Le Cellier Volnaysien — Restaurant in Beaune

Had very disappointing experience at this restaurant today. Was told would have to wait 20 minutes for table for 2 outside even though many tables, including tables for 2, were empty. My husband and I waited as group after group, including cyclists with no reservations, showed up and were seated outside. I asked the Madame again if we could be seated at the still empty table for 2, she made a reference to the Monsieur who had seated all the others and walked away. Having waited 25 minutes on a beautiful day, we left hungry and frustrated. This was the first of our 2 day visit to Burgundy. Needless to say, it left a very bad impression.

Sir,

I am now reacting you your response to my review which finished with this comment: "So before you take us down for free on social media, please ask!" I did ask, that was the whole point of my review if you had read it thoroughly. I asked when I first arrived if my husband and I could sit at a table on the terrace. I was told we would have to wait 20 minutes. As I wrote, we waited over 25 minutes while many tables remained empty. If they were all reserved, why was I told to wait? Why wasn't I told they were all reserved? Because of that wasted time, we weren't able to find a place for lunch before a scheduled wine tasting. Again, not the introduction to Burgundy we had so been...

Best restaurant of the area. Must book to get a table, and makes a perfect lunch stop for your cycling or driving itinerary through these timeless vineyards and chateaus. . In this tiny yet famous village, you'll find, behind a walled courtyard, a subterranean restaurant with warmth and charm and true local old style character. The best regional food and a mighty Burgundian wine list which would be hard to top, and is yet quite reasonably priced. For white (rich big but delicate Chardonnay) there is a Goute D'or from a local vintner which you cannot buy from wine stores (always sold out). Amazingly, at the time the cheapest or second cheapest red was a perfectly aged 20 years old wine which will never forget the taste of. it was in 2010 that we went, bu ti will always be perfect i suspect....

Deuxième visite, mais quelle déception.

J’avais hâte de faire découvrir ce restaurant à mes amis, après une première expérience agréable sur la jolie terrasse. J’avais donc réservé pour 12 personnes, trois mois à l’avance, en pensant que nous pourrions en profiter.

À notre arrivée, quelle surprise : nous sommes placés à l’intérieur, sans aucune explication préalable. Quand je demande pourquoi, l’accueil glacial de la directrice m’a laissée sans voix. Aucun mot d’excuse, aucune tentative de trouver une solution, juste un sec : « Si vous ne voulez pas rester, vous êtes libres de partir. »

Évidemment, avec un groupe de 12 personnes, difficile de faire demi-tour. Nous sommes donc restés.

Heureusement, le reste de l’équipe a été sympathique. La carte est simple mais bonne, la sélection de vins intéressante, et au final, nous avons tout de même passé un bon moment — malgré le contexte.

Mon conseil à ceux qui réservent : exigez des confirmations écrites, car ici, même si vous réservez longtemps à l’avance, rien ne garantit que votre demande soit respectée. Le restaurant tourne bien, il est quasiment seul dans le coin, alors le ressenti client semble bien secondaire.

Je ne reviendrai pas. Un sourire, un mot gentil, un minimum de considération : est visiblement trop demander. J’ai eu la sensation d’être perçue comme un simple billet sur...