La Fourchette

A mixed picture I'm afraid. My wife and I dropped into the bar area once before and stood for 10 minutes waiting to be offered a drink without even being acknowledged by the bar man (who was too busy talking to his mate to service customers). However, I've often thought the menu looked attractive and this weekend we decided to give the place another chance.

We booked a table in advance, arrived on time, to be informed that our table was not yet available and that we could go and have a drink in the bar while we waited. No apology, no offer of a free drink - so poor first impressions. We then waited half an hour in the adjacent bar with no update on our table. Then, just as we were on the verge of walking out again, we were offered a table.

The food was pretty good, but not top drawer. My steak, at GBP 22.00 did not quite live up to expectations, although the preceding lobster bisque was very tasty, and the wine was excellent. The head waiter is clearly very knowledgeable, but the service as a whole was unattentive, with long periods passing with no wine in our glasses.

This is a really atmospheric place and is not far off being a good restaurant. Perhaps the two experiences of poor service we have encountered were just exceptions to the rule, but I suspect not. Overall verdict, some good points, but you can do a lot better for the same money in Brighton.
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MC1978 - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 4
Sunday, October 25, 2009

When you visit a restaurant with an elderly, disabled person you can really find out about the service - and the service at La Fourchette is impeccible in every way - from looking out for the small step between the bar and the dining area to judging perfectly how much time we want between courses or whether we are too much engaged in conversation to want to be interrupted. We then had just the right amount of advice with the menu for it to be extremely helpful and yet not patronising. Truly outstanding service in every way. That in itself is already remarkable but to top that the food was by far the best I have had for a long time. You can't beat French charm and cuisine!
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MonikaLind
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, September 24, 2009

Starter and main course excellent. Service polite and attentive. Really let down by the deserts. Two different tarts (one lemon, one fresh strawberry) in what was obviously the same pastry case (and far too thick) with different fillings, and fruit past its best. 'Common La Fourchette! You pay too much here to get away with cheating!

If you are looking for a leisurely romantic lunch, I'd recomend the 7 Dials Restaurant. Same idea, just quieter.
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Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 6
Friday, August 21, 2009

It was our first visit and what a fantastic experience. The bar staff were very friendly and helpful and served us before we moved to the restaurant to start our meal.

The waiter and waitress were as friend and helpful as you could wish for, not only were they prompt with service, and made you feel like you were the only person there, but they had very good recommendations as to what to order and what wine is best suited for the meal.

We would be returning very soon. One of our best dining experiences.
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Jason
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, August 04, 2009

This is my 8th visit to la fouchette. cant say I was disappointed or bored. variety of the menu, an array of French specialities, I had my escargot (snails) and the duck confit was succulant. service was brilliant and extremely attentive.

Overall a brilliant experience.
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Maya
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, July 13, 2009

I've been trying out the restaurants of Brighton recently and La Fourchette was one of my first forays into Brightonian fine dining. I have to say that overall I wasn't massively impressed. The food was fine, I ordered pheasant which was ok but massively difficult to debone and a little lacking in flavour (and yet salty..) and I was most unimpressed with the obsequious wine waiter. If I want to have more wine, I shall pour it myself or ask my very lovely partner to do so for me. I think this was made worse by the fact that he would pick up the bottle of wine, hover over my glass and then look at said boyfriend as if asking whether this was a sensible idea. I may return, but it will be with trepidation.
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Laura
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 6
Saturday, July 11, 2009

Undeniably the best food and service i've ever had in a restaurant, for 13 years in Brighton. It was faultless, from the most subtle table service to the perfectly cooked food. Of our party of four, three of us are truly fussy and really hard to impress. However we were all bowled over and are still talking about it three weeks later. I had read a bad review of the place just before going out and was hoping it was just a bad night, when we got there it was perfect from start to finnish. i didn't really like the position of the table we were offered, and it was exchanged , no stress as another became available. The atmosphere was relaxed,and calm. The staff -confident, friendly and sincere. All four of us had three courses, and choose different ones from each other. Every single dish, was cooked and presented faultlessly . Nothing under or over cooked, no glaring flavors, all skillfully blended to, melt in the mouth- deep pleasure. If i could afford to go there more i would be a regular. I recommend you go, take your friends and loved ones, sit ,eat , and make happy memories.
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Stacey Manser-Knight
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Friday, June 05, 2009