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Original poster

To ask if you have ever eaten at Le Gavroche.....

137 replies

ThatThingYouDo · 29/12/2018 18:56

......and what did you wear??

A relative has kindly bought me and my husband a dinner at Le Gavroche.

We're not posh, and tbh the height of luxury for us is dinner at Prezzo (yes really!).

It's apparently a very expensive,
Michelin starred place.

I don't want to embarrass myself or stick out like a sore thumb, so any suggestions on what to wear would be brilliant. Thanks!

OP posts:
HarrySnotter · 30/12/2018 11:07

It is a bit cringey because it shows that you are not comfortable in that environment.

How so? I don't really see the connection, some people just like to dress up and take going somewhere like this as an opportunity to do so. Calling people 'cringey' for it sounds so stuck up, like looking down on the poor folks for whom something like this is a special treat. I'm not really someone who 'dresses up' but I think it's nice to see when others do.

Thankfully, Le Gavroche is the kind of place where the staff are wonderful and make an effort to make all customers welcome and comfortable.

TSSDNCOP · 30/12/2018 11:22

I was just thinking the best thing about the high end restaurants is the seemingly effortless service. You just know that to make it look that effortless the staff must be right on their A game. It’s all slight of hand; napkins refolded, cutlery changed, glasses filled so guests conversation is never interrupted. It’s amazing and very luxurious.

purpleelk · 30/12/2018 11:25

“Something like that for me would be a once in a lifetime experience so I'd definitely go all out and dress up! I can't imagine why anyone would find it "cringey" just because other people have decided to make an effort!“

Because it singles you out as thinking this is some sort of a “once in a lifetime” thing, as opposed to going out to dinner with some nice albeit expensive food. It’s just a bloody restaurant, you’re not meeting the Dalai Llama. I find it a bit cringey when someone calls eating some yummy food in an old fashioned basementy restaurant as a once in a life time experience.

IfNotNowBernard · 30/12/2018 11:34

Well it IS once in a lifettime for lots of people! It's nice to dress up if that's what you want to do , and as someone who worked in the restaurant trade it's nice to see.
Better than snobby people who treat the waitstaff like crap because they are oh so comfortable and want to show how important they are.

GenerationSnowflake · 30/12/2018 11:34

purpleelk
I do agree with you, but I wouldn't have written it down. Some people have different financial circumstances.

I do love the Gavroche, honestly my favourite restaurant in London but ultimately it's only a restaurant, people shouldn't expect too much either, or you end up being disappointed. Expect a lovely evening, but maybe not the best night of your life ever. Other people have other preferences and would rate another restaurant a lot higher.

OyOy · 30/12/2018 11:35

purpleelk & GenerationSnowflake

Wow, this was a lovely thread, about lovely people have a lovely experience courtesy of their lovely relative.

I find it very low-grade, insecure, classless and outright nasty behaviour to degrade it by calling it 'cringey'

I'm glad to hear the staff at Le Gavroche have more style and are above that kind of thing.

GenerationSnowflake · 30/12/2018 11:40

OyOy
read the thread and my comments, and keep your nasty words to yourself will you.

TinselandToblerones · 30/12/2018 11:40

The atmosphere there is such that I couldn’t tell you anything about any of the other diners there the same evening as me. The staff are incredibly welcoming. If you want to dress up then go for it!

saythatagain · 30/12/2018 11:41

Yes, I did; 26-ish years ago! I can remember what I ate too. T’was a lovely, lovely experience. The food, service, ambiance etc. I can’t remember what I wore unfortunately, but what I do remember is that the staff were so very ‘on it’ i.e. your experience, regardless of who you were, was paramount. I hope that makes sense?
We were a table of very ordinary human beings and, without exception, were made to feel welcome.
It’s my hope one day to take my dh and dd to experience it too. I really hope it’s a memorable visit for you.
The food was exquisite. Enjoy!

OyOy · 30/12/2018 11:43

GenerationSnowflake

I did - the nasty words borne out of insecurity and superiority came from you and purple - I can imagine that you feel ashamed about being called out on your poor behaviour but you have no right to police what I say.

GenerationSnowflake · 30/12/2018 11:48

OyOy
who pissed on your cornflakes this morning?

I am saying it's a lovely restaurant, but some people go straight from work and you would be more comfortable with smart casual clothes. If you dress to the nine you will be looking and feeling completely out of place. Why would you want to do that?

You are the one insulting posters, how terribly uncouth of you. Biscuit

umpteennamechanges · 30/12/2018 11:54

We don't generally dress particularly for dinner in London/South East.

As in....if you wear the kind of dress you might wear to a wedding you'll stick out as being overdressed.

Just wear something smart....

A nice dress or trousers, top and indoor scarf.

Birdsgottafly · 30/12/2018 11:55

I find Trip Advisor's, user photos useful and it you put in dress code, smart dress etc in the search engine for the reviews, you can find what you are looking for.

I'm from Liverpool, we tend to dress up. When we go the Theatres etc in London, we are some of the most 'dressed up' people. But that's what we like to do, so we do it.

As long as you aren't underdressed and feel confident and good in what you are wearing, you'll have a fantastic time.

HarrySnotter · 30/12/2018 11:56

This is a nice thread, or it was.

It's not kind to look down on others and it's not kind to be bitchy.

Let's be kind! Smile

KevinTheYuccaPlant · 30/12/2018 11:56

Assuming the cheese souffle is similar to the one they do at Chez Roux, it's amazing. I've not been to Le Gavroche (on the wishlist!) but I've eaten at two different Chez Roux and the staff have been wonderful, not at all snooty, and looked after us incredibly well.

Birdsgottafly · 30/12/2018 11:57

I would look at the Trip Advisor photos just to drool over the cheese table.

OyOy · 30/12/2018 11:59

Pissed on your conrflakes Ha, classic attack as defence.

And I didn't insult any posters - I called out your appalling behaviour - very different things.

To insult a poster you would have to, ummm give a direct insult - like "pissing in cornflakes maybe"

But back to the point - you can't rewrite history when you've literally just posted!

It is a bit cringey because it shows that you are not comfortable in that environment. It is a bit cringey because it shows that you are not comfortable in that environment.

And after purple posted this delightful sentiment

Because it singles you out as thinking this is some sort of a “once in a lifetime” thing, a.... I find it a bit cringey when someone calls eating some yummy food in an old fashioned basementy restaurant as a once in a life time experience.

You chime in with this classic.

I do agree with you, but I wouldn't have written it down. Some people have different financial circumstances.

Badadadum · 30/12/2018 11:59

am saying it's a lovely restaurant, but some people go straight from work and you would be more comfortable with smart casual clothes. If you dress to the nine you will be looking and feeling completely out of place. Why would you want to do that?
I agree. Of course you can put on a dress and heels, you will be more dressed up than most and if that's what you want knock yourself out - as I said earlier, Londoners do not get dressed up like that for dinner. What does it matter what everyone else is wearing? It matters because the OP does not want to stand out as she said in her initial post.

yellowsun · 30/12/2018 12:06

I wore a floaty, lacey summer dress (it was boiling) and heels and there were other people who dressed similarly. It was a Saturday night and my husband’s birthday so we did make an effort. I didn’t feel out of place or cringe-worthy in the slightest.

billysboy · 30/12/2018 12:11

I was in there once and there was a party of lads on a stag do in there having a great time

They all had dinner jackets on and I dont recall anyone cringing

Wear what you are comfortable in and even if you want to wear a long ball gown do, it Its your night so enjoy it

GenerationSnowflake · 30/12/2018 12:12

OyOy
mate, the most dress up women I have ever seen are the ones going to rough boxing match in London. Nothing wrong with that, it seems to be the unwritten dress code there. If you dress up that way in a restaurant, you will look out of place and likely feel out of place.

I am sorry you felt insecure and have to insult posters who pointed that out. You can apply your low-grade, insecure, classless and outright nasty to yourself. I hope that helps my dear Smile

Everyone else is saying it's a lovely restaurant and the OP will have a wonderful time.

Birdsgottafly · 30/12/2018 12:14

OyOy, you don't seem to understand how unpleasant and embarrassing it is to be poor.

That's the problem with poor people these days, they have no humility or shame about their circumstances.

You must mirror your betters, so not to humiliate yourself.

But then it gives us all a laugh, when they get it wrong.

HarrySnotter · 30/12/2018 12:23

Here we go ... Confused

OP I hope you have a wonderful time, it's a lovely place to go.

OyOy · 30/12/2018 12:28

But then it gives us all a laugh, when they get it wrong

I thought we only laughed at them when they tried too hard to be like us - bless 'em.

But seriously OP -hope you & your husband have a lovely time, sounds like the staff will do everything they can to ensure that.

And now I want the cheese soufflé....

GenerationSnowflake · 30/12/2018 12:31

gosh some posters have a real chip on their shoulders, haven't they?

I have never been to many cities in the word, and would be the first to ask what the dress code is if I was invited to one of the nice restaurants there. It's a shame some insecure and unpleasant trolls make fun of the most light-hearted thread and have to bring it to their petty level. Jealousy is such a nasty trait.

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