La Passagère — Restaurant in Grasse

My husband and I have dined at many Michelin Star restaurants around the world from Napa to Florida to Italy and France…you get the idea. I would place this bottom 3 experiences we have ever had and I am not that picky to be fair.

See there is a delicate balance of trust when you are experiencing fine dining. In the right hands, you are taken on a journey, a dance of pleasure if you will. This experience was anything but that; and more like a feeding trough for animals. Let me continue to set the stage.

This was our last meal after a 12 day trip all around the French Riviera. We had the BEST Michelin experience in Nice at Flaveur on night 4. We walked in at 7:30 pm and left at 12:30am. Please note this was a 5hr time frame for 7-9 courses with wine pairing. We also ate at very basic restaurants during our trip. None EVER went less than 2 hrs with drinks and an entree. At La Passagerde, we were finished with a 7 course meal in under 2hrs, including the bill paid. Let me explain why this is an important detail to my 1 star review.

Upon arrival we were offered champagne and poured a full glass. We were then given bread and 2 “starter” dishes within 15mins. Have you ever drank a an entire glass of Rosa Champagne and basically half a meal in 15mins? I haven’t!? I was sort of confused and still trusting in the staff and experience since this is a Michelin Star experience.

After 30 more mins I had wine glasses stacking up that were half finished and when I excused myself from dish 3; 35 mins later to use the restroom because now I am not feeling so well, my plate was cleared!? No one can enjoy rich and complex dishes with wine pairings at a rapid pace that the staff was setting. It felt like they wanted to turn the table over to hurry and get more people through. It was extremely fake and impersonal with the staff. I lost all trust in the process.

Eating here was a race and my husband finished one of my plates because I felt so sick and couldn’t eat another bite of white fish drenched in sauce. I sat there moody and unresponsive to the staff and literally NO ONE ever bothered to ask how anything was or if I was ok…like I was lucky to even be there!? All the plates were fish and so basic. Literally nothing stood out and I was so full by the 3rd course because I ate 5 dishes in 45 mins that everything started to taste bitter. This was like a hotdog eating contest that I never entered…

This place reminds me of the Michelin star restaurants where the head chef used to be there but doesn’t go back anymore and the whole place is going down hill. It is a tourist trap at best.

If you are accustomed to fine dining and Michelin Star then do yourself a BIG favor and go into Nice and eat at Flaveur where the main chefs are still there and care about the experience. If you have never had a Michelin meal and enjoy eating and drinking like some is going to take your food from you during a 7 course meal that is done in 2hrs (check paid at 2 hrs) then this...

We went for dinner on a Saturday night and have mixed feelings about the experience.

What we liked: The view Historical building Amuse bouche presentation and taste the sea heritage menu produces, and its execution with great taste combination and texture pretty and well prepared cocktails. I asked for less alcohol and the dose was perfect interesting bread and butter

What we didn't like Mosquitoes. There were too many around their outdoor sitting. They should do something about it as it's spoiling the whole experience

very slow service. When we gave them. Feedback they said that some night are very busy and they are doing their best. We believe that when they charge 200 euro for any cancellation less than 48 hours prior, you have time to staff accordingly.

untrained waiters: we could feel a lack of organisation with a waiter holding a big tray for several minute's while waiting for others to come and bring the dishes to the table. Also we got interrupted every time they'd refill our glasses asking if we wanted still or sparkling water. They should remember that it one guest had sparkling and all the others had still.

no personality service. We like chit chat, humour and didn't even have a maitre d'hotel come and say Hi or ask where we were from, let alone the chef coming after the 4 hour dinner.

outdated decor with neon signs, electrical lamps that make terrible light. No candles on the tables when dining outdoor in the evening!

no ambiance music outdoors

our table was located near the staff corridor where we could see waiters going and coming

Mosquito repelling candles and fire torchs might be a...

Bonjour,

Je souhaite témoigner de mon immense déception et de mon insatisfaction vis à vis d’un dîner au restaurant La Passagère qui s’est tenu hier soir.

Le contexte est le suivant : j’ai offert pour les 70 ans de ma maman, un coffret cadeau « La mer en héritage » pour 2 personnes incluant l’offre initiale (une coupe de champagne pour l’apéritif ainsi qu’un menu en 5 services) accompagné de deux options à savoir un accord mets et vin et une bouteille d’eau minérale.

Mes parents ont planifié leur soirée le 24 septembre 2021 et lors de leur réservation téléphonique, ils ont précisé à l’interlocuteur de l’établissement :

D’une part, de dîner à l’intérieur en raison des baisses de température, par peur d’avoir froid (le début du service commençant à 19h30 et pas avant) D’autre part, quelques restrictions alimentaires pour des raisons médicales. La personne qui a réceptionné cet appel a validé ces demandes.

Le soir venu, mes parents arrivent au restaurant sereinement et première désillusion puisque le personnel qui les accueille leur indique que la salle intérieure n’est pas installée et que par conséquent ils dîneront dehors (ils n’étaient d’ailleurs pas positionnés sous un parasol, ce qui a rendu la soirée plutôt fraîche et pas très agréable lorsque l’on dîne et que l’on est statique pendant plusieurs heures).

Le second irritant (et pas des moindres), concerne le serveur qui s’adresse à mes parents pour la prise de commande de l’apéritif. Mes parents surpris, précisent que dans le coffret est inclus une coupe de champagne et demande à revoir le bon transmis en arrivant. Le serveur revient avec le document sur lequel est écrit explicitement le contenu du coffret mais insiste fortement en disant « nous ne nous basons pas sur la description du coffret mais sur les options listées ». Ce qui n’a aucun sens !!!! Il y a bien écrit « coupe de champagne » non de non !

Mes parents ont le sentiment d’insister alors qu’ils sont dans leur bon droit et le serveur part en expliquant « qu’il va voir pour autoriser cette demande ». Mais qu’est ce que c’est que cette attitude qui donne le sentiment que l’ont tente de grappiller quelque chose ?!

Le 3eme point concerne ensuite les plats puisque ma maman, voyant les « couacs » s’accumuler demande si les restrictions alimentaires indiquées lors de la réservation ont bien été prises en compte. Et à nouveau..ils s’aperçoivent que pas du tout !!!

En résumé, j’ai offert un coffret cadeau d’un montant onéreux qui implique des attentes en terme de qualité de services client et devant correspondre au standing d’un établissement tel que ce 5 étoiles (1 étoile pour le restaurant).

Hors, nous constatons une mauvaise communication entre le personnel lors de la réservation et le personnel sur place. Je ne comprends pas les informations contradictoires qui circulent.

D’autre part, le package (je parle ici de la coupe de champagne) que j’ai acheté a été discuté. Le serveur a donné le sentiment qu’ils « nous faisaient une fleur » alors que pas du tout, cela était bel et bien compris dans le tarif. Cela positionne le client comme un voleur alors que l’offre présentée sur le site est très claire !

Nous sommes très déçus du niveau de services proposés au regard des attentes et du prix dépensé. L’expérience client est négative en raison de l’attitude du personnel qui nous a fortement refroidi sur l’ensemble de...