Restaurant Cook'in — Restaurant in Épernay

Title: A Misguided Attempt at Fusion with Disappointing Results

I recently dined at Cook’in in Épernay, lured by the promise of an intriguing blend of Thai and French flavors. What I found, however, was a misguided interpretation of fusion cuisine that left my entire group underwhelmed and, frankly, regretting the visit.

Our meal began with a Tom Yum soup that was supposed to introduce us to the authentic flavors of Thailand. Instead, we received a bowl of vaguely sweetened water with an overpowering fish sauce undertone. It was served in a flimsy pot with a weak candle below, seemingly intended to “cook” the raw seafood that accompanied the dish. Unfortunately, the candle barely provided enough heat to keep the soup warm, leaving the seafood uncooked and unappetizing. It was clear that the restaurant’s understanding of this iconic dish was lacking, to say the least.

The main courses didn’t offer any reprieve. Despite ordering a selection of different dishes, we all ended up with nearly identical plates featuring the same tired assortment of wok-fried vegetables. Not only were they visually uninspired, but the vegetables themselves tasted far from fresh. Each dish was advertised as having unique flavor profiles, but in reality, they all seemed to be variations of the same bland theme. The monotony on the table was undeniable, and our excitement for trying different flavors quickly faded.

The service only added to the lackluster experience. Our waiter was distant and seemed irritated when we politely pointed out that we had been waiting far longer than anticipated. To make matters worse, our table received only a couple of dishes initially, leaving the rest of us waiting while our companions finished their plates. For a restaurant that claims sophistication, this kind of staggered service was both confusing and disappointing.

I opted for a glass of Bordeaux to elevate the meal, but it was poorly chosen – tasting more acidic and flat than any decent wine should. To cap off the experience, I felt unwell shortly after returning home, enduring what can only be described as an intense bout of food poisoning. It’s been years since I’ve experienced anything like this after dining out.

Given the glowing reviews, I had expected an impressive experience at Cook’in. What I encountered was a restaurant that falls short on almost every front, from the food to the service. Cook’in was, unfortunately, a lesson in overhyped expectations and...

we have eaten at this fusion restaurant last week with my parents who came from china. whole family was eager for this fusion food with a bit asian touch. we are family of 6, arrived very early, actually we are the 2nd table seated by the time of arrival. we quickly ordered food, and after a long waiting time. finally the entree arrived. the spring rolls are so small like finger size. Both my husband and I went to Thailand many many times, also ate spring rolls in France many times, we have never seen such little spring rolls. ;) anyway, kids were hungry, despite long and long waiting time, finally kids food arrived. gosh, i have never seen such "little" food for kids menu. My mom ordered a glass of Bordeaux red wine. the Thai lady did not offer to test, unfortunately my mom did not like the wine which was the almost the bottom of that bottle. We have waited, waited for our food, not coming, we looked around, by this time, the restaurant was almost full, no one is having food.... nothing complicated. We were almost annoyed by this speed of serving... then i asked the french lady who served drinks. she was very impolite and told me, they are full, cannot you see? and she can not help on the speed... well... that was disappointing.. finally the soup arrived. we supposed to put raw sea food in the pot, however the soup is not hot, and little candle under is too far to reach to heat the pot. we again, waited and waited the sea food to be cooked...unfortunately that night, my husband had diarrhea... well.. you go figure. Main course arrived, we have ordered 2-3 different dishes, however the side dish - the wok fried vege are the same vege served... lucky we have not order the "surprised" menu, anyway. we could not understand why they got such good review. we do not recommend this place if you need to eat quickly, or you know what is thai food...

I’m so confused by the great reviews and the bib gourmand rating because this restaurant was incredibly mediocre and very disappointing. The steak tartare was very tough.. in hindsight it shouldn’t have been like that and we should have sent it back. The shrimp curry was mostly vegetables. The steak was good but nothing to write home about. I do not understand the hype, because pretty much any Thai restaurant in Canada is better than this one. The atmosphere is nothing special either, and the service was very slow (took nearly an hour to get our food after ordering). I really just don’t understand why such a meh restaurant has such good reviews and a...