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The Little French Restaurant - Uxbridge Road

Has anyone else tried it? I cant even begin to say how bad our lunch there was! Everything is completely overcooked and served in something not unrelated to wall paper glue. The chef is apparently French but was more likely trained as a painter and decorator. I could go on... in summary dont bother! I'm all in favour of supporting local businesses but this is taking the ....

Simone Dawood ● 5312d27 Comments

What a shame!Have you tried it just the once?It was OK though not startling when we tried it at the begining - but a bit chaotic.I was going to give it a while to settle down.

Sara Nathan ● 5312d

We were not impressed.  Service was chaotic (mixed up orders, staff not knowing what the food was, had to ask twice for coffee and it tasted disgusting so didn't drink it).  It was, I think, the only occasion I have ever refused to pay the service charge in a restaurant.The food tasted old and tired - nothing tasted fresh or had much flavour.Also, the menu wasn't particularly French!I hope they can get better suppliers and make a go of this.  I would be prepared to try them again but I'm not rushing there.

Gill Hothersall ● 5311d

Hijacking this thread, but thought it the best place to say that we had a lovely dinner at The Rocket on Sat evening.  I had duck breast with potatos gratin & bok choi.  Very good!  Husband had the set meal with carrot & corriander soup, seafood lingine and chocolate baileys cheesecake, which he found to be very nice and good value, too.

Kim Bobsin ● 5308d

It's great they have started to do a set meal isn't it - haven't actually done it yet but a good idea.We had prosecco and puds there for book-club yesterday. I really love the pancakes with chocolate sauce - though the banana ration is rather skimpy.

Sara Nathan ● 5308d

Simone, I wonder if you have something personal against the Little French Restaurant. I dine out a lot and read reviews a lot, but have never come across such a rude review. I’ve been at this place few times and always leave satisfied with the taste of the food as well as the price paid. Two of my friends are French and they particularly like dining there, as other French restaurants are bloody expensive.I like the idea of having a French restaurant on walking distance from home, and would hate to see this place closed, so please refrain of such low comments (painter and decorator…)

Nena Krsteva ● 5307d

Sara What are puds?NenaAny chance of the Little French Restaurant getting Michelin Tyres?

Nicola Howard ● 5307d

Are you asking about the choice/range variety of the dessert menu?if so - from memory: sticky toffee pudding; apple crumble; chocolate brownie; aforementioned pancake; jude's ice-creams or cheese board.I must have been better at Kim's game than I had thought!

Sara Nathan ● 5307d

Ok folks slightly daft question but, where is the french restaurant?? we had a little wander to try and find it as we thought it was somewhere else but had no luck. Also, re The Rocket, the food there is nice but the atmosphere can sometimes be a little towards the cold side, we have dinner at The Station House often and their new menu is absolutely lovely, the lamb shanks are incredible as is the parma ham wrapped chicken on potato rosti. A definite hit!

Lucy Garner ● 5302d

Next door to the North China Restaurant.

Roger Foreman ● 5302d

Surprised you find North China cold - I think it the most welcoming Chinese restaurant I have ever eaten in.. but Chinese places used to have a reputation for distant service - maybe down to language or whatever. We find the staff at North China very jolly and welcoming.

Sara Nathan ● 5302d

Thanks Roger. Sara was that in response to what I said?? I was talking about The Rocket not North China, I've never been there!

Lucy Garner ● 5302d

Oh total misunderstanding!So sorry though actually find the Rocket welcoming too - maybe because I am there altogether too often - or cos son used to work shifts. The loos are b****y freezing though!

Sara Nathan ● 5302d

The loos are freezing and the pans are coming away from the floor! They wobble when you sit on them.

Susan Kelly ● 5302d

I've been meaning to try the Little French Restaurant for some time.  Undaunted by Simone's rant, I went there for lunch today.The place was empty when I arrived, and I mean empty - nobody there for several minutes until a waitress appeared.  After that the service was fine.I had the £9.95 3-course lunch. It's not really authentically French.  My main course was Lamb Wellington, which is a title that no Frenchman would use!  I had a starter of fresh marinated salmon, served with a small salad nicely dressed, followed by the lamb and a side dish of vegetables, and a chocolate mousse.  The mousse was a little disappointing - rather too stodgy - but the rest was very good.  They offer a side salad or vegetables or fries for £1.65, and you need this, otherwise the main course would lack any accompaniment (except for the free bread).I had a half-bottle of an excellent Côtes du Rhône from the Gigondas company Pierre Amadieu, and was offered a digestif on the house with my coffee. Not great gourmet food of course, but honest, enjoyable and good value.  Pity there weren't more people there.They claim no connection with the restaurant of the same name at Earl's Court, despite having apparently copied half their menu!Earl's Court: www.thelittlefrenchrestaurant.comActon: www.littlefrenchrestaurant.com

Richard Jennings ● 5288d

My wife wants us to go to the Little French Restaurant for weeks now. I am encouraged by your post and soon we`ll give them a try, as it sounds like good value to me.

David Woolf ● 5287d

Wife went there last Saturday with her mum and was very impressed with food and the price. My turn next week!

David Woolf ● 5279d

Just came back from Little French Restaurant and I would like to share with you all that I like the place very much.Considering the price I found the portion to be quite large. Maybe to an extent that I believe they can cut down the size of the portion and still charge the same price. I've paid lot more for worse food at many restaurants around London. Service? Top notch and very friendly. Got chatting to the man managing the restaurant while the owner is away who turned out to be the owner of The Little French Restaurant in Earl's Court. He had some interesting tales of restaurant business which kept us entertained. And the waitress? She knew exactly when to come to the table and I find that to be very important. I don't want the waiter/waitress to be intruding but at the same time if I wanted them they are right there. If you are after decent meal out without having to put in an effort of dressing up and booking a table weeks in advance, I strongly recommend this place. I will definitely go back there soon to try other dishes.One criticism I have is I would like to see more French sounding dishes on the menu. Just translate everything into French and that should be fine. I suppose that's more of a psychological issue rather than an issue with their food.Also FYI. I decided to try the restaurant after a handful of my French friends who are food snobs recommended me this place. That's usually a good indicator!

Jet Tanaka ● 5271d

I thought they kept saying no connection with the Earls Court place.Very confusing.What other places in the locality do you like Jet?

Sara Nathan ● 5271d

Yes.Went there recently for the second time to see if it had improved.It hasn't. Maybe I'm too fussy but the flavours are not for me.What I really object to is that they charge extra for vegetables or salad and then put a mystery 10% on the bill which is not for service and does not go to the waitress.Naughty! This makes a £9.99 meal become nearer £14....which is not a bargain at all.There are plenty of places (perhaps not in Acton) where you can get much better food cheaper.Not a great addition to Acton's eateries.We still need better.

Sarah Vickers ● 5270d

Oh dear! Some people are just never satisfied. 14 quid for a 3 course meal and moaning!??? We need more places like that in Acton, not less. Some people really need a reality check. Ramsey and Oliver will never come to Acton. Take a look at high street. Name one decent shop or restaurant? Shopping centre = couple of one pound shops. We want good restaurants, but we don‚t want to pay 14 quid for 3 course meal.I have no connection to the place. Went there once, food was decent, but above all it was good value for money. That´s all folks.

David Woolf ● 5269d

The High Street is grim but you can get good food at the Rocket, North China, Bombay Bistro, Anokha, Kalinka, L'Oriental and no doubt many others so anywhere has to be quite good to make an impact.I hope the French place does - must try it again.

Sara Nathan ● 5269d

Don't forget Thai Nice, Sara!

Susan Kelly ● 5268d

On the High Street: Pinto - excellent Thai.  George & Dragon - lovely Sunday lunch.  Bombay Bistro - unusual Indian.And in amongst the fried chicken and bookies you can find a few gems in the High Street.  The card shop is excellent.

Gill Hothersall ● 5268d

Sarah Vickers said "What I really object to is that they ... then put a mystery 10% on the bill which is not for service and does not go to the waitress."Really?  I assumed it was a service charge.  What exactly did the waitress say about it?  Some waiting staff will tell you that they don't get the money when what they mean is that it's distributed to kitchen staff as well.  In other words, the waitress doesn't get all the 10%.But if it's not for service and the waitress gets none of it, then that's terrible.

Richard Jennings ● 5268d

I asked the waitress about the 10% and that is what I was told. She did not appear to be the kind of person to lie about such a thing. Anyway it would hardly be worth lying about in such a small restaurant.

Sarah Vickers ● 5267d

Thanks.  I've emailed the restaurant asking for a clarification of the 10% charge.

Richard Jennings ● 5267d