at home. I suggest politely also that you amend or withdraw your comments. Your opinion is very biased and must be totally discounted. I am looking forward to dining at this same restaurant tomorrow and sincerely hope that I do not encounter fellow diners like you. People like you are totally hostile. Eat at home and do not inflict yourself on restaurants or fellow diners in future. You have not put me off.
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