Garcon Bleu — Restaurant in Adelaide

After our initial experience at Garçon Bleu, we left disheartened, but I must say their response to our feedback was impressive and worth acknowledging. Someone from the restaurant reached out to us after reading my review and kindly invited us back with a voucher to encourage a second visit. This thoughtful gesture showed that they take customer feedback seriously, and I appreciated the effort they made to redeem themselves.

This time, the experience was significantly different from our first visit. We were seated immediately, a welcome change from the 45-minute wait we endured previously. The atmosphere was much more relaxed, likely due to the restaurant being less busy, which made for a more enjoyable dining environment.

Our server, Rina, truly stood out with her impeccable attention to detail. She made sure our drinks were always topped up, and we never felt rushed or neglected.

The food was equally impressive. I had the NT Barramundi, which was cooked to perfection—delicate and flavorful. My husband ordered the Southern Rock Lobster Thermador which quite enjoyable. Finally, as lovely surprise to mark our anniversary, we were treated to two house-made chocolates at the end of the meal—creamy, delicious, and a sweet touch to round off the evening.

While our initial visit was undeniably disappointing, I’m happy to report that Garçon Bleu made up for it with exceptional service and delicious food during our second experience. I commend the team for their commitment to improving and creating a memorable evening.

If you catch them on a night when they aren't overwhelmed, Garçon Bleu has the potential to offer a fine dining experience worth revisiting.

Original Review:

We had booked a table at Garcon Bleu for a special occasion—our wedding anniversary. Unfortunately, what should have been a memorable evening turned into a huge disappointment.

We arrived a couple of minutes before our 8 PM reservation, and were told by the restaurant manager that our table wasn’t quite ready. That was fine, and she assured us it would only take two minutes. We were seated at the bar while we waited—but unfortunately, those two minutes turned into 45.

In all that time, no one bothered to check on us or update us about our table. As the wait stretched on, we became increasingly frustrated and disillusioned with the lack of attention.

Finally, after 45 minutes of being completely ignored, we decided enough was enough. We informed the restaurant manager that we were leaving and that we were unhappy with how things had been handled. Her response? A casual apology, claiming she had simply forgotten about us.

Forgetting about customers is bewildering and highly unacceptable from a high end restaurant. Her excuse was appalling, and the lack of care from the staff was beyond disappointing. Needless to say, we left without eating and with a sour taste in our mouths. We won’t be returning, and we wouldn’t recommend Garcon Bleu to anyone looking for a special dining experience or any kind of dining...

This was a proper fine dining experience

Staff are professional and thorough. Great product knowledge and understanding of food and beverage service and what they are serving to patrons.

Good attention to guests and great attention to detail overall.

We started with cocktails, and they were exceptional. We didn't book and were happy to sit at the bar with a drink to peruse the menu while waiting for a table.

The cocktail bar is a great spot, and within a few moments of sitting there, it was clear to see the staff know what they are doing and take pride in their work and service. Faultless.

At the table, they have a fantastic menu with great options for everyone. There are fantastic small plates, starters, and share items. An exceptional variety of dishes with a modern and classic French influence.

The wine list is extensive, and you could almost get lost in the options, but they are well laid out and easy to follow.

Staff were run off their feet, but it didn't show. It was very lively and busy with a great atmosphere. Their ability to service guests did not faulter.

Started with oysters, and they were fresh and amazing with the dressings.

House made bread and beautiful rich butter.

The beef fillet steak was incredible with all the trims. Beautiful ripe blistered truss tomatoes with full flavour, served with a traditional French sauce. Unfortunately, the shoe string French fries/Pommesl Frittes were not as cooked or crispy as I would have preferred, and the salad was lacking a bit of dressing and oomph. That was the only small downside. I ordered the beef fillet rare, and it was incredible. The fries and salad were not that important. Steak was impressive and cooked to perfection. Complimented by a big Barossa shiraz. It was a match made in heaven.

The bouillabaisse was incredibly good. A lovely range of fresh and tasty seafood in a warming flavoursome stew, perfectly balanced with traditional flavours. It was perfect for a winter night.

We finished with a beautiful French dessert wine, which was recommended and went down perfectly as an after dinner drink.

Highly recommended for those who want exceptional food and equally exceptional service...

Dear Sofitel Management,

I am writing to express my extreme dissatisfaction with the service I received during my recent visit to your establishment. As a loyal customer, the experience was not only upsetting but also unacceptable.

Last night, my party and I made a last-minute booking with Sofitel, specifically requesting a 2-course pre-theatre dining experience. The reservation was confirmed, and we were informed of a quick turnaround, with dining starting at 5:30 PM, requiring us to be there by 5:45 PM, and only having a 2-hour dining time for this menu.

Upon arrival at the restaurant, we were told that the allocated table for our party of four was not appropriate for the 2-hour dining period specified in our reservation. Despite expressing our willingness to wait and proceed with the 2-course pre-theatre menu, we were informed that the chef declined our request, citing a 24-48 hours booking requirement for that particular menu.

This situation was not only inconvenient but left us feeling deceived. The website promotion, booking confirmation, and our initial expectations were shattered when the restaurant insisted on a more expensive à la carte menu, requiring us to order two courses per person.

Adding to our dismay, the credit card on file threatened a $20 AUD charge per person if we chose to walk away. This coercive tactic only added to the frustration of an already disappointing experience.

My attempts to address the issue with the duty manager were met with the same inflexible response. Despite our willingness to dine at the restaurant, we were left with no alternative but to walk away from what was meant to be a pleasant evening.

This experience has raised serious concerns about the internal communication within your establishment and the overall standard of customer service at a purportedly 5-star hotel. As a return customer, I am deeply disappointed and question whether I will choose Sofitel for any future dining or event needs.

I hope you take this feedback seriously and implement measures to rectify the issues we encountered. Such incidents tarnish the reputation of your brand and drive away loyal...