Le Pain Quotidien

Angella

Wonderful Food & Great Atmosphere But Not Cheap 25th May 2009

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The area between Waterloo station and the riverside Festival Hall is lively on a Sunday afternoon and evneing with the impressive London Eye drawing crowds and queues and amusement passing the buskers who attract onlookers.

After a concert at the Festival Hall finished about 9.30 we were ready for a snack but not an expensive meal. I'd spotted Wagawama at the front basement of the Festival Hall and the pedestrian street to the right of the front entrance facing the huge bust of Mandela has several jolly eating places.

The menu outside looked interesting and reasonably prices, though the offers on the board or soup at under a fiver and egg at under a fiver were a delusion as the egg was only served until noon.

However, we opted for one small round Quiche Lorraine, which came with salad and was delicious.

Our other 'main course' was a tartine or open sandwich, four slices of smoked salmon on their pain (bread) which was brown and solid brown, a bit like pumperknickerl. Excellent.

The china tray was a novelty, though not practical. I realised for the first time why a normal round plate has a lip. It stops crumbs rolling off the plate onto the table.

A lipped plate would enable you chase your food with a fork. I lost a tiny bit of smoked salmon onto the 'groovy' wooden table. I retrieved my salmon and sat wondering whether a table is less clean than a gleaming white platter which must be washed between each use.

The glass of white Rioja at £4.50 was not cheap.

However, I was delighted by the slice of polenta and almond at £3.50 ( on the specials board - so it might not always be available). This is the dish 'to die for'.

We ate upstairs. I liked the look of the downstairs under one of the huge railway arches. It had character and can be reached by a lift designed to take wheelchairs.

I thought that was a more amusing location but my companion might have been claustrophobic and chose to sit up in the light with most other people.

Service - nobody noticed when we walked in and the place wasn't packed. They had plenty of empty tables. it was hard to get attention unless you sit near the bar. But I must praise them for bringing glasses of water without being asked.

Despite that, I objected to the 12 and a half per cent service charge which always puts me in a bad mood and when I see it I rarely go back.

There should be a law stating that if you add a twelve and a half per cent service charge that should be at the top of the menu and across the window at twice the size of the other print.

We should have the same system as France - a set price meal including a drink and all taxes so that customer knows exactly what they will pay for a meal instead of adding this and that.

They did bring me a glass of water when I declined to order a drink. I finished with a single espresso. Our bill for salmon tartine 7.95 and two espressos was subtotal 26.10 service 3.26, total 29.36. The bill spells out the fact that the tax is 15%, which was 3.40.

I suppose that's only £15 per person, for a smoked salmon open sandwich, coffee with brown sugar lumps, dessert shared between two and glass of wine between two.

I notice several others have mentioned the prices.
We are living in hard times. Now I look at the bill I see that they have a website lepainquotiden.co.uk

The wooden tables seem to have a hook on the side which I presume is for handbags. Such a good idea.

mjbryan

Doesn't travel well 8th January 2009

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I first discovered Le Pain Quotidien in Bruxelles in the 80s. Big 16 seated wooden tables that people sat around eating fresh bread and pasties with excellent coffee at a reasonable price. It used to make my trips a joy.

This is absolutely not what the South Bank version is about. It is noisy, you often have to wait a long time to first get seated and then get served. The downstairs is an exercise discomfort (loud, hot, uncomfortable and I would hate to think what it would be like if there was a fire!) and the upstairs is too cluttered with a canteen atmosphere. I have been in 4 or 5 times and you the staff treated you like a number - get in eat, get out so we can get more money.

On the up side the food and coffee is great but at a unnecessary premium.

beckyfox

Great for breakfast 3rd September 2008

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Went to le pain quotidien on the south bank for breakfast. It was very busy with lots of families and kids running around. Apart from that we only a small wait to be seated. the place is decorated like a massive farm house or barn really rustic. It has massive wooden tables and the bread is served on chopping boards. This place does the best bread and jam! also has a great selection for breakfast! The coffee is really good to. The staff are really friendly. You can also buy the jams and pickles they have a little shop they do a fab chocolate spread.

harrietfisher

25th August 2008

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We had lunch here today, it serves good, continental style food and makes me feel a sort of comforting nostalgia for a life I have never led. Large, wooden, country house style tables on stone floors, breakfast items such as porridge, muesli and boiled eggs as well as a bread menu! Heaven.

Oliveiro86

Magnifique!!! 3rd November 2007

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Le Pain Quotidien is my regular hangout!!! It is great .. they serve huge cappucinos ... great cheese platters, the decor is warm and welcoming and theres free wireless too ... you can easily hang out all day at that place and the staff are wonderful!!!

wandering_star

overpriced for the quality 24th September 2007

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I also fell in love with Le Pain Quotidien during a trip to Brussels - I liked the relaxed atmosphere, the huge salad platters and the excellent, simple and good quality food. Every time I am in Belgium I try and go again.

So I was really excited to see that branches were opening in London. I was a bit shocked when I saw the prices - the same in pounds as the Brussels branch would charge in Euros - but I accepted that this was London, and nice bits of London at that, and I thought that it would be worth it.

I was really disappointed by what turned up - we got bog-standard salads, with none of the high-quality ingredients that I was expecting. I had the antipasti platter - I could have made a nicer one myself after a quick trip round Sainsbury's - and my friend had the seafood salad - limp lettuce leaves and defrosted prawns.

Such a pity - if it was as good as the ones in Belgium, I would be eating there every week!

bethb88

In Love, Daily 11th August 2007

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I first fell in love with le Pain Quotidien when I lived in Brussels. This global chain offers high quality baked goods and meals. Their superior choice of hams and soups are a must. Most are organized so that when seated you are part of a larger table creating a cosy, friendly and almost familial feeling during the meal.

Nothing beats entering this place on a cold winter's day; the warm, delicious fumes enticing you to stay for a while, grab a coffee or some soup.

Why do French women stay skinny? Well, it's greatly aided by placing such as this.

MikNij at 14/08/07

Great! Totally agree!

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Samantha

Breaking Bread Together 15th May 2007

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Built under one of the railway arches, with the bare stone still exposed, Le Pain Quotidien by Waterloo offers a wonderful rustic feel. The atmosphere is in perfect parallel to the traditional, hearty food served. With small tables or the large communal table in the centre, it is possible to enjoy a private meal or, quite literally, break bread with others.

Specialising in freshly baked breads and pastries, the breakfasts are a simple dream. For lunch, the tartines (open sandwiches) are a delight and the salads and soup are accompanied by some of the best organic bread you'll find.

The evening menu offers a modest selection of dishes, but all very generous in flavours. And the selection of wine is superior, made even more enjoyable by the quality glasses it is served in – if you're anything like me, you'll appreciate a good balloon glass for your red!

This place manages to combine a sophisticated feel with an air of informality, and consequently I'll often stop by just for coffee and a scone… you'd be hard pushed to find anything more satisfying!