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2024-08-06
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I visited Le Chefeteria today for lunch, which was offering a "Restaurant Week" discounted menu. The menu presented today appears to be their regular dishes, which have been mentioned and photoed on plenty of other reviews. The restaurant is located in a non-descript, quiet building and appears to operate as a "private kitchen". However, despite its rather unassuming surroundings, Le Chefeteria's interior design is comfortable and decent, presenting a pleasant ambience.We both ordered the lobs
The restaurant is located in a non-descript, quiet building and appears to operate as a "private kitchen". However, despite its rather unassuming surroundings, Le Chefeteria's interior design is comfortable and decent, presenting a pleasant ambience.
We both ordered the lobster bisque to start, the duck leg risotto for main and a mango crumble-type dessert to finish, as well as coffee, which was included in the set price. Complimentary water and homemade bread was served. All dishes came with a lengthy explanation from the owner/manager, which was not always needed nor well-timed. This menu was offered at a remarkable $198pp during 'Restaurant Week', which even at the regular lunch price of approx. $250, is indeed excellent value for money. The food has well- sourced ingredients and has a degree of focus on healthy alternatives, such as heavy cream being replaced by stock or coconut.
All dishes mentioned were above decent in taste, quality and presentation with the homemade bread and dessert being especially memorable. The food is presented with thought and detail. Despite being a very small and unassuming place, we were told that the Head Chef has a very solid culinary background and it shows in the food quality.
Le Chefeterie appears to market itself as "fine dining" and western food with a south Asian influence. The fusion element seen through the use of coconut and mango in several dishes, as well as banana roti and beef rendang as examples of south Asian dishes, is in fact very subtle and is not reflected in any noticeable way through the decor. The food leans more towards European flavours and presentation.
Although the food is in fact "good" , I'd not define it currently as "fine dining" . An immediate suggestion to the owner/manager would be to find ways to engage a bit better with customers and cool down on the pushing of "follow us on social media" and collecting data by slightly disingenuous means (e.g. the insistence to fill out a card collecting our data upon paying the bill, just seems a way for just that, 'collecting our data'). This has been mentioned on several other reviews. Although I understand that such a hidden restaurant absolutely requires word of mouth custom, it definitely could be seen as off-putting. Such elements are not "fine-dining".
The lunch price regulary is in the region of $250 pp and the dinner price seems to be $550 upwards. A dinner tasting menu also seems to be offered at $1000 plus pp. However, it does appear that many of the same dishes feature in all of these menus, which does seem a bit strange.
Despite my several criticisms, we were absolutely surprised by such a high calibre lunch being offered at a very low price. Without doubt the lunch offers excellent value and I will return. I'd summarise the place as a hidden gem that is trying hard to step into fine dining, but isn't there yet. The beauty is via the chef's personal skills, which could also be a weakness for the restaurant, should their "star chef" depart (frankly it is surprising to see a high calibre chef in what is a very simple restaurant). Perhaps Le Chefeteria would be wise to develop the weaker aspects I have pointed out.
Overall, Le Chefeteria is recommended as a well- priced, good value , mid range restaurant that is definitely worth the visit for lunch or for a friends' dinner, rather than a celebratory fine dining affair .
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