La Rhétaise — Restaurant in La Rochelle

Very, very disappointing. It took them over 30 minutes to tell us they would not be able to serve us: two people with a 6-month old baby.

Plenty of seats available, but it took us 30 minutes to get the attention of the staff who we first gave the benefit of the doubt but after 20 minutes were deliberately ignoring us. We literally had to stand up and stand in front of them to get them to talk to us and they then told us they would not be able to serve us for another hour.

All it took was them taking 30 seconds out of their day to tell us straight away they had no capacity to serve us. Instead they had us wait for 30 minutes, which means we could not go for lunch at all that day (considering newborn's timings, etc).

People with newborns will know that you generally get one trip a day, so I do not think I exaggerate when I state that this essentially ruined our day.

They clearly lack any empathy or sense of hospitality and I would urge everyone to steer clear - plenty of hospitable, friendly places to eat oysters and seafood on the island.

EDIT following owners response: we parked next to another parked car - how are we supposed to know it's the parking for bicycles? We would have happily moved it had you told us. Also, if there was a "wait to be seated" policy, it would have helped if there was a sign informing us. Again, had you told us we would have happily waited at the entrance.

It appears you did see us from the start judging by your reponse, but like we assumed deliberately refused to serve us due to us accidentally not adhering to your unwritten, uncommunicated and arbitrary rules. We would have happily followed them but how can we if you do not tell us..?

Instead, you chose to make a couple with a small baby wait and ruin their day, when it would have taken you 30 seconds tell us you expectations and give everyone a great day.

Does that seem proportional to you?

Again, we would have have been understanding it you told us it was busy, but your response clearly showcases your utter lack of empathy and perhaps arrogance. A disgrace...

This is a great oyster restaurant with its own farm, swimming pools in the western part of the island of Rae. Nearby there are wonderful beaches, salt pans, pines and wind. Oysters are very fresh. The visitor can choose exactly what he likes. The menu is excellent. The waiters are respectful. Good selection of wines. You can come with children. They will be interested to see with their own eyes how mollusks are raised and mined. And then how they get on the table. You can order with delivery, you can take as much as you want. There are all the numbers of oysters. Has its own free parking. And as a pleasant addition to the pleasure received, we can mention the thickets of wild blackberry, which has ripened...

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