LA PHARMACIE ANGLAISE — Restaurant in Brussels

I come here periodically for an after work drink. I’ve even brought a group of 8, and we all enjoyed it.

After trying to book a party of 10 at 5 PM on a Thursday, I was treated so disdainfully I now know how the others feel who have commented on here, such as the notable number of people of color left out in the rain instead of even being turned away in person.

On March 30, I called to book a table for 10 on a Thursday at 5, when this place is never busy. I was told to send an email. I did, explaining the number of guests, time, and preferred table. Here is my email in full:

“Hello,

I called yesterday regarding a reservation on April 20, 2023 at 5:00 PM. We have currently 10 people. If possible, it would be great to have the large rectangular table down the stairs plus the one seated table directly above that.

We should only stay for around 90 minutes – one drink.

Many thanks,”

A week later, with no reply, I went and got a drink and checked in on the email. I was told to follow up by email. I did, and I was told for a group of 10 you need a 300 euro down payment, non-refundable. That’s fine, but with this new information, I replied that we’ll pass, as I can’t guarantee everyone will want two cocktails at 5 PM on a workday.

This is from their reply:

“We are a premium cocktail bar. Prepayment of 300€ does not even correspond to 2 cocktails per person according to our current tariff.

So please don't bother us in the future with booking requests such as yours with so many demands: - desired table, additional chairs, 90 minutes, 1 drink, ...

Regards,

The Management LA PHARMACIE ANGLAISE” ——

Yeah, that’s definitely a pass!

I suggest you pass, too, if you place a premium on any sort of customer service. Or get your drink, but, if it’s only one, try to ignore that your presence there is a “bother.”

This place is not...

Rather underwhelming experience, despite the Pharmacie supposedly being one of the best cocktail places in town. We hadn't checked in here for some time after some mixed experiences and here is what really put me off during our recent visit:

My signature cocktail was really bland and watery. It lacked punch and I drank it just to get it over with, without actually enjoying it. No transparent ice in my glass (standard in most upscale cocktail bars nowadays) which would have been congruent with the glass and style of drink, just a chunk of white ice so also the presentation was lacking imho. My partner's signature cocktail was tangy, not terrible but not great either. the water glasses were not properly cleaned. waiting staff asked us to settle the bill straight away after bringing our first and only round of drinks, emphasizing we could leave a tip (which we did as always, and for that we were counting on attentive service afterwards in return). Waiting and bar staff didn't bother to check if everything was okay with the drinks, despite passing a few times and checking on a few other clients. Else I would have definitely voiced my concerns to them. waiting and bar staff didn't even check if we were up for another drink, so we just left without being noticed. the couple next to us had to ask for complementary water and got the same treatment (so it wasn't just us)

So all in all, for 16€ a drink, I expect a quality cocktail and service that is up to par. That really is not too...

Horrific experience - How to ruin a perfect nigh out.

I reserved a table and was asked a deposit of 250 euros for 8 people. We didn’t get a proper room, only a table in a noisy room. Only the classical cocktails were good, although the quantities were ridiculous and there was mostly ice. The non classical ones were either too sweet or too sour.

Once we finished our cocktails and tried to leave, we realised that the remaining of the caution would not be refunded. We were obliged to consume what was left, so another round each. After discussing, the waiters and the manager become very rude and not happy at 2am sharp, they switched on some very shining neons and forced everyone leave - while we were still drinking.

So not only they trick you into paying more thank you want, they also treat you unpolitely. Clearly they don’t want customers to be happy, but just to wring you out.

I definitely recommend not to go.

From the answer they left you can see that 1) they have no issue sharing their costumers private information, 2) they confuse people not showing up with people that are available to reserve and pay a deposit 3) how resentful, offensive and unwilling to improve their service they are.

"Pharmacie" is misleading, you should call...