Le Chapon Fin — Restaurant in Bordeaux

Felt like fine dining satire.

This was a restaurant recommended by someone who hadn't been there in a decade and that checks out. Perhaps the tasting menu I had was a trial as there was a rather bland uniformity to all the dishes and may someone free the chef from the shackles of foamy soup.

Every single dish was buttery, very mildly sweet, mildly salty and I really wish there was a distinct flavor variation. Given that it's a tasting menu, I found myself confused by the chef's approach. We start with oysters with whipped or is it butter foam, then it's followed by oysters (again?) and muscles in an emulsified soup, then comes foie gras which pretty much treads a rather similar texture profile to the last two dishes; buttery, a little salty, and a little sweet. I just couldn't finish this. I don't love foie gras to begin with but when you'e already had two buttery dishes, it's too much.

At this point I'm thinking, perhaps the fourth dish will be the highlight, oh no, here comes a white fish, on yet another foamy soup/sauce with peas and a side of you guessed it, some buttery soup/sauce. I recall this dish being mildly citrusy. Perhaps it's also personal preference but fish/seafood tend to have a velvety/buttery texture so to have that accompanied by other velvety/buttery textures felt overwhelming. I would have loved something with a more pronounced citrus/acidic taste to break up this butteriness that every dish had. I mean seafood and citrus are incredible parings.

I'm glad they at least served bread so I could cover up my disappointment and displeasure by munching on it. I just can't imagine that a group of chefs created this tasting menu and no one remarked on the repetitive textures and flavor profile.

On the plus side, beautiful restaurant and lovely staff. Though something also just feels rather soulless about...

Let me get this out of the way: if you are a seasoned fine dining enthusiast you won't find here dishes that will blow your mind. That is simply not the intention of this place.

It's French cuisine with a few twists, in an unique setting and absolutely incredible wine pairings.

So if you make it here: make sure to ask for one of the tasting menus AND make sure you splurge the extra for the custom pairings. We had a grapefruit starter +white wine combo that exploded in our mouths into orgasmic delight, another white that tasted like zesty passion fruit when accompanied by our fish dish, a red that infinitely prolonged the feel of our cheese board and a Sauternes that made a "5 way" Orange dessert come to life.

Service was kind and genuine, always happy to help and answer any questions. Both Sommeliers were very helpful in explaining their choices as well.

Overall price was very acceptable taking into account the overall experience.

So if you are looking to indulge in fine cuisine and wine, this is a good choice. It's also a classic19th century joint, originally frequented by the likes of artist Toulouse-Lautrec, and the unique interior decor is barely changed from 1901, when the whole back of the room was infused with "rocaille", a sprawling rock that makes dining in the room so...

Where to begin….

From the get go all decorum was lost when our server was apparently unpleased with our 10 person group choosing the three course menu. This was followed by a totally inept excuse of a sommelier who was not very aware of the wines we ordered, confusing chateaus and vintages our table had ordered. I guess the maitre’d felt the need to comment on how fast we ate our bread and butter “this is not breakfast” he said, a total lack of grace but just a detail. After having to decide on our main course weeks prior, they absolutley blew the order to the tune of “you ordered 7 ducks and 3 fish, but we placed 7 fish and 3 ducks, what would you like to do” scandalous. We realized we were on the set of a very bad soap opera when our aperitif was being delayed because the “sommelier” was hitting on two other women in our dining room. This went on for at least 10 minutes. He rolls the aperitif cart to us after which we of course cancel our order since we saw no need to keep funding this type of place. By now it was very obvious they were very displeased with our group; we were too demanding on a half full wednesday night I guess.

Our hats come off for the kitchen staff who delivered wonderful food despite having such an amateur front house. Such a beautiful venue deserves better...