L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon

13-15 West Street
Covent Garden, London WC2H 9NQ
Tel: 020 7010 8600

Multi-Michelin-starred Joel Robuchon (voted chef of the 20th century by his peers) opens his long-awaited London restaurant next to The Ivy. On the ground floor diners are seated around the kitchen in L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon, which offers gourmet casual dining and focuses on simplicity, natural flavours and quality of ingredients. La Cuisine, on the first floor, offers a wider menu and more conventional restaurant-style seating and Le Bar on the third floor is an intimate space for pre or post-dinner drinks.

Seating around the kitchen at L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon, London
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The bar at L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon in London
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L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon London
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Interior of L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon restaurant, London
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L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon reviews

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Went to L'Atelier for a birthday dinner with my husband. The food was innovative, but the price was ridiculous for what you get. Be sure to eat before you go, as you definitely walk away hungry from this one! The waiter service was also hysterical - constant interruption from at least 12 people dancing attendance, and managed to get through a pre-starter, starter and main in 45 minutes!!

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 by biggles, 30 Mar 2008

I had dinner seated around the kitchen on a Monday night. I have eaten in some of the best restaurants in the world and this was definitely one of them.

We ordered the chef's tasting menu, which I think is smart if you're truly going to experience a restaurant of this calibre. The dinner consisted of 10 courses, each better than before. The food was superb. Our waitress was fantastic - softly spoken and very attentive. Foie gras dishes are mouthwatering and the truffled mashed potatoes are sinful. We ordered a bottle of champagne from our waitress, so I can't give an opinion of the sommelier. The chefs in the kitchen are a delight to watch. It's almost as if they have rehearsed, their interaction is so fluid and graceful. Atmosphere was great - good music and enough people to keep the place busy, but not too many to make for bad service. Le Bar is a gorgeous place to finish your drinks and take coffee or tea.

Expensive? Of course. Chef's tasting was £80 per person, then add a bottle of wine or champagne. If you feel too guilty to spend that, then maybe pick another restaurant. But you can't experience a restaurant like this if you're going to be worried about the price. It's worth it - even if you can only do it once in a lifetime.

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 by Brandyn Leslie, 19 Mar 2008

We ate in the gourmet casual dining room perched at the counter and totally enjoyed the experience of watching a very professional team of chefs in action. The food was an absolute gastronomic experience. The lobster ravioli and the mackerel tart were exceptional starters. Main courses were sirloin steak (perfectly cooked, with exquisite flavour) and John Dory - both excellent. Desserts were a sweet touch of heaven. Truly one of the best restaurants I have eaten in. World-class. Well done! Look forward to going back.

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 by Dee Sheils, 29 Feb 2008

Stands alone, a true culinary experience and stunning in all aspects.

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 by Victoria Bond, 01 Feb 2008

It is such an incredible adventure! I should say, AGAIN (this was my second time). I went there for Saturday dinner. It was packed but a great experience. Staf are lovely and very caring, (shame that their sommelier left though, as there isn't the same standard of recommendation of wines). Try the fabulous new dishes and selection of 'tapas', accompanied by the extraordinary mashed potato if you ask the chef kindly! If I were you, I would book for early evening if going at the weekend.

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 by goodeater, 03 Jan 2008

Obviously a 'love it or hate it' experience. Personally, I wished I could leave as soon as I arrived. The decor reminded me of a cross between MacDonalds and an airport bar upgraded with nice materials and lighting. The food was good, but nothing a decent gastro-pub can't turn out in far more relaxing and better value surroundings. The Tuna Tartar was delicious, the Lamb Cutlets were fine, but they're not difficult to get right. The accompanying mash was sickly (far too much butter), the cutlery poorly balanced with a two-sided knife... reflects what I would say to sum this restaurant up: poncey.

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 by TheUniversal (2 reviews), 22 Dec 2007

Rude Irish sommelier... "I don't do obscure wines from the Rhone Valley or Provence such as Bandol and Bellet or Palettes, only Cote-Rotie". Does he know wine, or is he just another one hiding behind the 'classics' and being conservative? Really disappointing for a so-called sommelier.

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 by decu, 05 Dec 2007

Excellent food in a modern and chic (maybe a bit cold?) ambiance. Pricey, but they did not push us to order some expensive wines either. We had wines by the glass and they split the last sticky in two glasses for dessert. Impeccable service!

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 by nielloo, 28 Sep 2007

Went with a female friend for dinner. Despite her running late, I was allowed to wait in the cool and seductive bar, sipping cocktails. Downstairs for dinner, the waiters were great, explaining everything in both French and English which, even though it's meant to be helpful, does make you feel inadequate! All in all, great service, great food and, most of all, great decor. If going for dinner, you need to check out the bar, it's fabulous.

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 by Troublesome, 23 Aug 2007

L'Atelier is so overpriced it's ridiculous. I went yesterday with clients; the food wasn't that good and the service was just OK (considering that we paid £90 service charge).

I will never go back and wouldn't advise anyone to go unless you're not paying for it (business dinner).

I know better and cheaper French restaurants in London. This was just crazy.

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 by Goffa, 05 Jul 2007

In a nutshell: food - terrific ("pied de cochon" and potato puree); service - terrible (waitress inattentive and cloakroom messy).

Sorry Joel, but I won't come back. Missing those days at L'Astorg...

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 by Alonso Nunez, 24 Jun 2007

After eating at both the NY one and the Paris one, I was excited to go. We sat at the Kitchen Bar, and got great service. I also read some reviews that mention atmosphere (were you in the same place?) What I experienced was great funky music playing (not too loud), and lots of buzzy conversation.

The server at the Kitchen Bar was very engaging and helpful with our choices. Food is served fast here, which for me is fine. But I can imagine that some people would find it a little too high-paced, and they should look to slow it slightly for the small dishes at the Kitchen Bar.

It stood up to its contemporaries in NY and Paris. Although, for me, NY still wins purely based on a more 'vibrant' style of staff they have there (and the fact people chat to their neighbours at the Kitchen Bar, whereas in London they all ignore each other).

I highly recommend the foie gras dishes, and the crab meat with asparagus. Pricey, but worth it.

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 by OM1973, 20 Jun 2007

I loved it! Food was just as good as I remember it in the Paris Robuchon and sitting at the bar having a few small dishes makes it practical and (almost) affordable for a quick lunch.

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 by Janita DB (8 reviews), 21 May 2007

I went there last night and it was very standard in both service and menu. The only thing that was not, was the extortionate price list ( £18 for 3 asparagus?!) We had our first course and then had to wait 30 mins for the second course. All in all, it was pretty poor with almost comical service. Personally, I would not entertain going back.

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 by soho, 02 May 2007

I really don't understand how anyone could rate this place. Took a client there for dinner as, apparently, the food was supposed to be good. Apart from the hair in the soup, it felt as if the waiters were on a mission to get us out of the door as quickly as possible. The food itself looked good but lacked any flavour or substance. Would not recommend anyone to go there.

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 by Anonymous, 30 Mar 2007

Lovely looking restaurant, friendly and efficient service, quality of food is good. However, having visited quite a few other Michelin-starred restaurants in London, I must say L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon charges too much for what it provides. Been there twice with friends and we've sampled pretty much everything on the menu. Wouldn't go back again unless the restaurant comes up with new dishes.

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 by jocelyn, 17 Mar 2007

Started off badly as they lost our reservation which had been booked 3 months previously. They were able to 'squeeze' us in, which was good news because we had travelled from Scotland just for the meal. Anyway, needless to say we went there with some trepidation, but this was eleviated as soon as we walked into the lovely looking La Cuisine.

Our waiters were fantastic and a lot of fun was had because we picked the surprise menu. This consisted of an amusee bouche, 2 starters, a fish course, a main course and a dessert. We didn't know what was coming, so the sommelier helped us pick the wines for the dishes. This was easier to do by the glass.

The meals were stunning and the attention to detail in the presentation was wonderful. Pure theatre! The flavours and smells coming from the open kitchen were mouth-watering. We had to ask for the dishes to be slowed down before the main, but other than that the waiters were attentive and thoughtful. They left us to talk without interrupting, which can often be the case with top restaurants.

We were one of the first tables to arrive and we were the last to leave - didn't want it to end, but it had to as I couldn't afford any more (I'm only a nurse, with delusions of grandeur). Final bill £162.22 for one (the most I've ever paid for a meal) but I would pay it again because it was fab!

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 by Charliefarlie, 03 Mar 2007

Lost our reservation (made the day before) - not a good start; grim faced chefs standing around glaring at customers - I guess they were awaiting orders; we were presented with bread that looked like the end had been bitten off; I was given a dirty knife for my first course; we bought a bottle of wine, but were offered no wine refill for 15 mins; I asked to have a break because the food was coming too quickly - the waitress said to let her know when we were ready for the next course but the next course came out anyway without prompting; they couldn't find our coats on exit - we had to identify them...

The food was OK - 8 courses between 2 people, 6 of the 8 were nice but 2 very average. For the price, the evening was an unacceptable debacle. Seriously, don't bother - there are plenty of better restaurants.

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 by kloe2603, 20 Feb 2007

'Brilliant', 'perfection', 'flavoursome', 'conceptual' - all words I'd use about this place. Nothing more to say, really, except check it out. But be careful... all of the above have a price!

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 by Vince75016 (5 reviews), 09 Feb 2007

Went to the Atelier for lunch. Great atmosphere, wonderful food, good wine. A little bit too expensive but worth it once in a while.

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 by vittorio, 13 Dec 2006



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