2nd October 2010 As soon as I walked in to La Cantine I was greeted with warmth and top service. Everything from our starters to dessert were exceptional. I ordered a snapper meal as my mains which was absolutely delicious, the creme brulee dessert was the best sweet taste to end the evening's meal. Service here is as superb as the food and champagne, I'd recommend La Cantine to anyone who wants the whole spectrum of French cuisine experience.
26th February 2012 Read this to save you money and a really bad experience... I have never feel felt strongly enough before now to write a restaurant review but even two weeks after visiting, I felt this had to be done. I am English (not known for good food) and even I found this restaurant's quality of food simply not good enough. The steak was very small and not cooked as asked. The accompanying beans and cheesy potatoes just lacked flavour, same as the steak. I honestly could have done better. Getting steak right in any restaurant should be a cornerstone of their menu. I did not finish the meal because I simply did not enjoy it. The price charged is high which is fine if you get what you pay for, but based on our experience here we did not. The waiter, presumably part of the management team, asked did I enjoyed it, to which I said I did not, the same money I could go eat at another restaurant on Ponsonby and the food would taste fresh, be flavoursome - to which the French guy said, "this is as fresh which we can make it, it could not be more fresh". I explained they should go and taste/experience the competition, to see what else the money they were charging, would get you on Ponsonby. I don't think they will have done anything, but I certainly encourage you to. And remember this is coming from an Englishman who is not hugely into food but knows enough.
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annetvdberg
22nd February 2012 We had a really bad experience here, it felt like we totally wasted our money. We were here the day after Valentines day and were in for trying something new rather than going to our regular place. I ordered the goat cheese salad to have as a main and my partner the steak with potatoes and green beans. First of all the salad was more like a side dish made with no imagination at all. It only contained some mixed salad leaves, one old tomato and a few drips of vinaigrette (tasted like it was from a bottle) and on top of that four pieces of very dry toasted bread with a tiny bit of goat cheese, that's it!! I could have made this myself at home for less than half the price, with fresh ingredients and a little more imagination (like some pine nuts, capsicum, spring onion, croutons, fresh dressing, etc..) The stake my partner had was very small and tasteless. The green beans were overcooked and the potato gratin was not fresh, it tasted like something out of the freezer.
I don't know how this restaurant survives in an area where you can find so much more quality for the same or less money, I know I will never ever go here again!
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rinapatelmemore
2nd October 2010 As soon as I walked in to La Cantine I was greeted with warmth and top service. Everything from our starters to dessert were exceptional. I ordered a snapper meal as my mains which was absolutely delicious, the creme brulee dessert was the best sweet taste to end the evening's meal. Service here is as superb as the food and champagne, I'd recommend La Cantine to anyone who wants the whole spectrum of French cuisine experience.
As soon as I walked in to La Cantine I was greeted with warmth and top service. Everything from our starters to dessert were exceptional. I ordered a snapper meal as my mains which was absolutely delicious, the creme brulee dessert was the best sweet taste to end the evening's meal. Service here is as superb as the food and champagne, I'd recommend La Cantine to anyone who wants the whole spectrum of French cuisine experience.