Le Chandelier - Lordship Lane

[jools]

Hi

this is the first time I have ever posted on a forum but I wondered if it was just me or had anyone else had a bad experience in Le Chandelier (is that its correct name?) the very cute looking tea room at the end of Lordship Lane?

I really wanted it to be ok, so much so that I went back after the 1st time they were rude and the 2nd time they were rude and the 3rd time they have been rude I can no longer put it down to teething problems!

Its a gorgeous setting, the tea selection is amazing but although the staff are good to look at they are so mean!

Anyway, would love to hear from anyone else.

[Ladygooner]

Do a search on le Chandelier - you will find hundreds of comments - some good some bad!

[Bellenden Belle]

Overpriced, obnoxious, and while the tea is lovely, the sandwiches and cake (as someone who has had their cream tea) are miserable.

A recent Time Out reviewer agreed....

Style over substance I'm afraid.

But Jools - beware, a first time negative post - I did exactly the same thing over a year ago... weather the storm, people get protective on here of their favourite joints... but we all stay friends in the end.

Welcome.

[SeanMacGabhann]

BB put it very well - some people do get protective of their favourite joints (I'm one of them) but don't take it personally

Re: Chandelier. I find myself going more often, not less. I have had mixed experiences with the staff. I'm not going to sit here and say you couldn't possibly have had 3 bad experiences in a row because I reckon it's quite possible

But there isn't anywhere else like it and as you say the tea selection is fantastic. I've not had their sandwiches or cake - but the pastries were ice (if small) and the Bourgignone dish I had was lush recently. And I have to say I have had some good service as well

[Marmora Man]

I've always been lucky / favoured there and only once had a bad experience.

Just as it opened I did have a fairly lengthy and friendly chat with the lady owner (don't know her name) and subsequently she has always acknowledges me when I visit - which may help.

Like Sean I like the place, the selection of teas and the way in which drinking tea forces one to slow down and relax in a way that grabbing a S******** expresso / Latte / Whatever never does.

While not subscribing, totally, to stereotyping - a number of the staff do appear to be French and may be just "doing that French waiter thing"

[Indiana]

I have been here twice for brunch recently and both times service has been friendly and not overpowering and the Eggs Benedict was great. Yes, they weren't the quickest with the bill etc but overall I quite like the little place...

[Muttley]

Hi Jools

Your story sounds very familiar. Like you, I wanted to try it out, and really hoped it might be the classy little luxury joint to go to for those special occasions. I'd had good reports from others, including Mrs Muttley.

Mrs M and I dropped in late one evening after going to the theatre, thinking it would be a great way to top off what had been an excellent night. We sat at one of the small tables near the front, and they started off friendly enough. But once they'd served us a drink and a bite, they really didn't want to know. Every time we tried to get their attention (for another drink) they pointedly avoided making eye contact and their body language suggested they wanted us out of the place as soon as possible. Perhaps this is because there was a very lucrative party going on at the back and they wanted to devote their service to where the big dosh was. But they were just downright rude in a "you are not one of us" kind of way. Finally we got up to pay, and as if by magic, they were all smiles.

It seems from the patchy reactions the place gets that some people get this appalling treatment and some people don't. But they need to realise that those of us who are treated this way are going to spread the word. And at their prices, frankly I'm not prepared to give them a second chance. 'Le magic' has gone.

Grr.

(By the way, how do people pronounce their name? Shan-de-leer or Shon-dell-ee-ay ?)

[SteveT]

Say it with a 'leer'

It is a bit cliquey, but I like it in spite of it's price list, and think that it adds a touch of gracious living to ED.

[Muttley]

SteveT Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> It is a bit cliquey, but I like it in spite of

> it's price list, and think that it adds a touch of

> gracious living to ED.

There's nothing gracious about ignoring your customers. They could learn a thing or two from Claridges..

[Rach]

Love the look of the place and have been a guest at a brilliant birthday party in the room upstairs.

However, during the day......?8.50 for a salmon sandwich made with cheap white bread - not impressed.

Shame about the service complaints - it could be such a fabulous place.

[tomk]

Went to meet wife and her friend - made the mistake of taking our small child's buggy with me and sitting with them at the front of the shop (plenty of room for buggy and us). I was swiftly approached and told they could 'find room' for all of us out the back. Didn't return after that.

[JesusCappuccino]

..................

[SteveT]

muttley wrote:There's nothing gracious about ignoring your customers. They could learn a thing or two from Claridges..

Yes I agree it is more like snooty simpsons used to be, not like fortnum & mason.

[Cassius]

My partner took me to the Ritz for lunch as a birthday treat - we were treated with the utmost courtesy from Head Waiter downwards. I agree with Muttley: real class is having good manners not snootiness.

[Andyng]

You can get a big fillet odf samon for that much at the fishmongers

was this fresh wild salmon or something?

[char1ie]

Crap service and a confused offering IMO. Not bad but for somewhere that serves excellent offerings it's a shame that the service, decor and atmosphere don't match. Indifferent staff I thought, rather than rude.

Actually something I have noticed in East Dulwich generally is that staff cannot and will not smile at customers. Shame. We need more smiling I think.

Charlie

[Moos]

Sorry to hear that it's been your experience that ED'ers don't smile at customers, perhaps you've been unlucky. I honestly cannot say that I share it, I think on the whole people are both friendly and polite.

[char1ie]

I didn't say they're not friendly and polite. I said they don't smile.

Charlie

[Asset]

Do you smile at them Charlie? I bet if you bounded into a shop with a cheery "morning" and a big smile you'd get one back.

[Ganapati]

I'm not impressed with them. I've tried them out a couple of times mostly for cakes and coffee. Obviously coffee for them is an afterthought, as twice it was lukewarm. The cakes were middling at best. I don't go there anymore--much prefer the peckham rye park cafe. Can be a little nutty with all the kids though.

[ludoscotts]

hi I found the staff there extremely unhelpful and rude. I go to an exercise class with my baby on a thurs morning and 2 weeks ago we decided to go there for a drink when class finished. there were 3 mums and babies and we were turned away as they have a 2 pram rule. I understand if they were short of space but there wasnt another person in there and the room at the back was huge. we offered to put the prams down but were told ahain that there was no room for us. If it was a weekend and it was busy I could understand but there was no customers they obviously are doing so well that they dont need customers.

[RosieH]

I think it's just the owner's personal eccentricity - prams really wind her up. That doesn't help you when you're struggling with a pram though...

for myself, I'm quite a fan - I've found the service has improved since it first opened and my cakes have always been good. that said, I don't go in weekly so they could be erratic and I've just been lucky

the silver needle tea's delicious

[*Bob*]

Not the ideal postcode (nor economic climate) for a shopkeeper to be exercising such personal eccentricities, wouldn't you say?

[RosieH]

I probably would, and I know it's wrong, but it makes me laugh a little bit.

come the time when I'm a frazzled mum looking for a nice cake and a sit down, I'm quite sure I'll stop laughing

[Alan Dale]

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