le bagatelle — Restaurant in Draguignan

Feedback for the restaurant administration.

We came to your restaurant following a strong recommendation from a local. We were warmly welcomed by a gentleman, who kindly offered us the last table outside even though we did not have a reservation. The setting felt romantic and inviting, and we ordered a bottle of wine.

However, when placing our food order, the lady who served us refused to accept our request to share a dorade (the special of the evening, recommended by the chef). Instead, she insisted that each guest must order a separate main dish. We politely declined. My husband then ordered only for himself. Despite that, two main courses were brought to the table: meat for him, and fish for me, although I had not ordered it.

From that moment, we felt a certain atmosphere of snobbery and pressure. No desserts or coffee were offered, and the bill was simply placed on the table. We still left a tip, as the food was well prepared and we do not hold the kitchen responsible for the service.

We were also told that this is a “high-level restaurant.” We did not argue with that. However, before being seated, we were not informed of any rule requiring each guest to order a separate hot dish. The portions served are extremely large – it is simply impossible for a woman who eats lightly to finish an entire fish alone.

We would sincerely like to know: do you consider this behavior professional? We are not here to accuse anyone, but to ask for the administration’s opinion, so that future guests are aware of your restaurant’s concept and expectations.

Reply for owner's answer: Thank you for your opinion. It is important and appreciated. However, the question was not about your internal restaurant experiences, finances, or prices. I promise that, as a customer, I will return to your restaurant in St. Tropez in a year and order my own portion to support you and shake your hand in a friendly way. No irony or sarcasm—just to support your business and your staff. But the question was about the professionalism of your service (comminication), to which, unfortunately, I did not receive an answer. Wishing you success, and...

This restaurant is situated in a beautiful picturesque side street/alleyway full of restaurants, slightly away from the super touristy harbor or the overpriced hotel in Saint Tropez. If I have to imagine a restaurant where the few locals (apparently they exist, because we met them) eat at, this is definitely one of those. The dishes are made with care and ingredients are fresh. I like the fish soup, where you first rub the raw garlic on the croutons, then you add cheese on top of the scrubbed garlic, then you drop it into the piping hot fish soup. It reminds me of the delicious hearty bouillabaisse I had in Marseille. I like the side rice and vegetables too. The owner husband and wife duo are very friendly. Reservation is recommended. They...

We booked for 13:30 and had to wait a little while to be seated, as only two servers were covering the whole terrace. Once seated, we were told the set menu had already run out, which was disappointing since it was one of the reasons we chose the restaurant. I ordered gambas, but when I realized they were served whole and quickly asked to change, I was told it was too late, even though it took a very long time after that for the food to arrive. Sadly, when the food finally arrived, it was quite basic and service felt stretched, though the waitress appeared to be doing her best under pressure. Overall, not worth it — I won’t...