Restaurant le Farçon — Restaurant in Albertville

We were deeply disappointed with our last visit to Le Farçon. My husband and I loved it so much when we visited last year, that we invited two other couples to join us for lunch this year. It ended up being an awful experience for everyone.

The food was as amazing as ever. The dishes were creative, beautiful, and delicious. The service however was horrible. We were served an aperitif not too long after we sat down, and then all service stopped. After waiting patiently for an hour and 10 min, I finally asked the server if the meal was going to begin anytime soon. We hadn’t even been asked to order wine at this stage. Once food finally started to arrive, the time between courses was extremely long. A four course lunch should never last 2hr45min (would’ve been over 3hrs if we hadn’t inhaled dessert). Two members of our group had to leave before dessert was served in order to get the ski lifts before they closed. We were not compensated for the missing desserts or even given an apology.

Three of us regrettably ordered the wine pairing. I’ve been to many michelin starred restaurants and I don’t think I’ve ever seen such small pours before. It would have been better value to order two bottles of nice wine instead of paying €35 each for the equivalent of 1.5 glasses of wine. Not to mention, I have never in my life seen a wine pairing served without ever changing the glass. You would expect they would at least bring a new glass between the whites and reds. I suppose we could have emptied the dirty aperitif glass that sat on the table throughout the meal.

We had to rush out the door to catch the next shuttle (or wait 1.5hrs for the next one), and none of us were served the dessert wine pairing. We were not compensated for that either.

After requesting the bill 4 times, it finally arrived, yet no one came to collect it. We eventually had to go to the desk in order to pay. In spite of our best efforts, we still missed the shuttle and had to pay €40 for a taxi.

To top it all off, two of the guests in our group had an extremely bad case of food poisoning a few hours after the meal. This was the only meal that they’d had in common, so it’s most likely they received it due to the fault of the restaurant.

It is such a shame that the front of house is letting the kitchen down. The food is still outstanding, but who wants to lose an entire afternoon of skiing for a four course meal. On top of that, two of our group had to miss the entire next day of skiing due to exhaustion and dehydration from vomiting all night.

I really hope the FOH can get it together before the restaurant loses their star. Sadly, I don’t think we will choose to...

Restaurant Review: Le Farçon

Le Farçon offers a harmonious and welcoming atmosphere, which becomes particularly enchanting in winter with the snow-covered landscape outside. The interior design is tasteful, and the open kitchen with a glass window provides intriguing insights into the culinary process, though it somewhat compromises the staff’s privacy.

The wine list is impressive and diverse, catering to every taste and preference.

We opted for the 6-course surprise menu, which was overall excellent: the dishes were fresh, seasonal, and flavorful. The trout, the snails, and the Wellington were especially noteworthy, all masterfully prepared. The dessert was also delightful. However, a small downside was the reimagined salad, which was noticeably over-salted. While it was promptly taken back without issue, the incident was not directly addressed or politely apologized for by the service staff. Later, the chef showed attentiveness by making amends with an additional dessert, which we greatly appreciated.

The service, however, did not match the high quality of the kitchen. The pacing of the courses initially felt rushed, leaving little time to truly savor each dish. This was adjusted only after we pointed it out. Additionally, it was noticeable that the cutlery was sometimes placed carelessly, which is not expected in a Michelin-starred restaurant. As the evening progressed, the service became less attentive, exemplified by wine being refilled sporadically and only upon request. Another drawback was overhearing the staff discussing guests, which is entirely inappropriate for a restaurant of this caliber.

Overall, Le Farçon boasts exceptional cuisine, a charming ambiance, and an ambitious wine selection, showing great potential. However, a more consistent service experience is needed to elevate the dining experience fully to...

Le Farçon provided a delightful and cozy dining experience, leaving us thoroughly impressed with both the ambiance and the cuisine. The food was nothing short of exceptional—delicious, creative, and perfectly cooked. One dish that stood out was the green salad with its creamy topping, a wonderful balance of flavors and textures. The desserts were equally impressive.

Having visited the restaurant back in 2019, I can confidently say that it has improved significantly since then, offering even more refined dishes and attentive service. One aspect that surprised me, however, was being asked to keep the same cutlery throughout the entire dinner as part of their environmental initiative. While it’s an admirable effort towards sustainability, it felt a bit unusual in a fine dining setting.

Overall, Le Farçon is a gem worth visiting for its innovative menu and warm atmosphere. I look forward to...