Anthony L.
Yelp
I have not been in London long enough to properly sample the 'fromage' offering. (I mean no offence to most people, but the milk (industrial?) byproduct you consider as cheese does not quite qualify as Fromage....)
On other hand, I come with very high expectations (see http://www.yelp.fr/biz/alleosse-paris-2 for the Parisians... but there are so many others)
Part of me wanted to give La cave a Fromage 5 stars just for existing...
They obviously have a decent selection of cheese for that side of the Channel, and also sell cured meat. (charcuterie!)
I couldn't see goat cheese that was as creamy/dripping as I'd like, but I did not ask, and they probably have some that they hide not to scare the local crowd. I will update this review once I actually buy cheese there.
So, if I did not buy cheese, why the heck am I writing? I am getting there...
They also have 4 or 5 tables where you can have lunch, and sample cheese. That did not catch my eye, but...
Amid the decent selection of cheese in showcase I noticed a raclette machine! For those of you who never saw one, it's like a tanning lamp.
The Swiss and French use it to melt raclette cheese.
The melted cheese is served on top of potatoes with charcuterie on the side. I know it's not healthy, it's not light, but that's food porn.... After years abroad, deprived of anything looking like a decent Swiss or alpine restaurant, I just couldn't resist.
16 quids (with service) for 1 raclette and 1 wine glass (go with dry white wine).
(The portion is reasonable but not huge. That's probably a good thing. If not eaten just at the bottom of a ski slope after a day of sports, a huge platter will transform your stomach in solid lead for a night. Same thing happens if you drink water at the same time, no matter the size of the portion)
As Governator famously said "I'll be back...."