Le Gobelet

6.3 Average

Food  7      Ambience  7      Service  5      Value  6     

Having read the other reviews on here, I knew what to expect when my family and I ventured here last night. We were the first people in the restaurant at 7.30pm so our orders were taken early. As mentioned in other reviews, we heard a bit of noise and shouting from the kitchen but enjoyed it. I can't tell you what time our entrees arrived, but it must have been close to 9pm.

Our mains arrived at 10.15pm. Three of us had one of the specials of the day which we were told was already cooking when we arrived, so it seems a bit much that it would be a further nearly three hours before we could receive it. The entree special (scallops) was very nice, the main (chicken casserole) less so.

We did enjoy our evening, however, until the appearance of the kitchen staff at about 10.30pm, who, having helped himself to what I suspect was not his first beverage of the evening, caught the eye of my father who smiled at him, then proceeded to shout at him 'Do you think it's funny? It's not funny!' and then went on to talk about the swearing (we'd heard a few profanities coming from the kitchen during the evening), and then delighted the diners further by cranking the music right up.

It was turned down shortly after this, and the room went silent. We and a couple of other diners then made our exit. The restaurant appears to be for sale now judging from the sign outside, and I guess the couple running it have had enough. It wasn't an unpleasant night until the appearance of the chef, but I must say the food was very expensive, and eating a main at 10.15pm after having arrived at 7.30pm was really not good enough. I don't think I would go back there.

Jan 01, 2012 

3.5 Below Average

Food  7      Ambience  5      Service  1      Value  1     

If you enjoy waiting literally hours for an entree with only 4 other diners in situ and being screamed at in the middle of the dining room by an out of control kitchen staff when politely requesting the mains a little quicker, then this is for you.

Jul 11, 2011 

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  7      Service  10      Value  10     

I love love love this place! Yes, the chef Rene is well known as the cranky chef, and you have to understand that if you eat here you may get a show as well as dinner! Its a dining experience, with excellent food, so if you have to be somewhere after dinner don't go here.

The food is excellent, Mireille the Maitre'D/ waitress is friendly and fun and did I mention the food was fantastic? Its a little on the expensive side but definitely worth it!

We had escargot, mini quiche appetisiers, lamb and pork. Have to say the lamb was my favourite but everything was great! Was so full after dinner that I had to take a walk before dessert.

Make sure you book in advance and dont get on the wrong side of the chef! Take everything in stride and you'll have a great, and maybe interesting dining experience

Feb 27, 2011 

6.5 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  7      Service  5      Value  5     

Le Gobelet, the funniest restaurant experience ever. We decided to go on a whim after my husband recalled a visit 10 years ago. We were only in the mountains for a night and thought we would enjoy our room with a good bottle of bubbly and some take away. After deciding to go to the restaurant we booked for 7 pm thinking we would arrive home around 9 pm, with enough time to still enjoy the bubbles. We were wrong!

Our order was taken 40 minutes after arriving and we did not leave the restaurant until close to 11 pm. Normally this would frustrate me but watching the antics of Mirielle and hearing the antics in the kitchen kept us entertained. My advice, go with a low expectation of service, order a bottle of wine as soon as possible and watch the entertainment unfold as you enjoy a drink.

The food was absolutely delicious and well worth waiting for. A bit over salted would be my only complaint. I only ordered a main, to keep room for the apple tart but when I requested my desired dessert I was told it was too late and would I like fresh mango instead, nnnnooooo, I had my eye on the tart from the minute we walked in.

So, my 2nd bit of advice is advise them early if you want something in particular off the dessert list. They make everything from scratch and this adds to the time frame. We chose the creme brulee instead and were not disappointed. The best creme brulee I have ever eaten. My husband also thought the pate was the best he has ever eaten.

Overall, a great laugh and some fantastic food. Just arrive with your patience and sense of humour and you will not be disappointed!

Jan 08, 2011 

4 Below Average

Food  2      Ambience  9      Service  3      Value  2     

We decided come here for a special occasion. As a number of previous reviews on this website stated, a large amount of sense of humor seemed to be an essential pre-requisite to really enjoy this place, including the hints about the Fawlty Towers.

The atmosphere is definitely totally different to any other establishment on Leura Mall drag. This place has atmosphere and the displayed menu was the most appealing and interesting . Soft background music was enjoyable and non-intrusive, not interfering at all with your conversation. So far so good.

Despite of the “ being squezzed-in”, the restaurant was half-empty on Saturday night. Mireille is very French, friendly, very helpful and entertaining, but she was totally at mercy of her offsider – the chef. The interesting and salivation-inducing menu was rapidly losing its appeal when our entrée (escargots a la bourgignonne) was served one hour after the order was taken .

We were prepared for some delays after reading the warnings on the restaurant menu and recalling some of the reviews. As we were getting very close to our point of walking out if the main meal would be not served within 150 minutes , the chef just made it. The main meal arrived two hours and twenty minutes after the order was taken.

The fillet mignon de veau with morel mushrooms was not cooked as requested (medium rare, but it was overdone and dry), the sauce was more than heavy on the cream side. Not impressive. The duck a l’ orange suffered the similar problems. The sauce was over-reduced to the point of being burnt and bitter, the duck skin was cooked beyond the golden crisp point, getting closer to be carbonized. As the evening progressed, we no longer felt the desire - or even dared - to order the desserts.

Some moments – like the chef frequently banging something twice (a pot or the bench) to signaling that some meal is ready - were entertaining for a while and leading us to a guessing game who will be served next time. Yes, you definitely need the sense of humor - and the patience of Mother Theresa as well - to get some pleasure out of this place. However, we went there to have a good evening with the hope to enjoy the quality French food. This establishment in its current form would fail to succeed anywhere in Paris or French countryside.

On the whole , with the exception of the ambience, our experience was disappointing . Some of these problems could be hopefully eliminated by reducing the menu to fewer dishes to accommodate the chef’s coping abilities, or to call Gordon Ramsay’s Hell Kitchen for assistance.

Dec 21, 2010 

8 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  7     

This review is a little out of date but I thought I had to give my two cents worth as I still talk about them to this day. We went there about three years ago with a table of eight.

My wife had done a little research before hand so we were aware of possible domestics during our dinner. Fortunately, we had booked ahead and were pleasantly waited upon. All our food came in good portions and were very nice. In particular I would describe the snails as being surprisingly nice. I normally Hate snails. I had tried snails on two other occasions in my life and they were disgusting.

On this occasion I had seconds and even thirds! I was very happy indeed. However, when the mains came out I was not happy. They had stuffed up on my order and given me something else instead. When I complained about not receiving what I had ordered the waitress just told me to eat it as it was also very good. At this point I was angry but I'm a rather patient person and the others at my table pacified me.

I took a bite of what they had served me and I was the happiest person on the table all night. I had the best pork knuckle ever! We haven't been back since as we don't usually trek out into the Blue Mountains for a dinner, but would definitely go again when we are out that way.

Dec 06, 2010 

4 Below Average

Food  3      Ambience  8      Service  3      Value  2     

Where to start, mon dieu?

The expectation - an authentic French meal in a cosy little restaurant run by a French husband and wife team, in the French tradition.

The reality - is this how John Cleese felt when he stayed at the Torquay hotel lampooned in Fawlty Towers?

We had plenty of time to ponder this as our meals made their way to us at the pace of an escargot. Yes, the antics from the kitchen are amusing and quirky at first. But bonhomie deserts you when you wait two and a half hours for two less-than-impressive meals which were delivered to our table twenty minutes apart. More so, when one did not seem to match the menu description. No apologies. Cést la vie.

With plenty of time to observe, we could see that our's was not a unique experience, but the norm. At a nearby table of eight, one unlucky diner was given her meal half an hour after all the others had finished eating!

In all fairness, the wife/waitress had the job of holding it all together while the non-chef in the kitchen let her down badly. If the food was worth waiting for, or if it could be written off as an inexpensive evening's entertainment, I would not feel compelled to write this review.

So, unless you are researching material for a sit com based on an over-priced, dysfunctional French restaurant in which the spoiling of paying customers' evening is not a consideration, give your hard money to a restaurateur who may deserve it. Pubs in Sydney regularly do better than this.

Dec 05, 2010 

4 Below Average

Food  5      Ambience  5      Service  1      Value  5     

My partner and I have been to this restaurant twice in the past year and both times have been rudely turned away by the maitre d'. The first time was understandable as the restaurant was busy and we did not have a booking, although being yelled at and having the door slammed in our faces wasn't excusable.

We tried again a few nights ago, it was 7:30 on a quiet Sunday night with only a handful of people dining, but when we asked the maitre d' if we could have a table for 2, she flatly said 'no' as though we had made an absurd request, and it was only after we stood there for a moment stunned that she said 'problem with the chef'.

We don't believe that being turned away twice is a coincidence, it's quite evident she just did not want to serve us. Either way, we will not bother trying to come here again next time we visit Leura, as there is a perfectly nice restaurant across the street (Silk's Brasserie) with warm service and good food.

Aug 18, 2010 

10 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  10     

What a discovery, my beautiful lady and I wandered in here on friday night. Our host was fantastic and the food was absolutely divine. We will be coming here for many years to come.

Apr 16, 2010 

7.8 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  7      Value  7     

If you love drama and calamity then this place is fantastic. We dined on a quiet evening and enjoyed every minute. This restaurant is still the best we have been too. The host is a real character and has constant arguments with her husband, quite exciting at times lol

The duck was gorgeous both in orange and the cherry sauce and the strawberry romanoff was a perfect ending. Yes the bill was $120 for us both but we had such a good time we can't wait to go back. This restaurant is run by real people, not fake people pleasers! Unique in every way.

Feb 12, 2010