La Fourchette

La Fourchette was the perfect venue for a celebratory meal. After booking I worried having read negative reviews about their service. However, we were served by a new waiter who could not have been more courteous or willing to help. Bottles of water took a while to arrive. The food was superbly flavoursome - every ingredient seemed to have been cooked to perfection - & filling, with surprisingly light desserts. Wonderful ambience seated by upper window. Too expensive for me to go alone though!
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Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Friday, September 26, 2008

Had a terrible time at lunch last sunday, asked for two glasses of champagne but told no house champagne and they wouldnt open a more expensive bottle, oh well, 5 mins later a couple came in who were obviously know to the owner and the waiter and low and behold 2 glasses of champagne appeared, when I queried this with the waiter he told me they had ordered a bottle which was obviously a lie when the 2 glasses were finished the man ordered a glass of red there was no bottle of champagne, This was the waiter mention below, Basil Fawlty's love child, I have eaten there several times and it annoys me each time, but I usually ignore it but to stand there and lie to me I dont think so. The place was almost empty for a sunday lunch, the food was fine, but nobody treats me like that so I wont be back
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karen mchugh
Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Fabulous cocktails to start from a small selection in the separate restaurant bar. Good table in a bay window. Service super quick, though tapered off at end. Spicy chilli and garlic calamari was tasty but overcooked. Mussels in mustard sauce delicious. Friends enjoyed wonderful salmon risotto, above average fishcake, superb Moroccan lamb for 2. Dessert was a tart packed with lemon zing, topped with lemon sorbet and meringue. All in all, a good evening, would return.
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Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Friday, August 08, 2008

I went for dinner here last Saturday. Food and Service were good - not superb (and I am comparing here to some of the top restaurants in London like the Capital when I say superb so perhaps not really fair!) but definitely worth a visit. I had duck liver pate and monks tails in parma ham with berry crumble and cinnamon ice cream. My partner has the duck in rum. Service was attentive. Be careful of ordering white wine as they keep the bottle cool away from the table so if you drink quickly - ask for it to remain on the table!

I agree with a comment below in that they charge for bread and extra for side dishes, but this is mentioned on the menu. Prices are otherwise reasonable with two glasses of champagne, a three course meal for two with coffee and wine (plus a glass of desert wine) coming in at just over £100.

The place was very busy and deservedly so. Another asset to Brighton's restaurant scene.
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Andy P
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Monday, June 23, 2008

The food wasn't bad but wasn't the best. For the money I was expecting better all round service. The bread ended up being on the bill at the end, this wasn't mentioned when the bread was offered - it was quite hard baked as well. No amuse bouche or interesting bonus treats arrived at the table either - just the meal - plus you have to pay for sides here, so if want veg with your meal that's extra too.

The bill arrived as simply a piece of paper handed to me, no dish, no wallet, no mints/sweets/chocs - just the bill.

I've been reading feedback about La Fourchette for a while and have always been put off, having finally given it a go I can safely say I won't be back. Gingerman Norfolk Square is just round the corner and infinately better.
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Steve Green
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 2
Friday, June 20, 2008

After reading the reviews on this site I was almost tempted to cancel the booking that I had already made for Friday night, but I am extremely glad to say that the alternatives were all fully booked. I say that I am extremely glad because, I have to say, our experience at La Fourchette was superb.

The Restaurant was clean, subtly decorated, spacious and lively without being crowded, whilst the music was loud enough to add to the lively atmosphere without intruding on intimate conversation.

The waiter that greeted us was friendly and gave us free choice of table , the waitress who took our orders and served us was polite, friendly and bubbly and the food was superb and arrived with just the right interval between courses. We spent over 3 hours there in the end and the bill came to less than £60 including a bottle of very nice house white.

On our way out the head waiter showed us around the improvements they'd made and the new bar and introduced us to the owner (who is also currently the head chef). We had an interesting conversation about the short fallings of the place previously and how they had been addressed.

I have to say they've done a fantastic job and would thoroughly recommend La Fourchette for a great evening’s dining.
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Chris
Tuesday, June 10, 2008

We went there about two weeks ago to celebrate our anniversary. It was a brilliant restaurant! The food was very delicious and the service was very friendly and sufficient, no more no less. I love every dishes I had, especially the fish of the day and the crape...uhmmm....yum..

Oh, and the service charge is optional and the price was very reasonable. Very good choice We made. Definately go back and will recommend all my friends to go there.

PS- the place is a bit small but well decorated, warm and lovely
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pickychoosy
Sunday, April 13, 2008

Visited La Fourchette for the first time on Saturday, having been recommended by friends, thought it would be a good restaurant for a special celebratory dinner. The whole experience was excellent, I had ordered a bottle of champagne in advance which was served within minutes of us sitting down at the table. The service was good, very attentive and nice and our glasses were refilled with no problems and our bottle of house wine (red) was very good and reasonably priced. Certainly didn't have any problem in being provided with a jug of iced tap water.

The food was superb, beautifully prepared and presented and very palatable and generous. We had pate and confit of belly pork to start and steak and lamb for mains and all were very good and the desserts were excellent.

This really is a superb restaurant and I will most definitely be returning
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Stewie - View all reviews by this user
Wednesday, March 05, 2008

We went there for my birthday about two weeks ago - I would give it C-minus, must try harder. Firstly, the restaurant could do with a lick of paint. Often thought it looks quite cosy from the outside - but closer inspection reveals a distinct grimeyness.

The waiter behaved like the bastard love child of Basil Fawlty and Hyacinth Bucket - a mixture of camp French snobbery and irritating stupidity (i.e. 'What's the soup?' 'I don't know', 'What's the Fish,' 'I don't know - oh hang on, sea bass, I think.' 'Would you like to find out?', 'It's cod.') The waitress was obviously new and reacted like a startled rabbit at every request.

We had a bottle of (too) expensive white wine - which irritatingly the waiter removed from the table after each time our glasses were filled. This left us gasping because he disappeared for long stretches - eventually we inisisted he left it with us. (Don't even ask for tap water unless you want to spark a Anglo-French cold war).

The food was very average. My wife's Tiger Prawn starter was so raw the prawns were almost still swimming. My pate was generous, but served with two of the tiniest bits of thin white toast immaginable. Request for more toast seemed to befuddle the waitress. The mains were OK, just, but absolutely nothing to write home about. Bizarrely, if you have creme brulee for dessert - you get three!! Perhaps on special offer?

The high point of the evening was an enraged customer making very vocal complaints about his evening. He kept saying 'Do you know who I am?'. We didn't - and I dont think the staff did either. The restaurant was otherwise busy, and others seemed to be enjoying themselves - so maybe we had an off night.

Somehow I dont think so. We would certainly not go back in a hurry.
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Rich West
Friday, February 22, 2008

We went for Valentines day - there was a particularly bad early nineties mix cd playing that was questionable in both quality and condition! The staff weren't unpleasant so to speak, more cold and unprofessional, despite our generous tip...

The artichoke and truffle soup was particularly bad - a hug amount watery and not at all tasty, the main was richly seasoned steak. They do serve the most excellent deserts, sensitively flavoured and beautifull presented.

I have to say we were there quite late, so it is understandable if the quality of service and food was not it's usual standard - however I have to disagree, this is not the finest French restaurant in Brighton.
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Rebecca Earl
Friday, February 15, 2008