Les Moules du Cabanon — Restaurant in Bordeaux

RUDE TO AMERICANS - WILL NOT SERVICE YOU

After a long day of walking around Bordeaux, my husband and I wanted to grab a bite to eat. We had just passed the Miror d'eau and came upon a few different eateries. One is Les Moules. The patio, which had over 30 tables, only had 4 tables taken, it looked like a spot with lots of availability and could use the business. There was no staff to greet us at the entrance, so my husband walked inside and asked in French for a table for 2. A man pointed to the empty patio and gestured to take a seat. The only tables that were empty and clean were a series of 4 tops. So we sat on one side across from each other, leaving the other side intact.

And then we waited....for what seemed a bit too long for a restaurant with no patrons.

I then saw a waitress come on to the patio, look at us, then walk towards the man that had gestured to us. She asked him a question and pointed our way... she seemed to be asking if "we were his customers/table." And this is when it began to get uncomfortable..... he looked towards us like he was searching for the people she was referred to. Clearly, he could see us. And clearly, we were the same people he told to be seated moments before. He then shook his head no and walked toward our table. We thought to ourselves, finally he is coming to properly welcome us and take an order. But no. He walked by our table and, without looking at us, said,' First , no, this is a table for 4, and you are 2', and then he began to walk to the other side of the patio. We didn't know in his poor English and poor mannerism if that meant to follow him to a new table so we stood next to him as if he was going to suggest a new spot he preferred us to sit. Then a woman came up and asked for a table, and he just ignored us. And continued to do so...as he sat the next 14 patrons.

It was so incredibly rude. And I think I now know why the restaurant patio was empty. They do not like Americans, and they do not want their business. I was literally 6inches from his shoulder saying "Monsieur, our table?" And he kept ignoring us and talking around me to other patrons.

It was so over the top rude that I took a picture of the menu with the intent to warn other American patrons.

The Intercontinental Hotel ended up getting our business that night. They are across from the Opera House and have a beautiful outdoor patio and bar. A cute eatery called Brasserie Bordelaise won our business another night. I would NEVER recommend a spot that doesn't want customers and doesn't want to "deal with Americans." It...

We tried to eat at this restaurant on 13th June in the early evening when the place was virtually empty. One of our party was slightly ahead and had sat down at an outside table to look at the menu and await service. The rest of our party arrived a minute or two afterwards and requested that a small table adjacent be moved so that the 4 or 5 of us could all sit together. The waiter looked to the heavens, looked completely disinterested and walked away. When he returned a minute or two later his attitude and demeanor was even worse and his behaviour made it clear to us that this wasn't a restaurant we wanted to eat at and so we all left and spent a sizable sum of money and had a wonderful meal at a restaurant around the corner.

To give you an idea of the restaurant's commitment to customer service, 2 weeks ago I sent a polite email in french to the management outlining what had happened, explaining our disappointment at not being able to eat at Les Moules du Cabanon and suggesting that a little CS retraining of the waiter might be in order.... 2 weeks later I have received zero reply, not even an acknowledgement... Very poor service all round at all levels. Suggest discerning customers give this...

Outstanding food and exceptional service. A nice spot opposite the river. Nothing flamboyant but everything you want in a moules et frites restaurant. Our waiter/server was excellent. He was so enthusiastic and exceptionally helpful when it came to choosing what wine to have. We were able to sample a couple before selecting a bottle for dinner, which was as good as expected. However, dinner was spot on. Mussels is, possibly, a simple dish but this was anything but. We had the Provencal and the Ardennes. Along with a simple but very tasty bowl of frites and bread they were an excellent choice. Follow this with creme brulee that was the best we tasted in Bordeaux. So, overall nothing to fault this place. Excellent food, great wine and outstanding service. It's a shame were home in the UK now and can't go there for...