La Bouchee

I love this delightful little place. Not too expensive or formal. Good food. And whenever I go there (I return from living abroad now and again), the staff are quite pleasant.

Where do I start? I cannot believe there are any positive reviews about La Bouchee. Our experience was positively inexcuseable and a night I will not forget for all the wrong reasons! Unfortunately we can't rate the food as we never ate any!! Read on...
Last Friday it was our 38th wedding anniversary, and our daughter joined us. We came upon La Bouchee and stepped inside because it looked so inviting. It was 7.30pm and we were greeted by a not so friendly lady who said the table had to be back by 9pm. We had no problem with that and were seated. Drinks were ordered. But when they arrived she only then informed me that they didn't have what I ordereded which was 'Ricard', ( no pastis in a French restaurant!!!??). There wasn't a sorry and she shoved the menu back in my hands and said would you like a drink? So I decided to order a bottle of Saint Emilion Chateau Negrit- I hope you have this, I said jokingly. Well you've guessed it, she walked back minutes later to say they didn't have it... but the way I was told is laughable!- I'm afraid Sir you are being very unlucky tonight!! No smile, apology just indifference and shirtiness! So I plumped for the house Red..they had that.
Time for ordering starters and main courses, even though we had not been informed about the specials, unlike table behind. For starters- 2 jambon and asparagus and 1 potato soup. Ordered 7.45pm. But come 8.15pm I realised that the 2 couples who had entered after us were both eating and we still hadn't recieved our very quick to make starters. So my daughter gently approached the waitress who took our food order, who swiftly passed me onto the lady who I suppose looked like the manager (greeted by and drinks lady!) who replied rather rapidly with-oh well it really depends on what you ordered, blanking my daughter, she started tapping away on screen and to see our table orders. LOW AND BEHOLD!!!! yes that is right the order hadn't even been put into the computer! She totally ignored m

Basil Fawlty is alive and well and the manager of this restaurant. If you search the net, you will find numerous customer reviews complaining of the terrible service at this bistro - but if you dare complain, the manager turns into Basil Fawlty and starts abusing you. Four of us went there this week and left even before the food arrived because the manager launched into a hysterical rant at our table because I objected to my martini being served in a whiskey glass. "I am a Master Sommelier with 13 years experience etc." This is the restaurant where the customer is always wrong. Don't the owners know that this unprofessional behavious is driving customers away? Definitely to be avoided.

A delightfully romantic spot. Upstairs was rather crowded with the tables very close together so we chose to sit downstairs at a big table with much more room and fewer diners, but still intimate. The service and food were first class and we had a lovely evening. My partner had the crab starter and I had snails. She chose Sea Bass as her entree and I had lamb. We drank a reasonably priced Malbec which we both like and neither had room for dessert or cheese. I would recommend La Bouchee to anyone of a romantic nature.

I was at LaBouchee in September and plan to return every time I visit London in the future. Lovely ambience, knowledgeable and friendly...yes, friendly French staff, well prepared tasty dishes, great wine selection all at a reasonable price for a London restaurant. There honestly isn't one thing I didn't like about this place!