Rotisserie Henri IV — Restaurant in Épernay

Very disappointing experience. We were recommended to go here (because of their great food and ambiance) during a champagne tasting. We tried making a reservation in the afternoon for the same evening with no answer to our calls. On the evening we just went there and they had a table for us. From the street side, the restaurant is not indicated with a logo or anything, so only when the restaurant is open you'll know for sure there's a restaurant there.

The goatcheese salad was a joke, with either old lettuce or an unsharp knife used. It was uninspiring. My table partner had a porc dish which was more appreciated. For dessert we had a framboise crème brûlée which was nice and after that we went for the cheese platter. This cheese platter was a disgrace ! The same brown lettuce on a plate with a piece of Brie, a cheese that appreared to be a Comté and a goatcheese. I was expecting better quality and more original or local cheeses. The brie I understand, but why not add a Langres for example?

Eventhough we speak French, we got the impression locals of French nationals got better, faster and more personal service. I would have probably given the place a 1star rating in case the waiters weren't friendly and the terrace/ garden wasn't...

Overall average given that is one of the few options for dinner in Ay it's ok. More details below.

Things I liked: +The terrace - much more beautiful than in the photos. Ambience - the hip style of the rotisserie. Interior decor as well as the garden. I loved the fruit trees.

Things that can be improved: Reservation system - it would be great to have an online reservation system. We tried to go to this place for 4 days until we finally managed to get a place for lunch which would have been handled easier for both parties by having an online reservation system. No English menu - for a very turistic area the restaurant does not provide the menu in English which leads to a bit of a gamble on what you are ordering or the excessive usage of Google Translate. Food options - given that this is a rotisserie the fact that the rotisserie stuff is not available for lunch (eg. The roaster from the pit, lamb etc.). Maybe we were unlucky but in the country of chicken how hard can it be to get chicken? Service - mixed friendliness of the staff. The female staff is true and not trying to understand, during lunch we had one of them walking away without trying to understand what we...

I can't comment on the food because I wasn't allowed to eat there! I arrived at 12.30. They close at 2. I was seated by the head waiter, an older gentleman. Then I sat for ten minutes, chose my meal and champagne.

Then the older waiter came back and said I couldn't eat there because I didn't have a reservation. The restaurant is big. There were at least 20 more tables, maybe more, that were available. Anyway, I thought he was joking, but apparently not.

It was extremely humiliating and the other guests were looking at me like, what the??? I don't know if it was because I was alone and he didn't want me taking up an outdoor table, or if I didn't look wealthy enough, or he just didn't think I was dressed well enough (I had on a t-shirt and pants). Maybe he didn't want to serve me an hour and a half before close? Or he just disliked me? He was really abrupt and rude about it. I wanted to die. I've been in France for two weeks and no French person has been rude to me, let alone this rude. Horrible. Other reviews say the staff is kind--perhaps just not to a single, somewhat eccentric-looking middle-aged woman.

It was a really nice garden, but it is important to be kind. Lecent19...