My wife and I are French, and this is the most authentic experience we've ever had in the US. The owners have done an amazing job replicating the experience of eating in a casual bistro in Paris. Sadly, that's the reason some of these negative reviews by Americans are so bad. You have to know what to expect. The food is truly excellent. It's by no means the best French food you will ever have, but it is by far the best we have ever had here. In France, it would be considered above average, casual fare, the kind you expect to pay little for but truly enjoy. It's this kind of unpretentious fare that we've been longing for. You should expect smaller portions and higher prices for some dishes. Although you wouldn't pay as much in France, it's worth the little extra to get this quality here in America. For example, the 3 slices of foie gras we ordered as an appetizer cost us $20, but they were delicious. This is not something easy to find here in the states. If you do, it's usually terrible. The only downside was that it was served a little warmer than we would have liked. The service is indeed terrible by American standards, but we felt right at home. In America, you expect immediate service, and you want the check delivered the second you've put the last bite in your mouth. In France, it is extremely rude to bring the check before you actually ask for it, as it would imply that the waiters are trying to get rid of you so they can give your table to another customer. Many aspects of life are much more laid back in France. People take time to appreciate friends and food, and the speed of service allows for this. Go with those you love. We had no reservation when we arrived, but we were seated relatively quickly (10 minute wait at the bar while arrived). Our order was also misplaced or misunderstood, but they were packed and it was very noisy. Take your time. Enjoy yourself. Roll with it.
We went here for my wife's birthday. We had requested a large quiet table and that is exactly what we got in a quiet corner of the dining room. Service was exquisite and so was the food. We were treated to a complimentary champagne for my wife's birthday. It was our little piece of Paris for an evening. When we return to Charleston, we will return to La Fourchette and you should too
Food was very good and the atmosphere was awesome. Service was impeccable. I just wish that the mozzarella with anchovies for $14 had more than 1 tiny anchovy in it. The flavors were great when you got to that one spot, but would have been better if we could have enjoyed more than one bite of the melded flavors.