DINER'S JOURNAL - Comments

David comments on Service Alert: Le Repaire de Cartouche and Mon Vieil Ami

David — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:14:56 +0000

It's funny, because we go to La Pizzetta semi-frequently, and always had great servers. (Last time they gave us a free glass of wine. Maybe to make up for being nasty to Alec?) But it shows that service can really vary which is why I tend to overlook it, as mentioned, if they got swamped or whatever. It's when they're intentionally disagreeable to the point of being obnoxious, as they were at La Repaire de Cartouche, it's worth calling them out for.

On another note, the comments about "tourists" infiltrating restaurants in Paris and getting treated poorly: I think a lot of Americans get a bad rap (although a few deserve it...) and many are very interested and knowledgeable about cooking and dining, much more so than our fast-food loving reputation leads others to believe. As more European people travel to the states, and more food-lovers dining abroad challenge those misconceptions, would be interested in seeing if that perception changes.

Alec Lobrano comments on Service Alert: Le Repaire de Cartouche and Mon Vieil Ami

Alec Lobrano — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:28:45 +0000

Re the idea that Paris's new, innovative inexpensive bistros are too busy serving good food to fret service, I have to say that I disagree. But let me be clear about what I mean by good service--if the waiter or waitress is friendly and attentive, I'm usually willing to cut the kitchen some slack if they get overwhelmed and an unfortunate hole develops in the middle of the meal. What I won't put up with is the "I could care less" attitude that strangely creeps in at some of the city's most popular young bistros, the unstated idea being that you're lucky to be here, so shut up.

And thanks to STA for confirming my horrific experiences at La Pizzetta, an unbearably pretentious and unpleasant place.

STA comments on Service Alert: Le Repaire de Cartouche and Mon Vieil Ami

STA — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:58:54 +0000

To all the "tourists" whether or not they come from an Anglo-Saxon country : don't think that they treat you badly because you come from abroad and/or don't speak French. Service has always been a problem in Paris, even for real Parisians like me ! La Pizzeta for example is a terrible place for everybody in terms of service. I will never go ther again

Jaime A. comments on Service Alert: Le Repaire de Cartouche and Mon Vieil Ami

Jaime A. — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:50:36 +0000

Please add Senderens to that list! We had such terrible service there - especially from the sommelier, who literally ignored us all night, and never brought us the second bottle of wine we ordered because "he was so busy" !!!!

OK - so he gave back his Michelin star, but is this really acceptable for a restaurant charging those prices?

Chrisos comments on Service Alert: Le Repaire de Cartouche and Mon Vieil Ami

Chrisos — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:01:53 +0000

I don't think that waiters would treat you badly only because you don't speak french. I suffer from this as well...
For Drouant and Mon Vieil Ami, as it is owned by the same people and and they share the same reservation system, there was probably a mismatch.
A lot of bistro gastro consider focus on affordable good and inventive food, so service is considered as less important. And very often these places are over crowded so waiters are stressed and don't have time to serve people as they should.
Try to avoid going there on Friday and Saturday evenings, prefer lunch or the first days of the week!

Alec Lobrano comments on Service Alert: Le Repaire de Cartouche and Mon Vieil Ami

Alec Lobrano — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:49:49 +0000

Thanks to Christine, Sara and Kinneret for their posts. I discussed service with friends at a dinner party tonight, and 3 or the 6 people at the table immediately had horror stories to relate regarding bad service.

I'm going to be posting regular Service Alerts, so if you've had a bad service experience in a Paris restaurant, or any bad experience for that matter, please share it here.

Kinneret comments on Service Alert: Le Repaire de Cartouche and Mon Vieil Ami

Kinneret — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:18:13 +0000

Dear Alec,

Unfortunately I can immediately add Itineraires to this list. We had a reservation for a Saturday night, and we found out that by chance, our friends had already had a reservation for the same night. We called and they agreed to put us in the same table. Flexibility is appreciated. But they said nothing about this meal being served on a poor unstable metal table (like the ones they have outside) and on same kind of chairs, extremely uncomfortable, the ones that are good for a quick espresso, but surely not for a long meal. Our table was placed on a very narrow path, to the kitchen, and waitresses were practically hanging above our heads with their beautifully architectured dishes.
The staff was arrogant, very busy, unattentive throughout the whole meal. it was almost to the point of rudeness, including one cute looking waitress, that was hailing dishes names; that really brought back some memories of army service.
This was well beyond consequences of the positive intented improvisation after our request to join tables together. The restaurant was too busy, too crowded and was obviously too important to serve us.

Sara L. comments on Service Alert: Le Repaire de Cartouche and Mon Vieil Ami

Sara L. — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:51:42 +0000

We thought it was just us. We havd been big fans of Mon Vieil Ami ever since it opened, often recommending it to friends. The last two times we have eaten there, we have not only thought the food was not up to its original standard but also that the service was terrible: rude, lazy, pushy & supercilious. The last time we happened to be seated at the large communal table and everyone sitting there was joking about how bad it was. We won't be going back, even though we rent an apartment on L'Ile St Louis, and we won't be recommending it. Too bad.

Chrisitne comments on Service Alert: Le Repaire de Cartouche and Mon Vieil Ami

Chrisitne — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:25:16 +0000

I am so glad you included Mon Vieil Ami here. I made a reservation with them several months ago and called to confirm the afternoon of our reservation. They told me that they had no record of my reservation at first. When I insisted that I had made it and on which date and with whom they acquiesced and told me that unfortunately my reservation was mistakenly made at Drouant, a sister restaurant. Having no idea of Drouant I asked for some sense of what it was (being a Friday night at 7:30 pm..), the "gentleman" on the phone asked if I have internet and to look it up! Well, yes I do have the internet and in fact am VERY capable of telling the world about my experiences, merci.

The story does end well with a lovely meal at Drouant include a bottle of house champagne and a great table. It's a shame the "gentleman" who answered the phone at Mon Vieil Ami is allowed to speak though. It overshadowed the evening.

lauralilli comments on La Table 28 (great roast chicken)--B+, and HAND (another mediocre American place in Paris)--C

lauralilli — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 12:45:40 +0000

I have discovered a very good restaurant to eat good american food,named coffe link in Paris. I have found this address in www.mybestaddressbook.com where I always finnd very good restaurant and reviews on it.
Enjoy!