Mike's review of L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon

Visited 14 February for lunch in L'Atelier. Sat just behind the row in front of the kitchen and could still see it in operation pretty well.

Chose four “starters” from the small dishes menu to share and a main and a pudding each. Half a bottle of house champagne and a small bottle (37.5cl) of moscato to accompany pudding.

Overall very pleasant – the choices are very good and can heartily recommend the crab and orange jelly starter along with the langoustine fried in rice paper (although it looks a bit sad at one item), plus a snails dish and some carpaccio of beef – all good.

Mains were St Jaques and Monkfish and again very flavoursome and well presented.

Overall a good experience, the atmosphere is interesting and the kitchen very active and makes for good viewing. The waiting staff are not too intrusive and don't rush you.

Only issue was a 45 minute wait for pudding as they messed up one souffle and had to make it again – we did get some amuse bouche lollipops to keep us busy, but for two stars that's a bit too long to forgive entirely and as the souffle, when it arrived was only competant, but not a wow it has brough the scores down overall.

The bill was £250 ish for two and not a surprise given the location and the star rating.

It would have been closer to perfect but for the issue with the pudding, but still recommended.