Le Bateau Ivre — Restaurant in La Rochelle

It is not often I feel the need to write a review, good or bad. I usually research quite carefully where I am going to eat. So it has to be quite an experience for me to even consider writing a review. I have never felt the need to write a bad review. However, I am today making an exception. Last night my partner and I decided that a meal overlooking the harbour of La Rochelle would conclude an otherwise lovely day spent walking around the town. We chose Le Bateau Ivre because on the menu it stated calamari was served. For starter we each ordered calamari, main I had a burger and my partner had a fish main from a set menu. I ordered a small bottle of red wine and my partner had a small glass of white wine (he was driving) I will start with the wine. The French pride themselves on producing some of the best award winning wines in the world. What I was served was a 35cl bottle of wine clearly reserved for the tourists that probably would not even win an award amongst the town drunks! My partners white wine was so sour i was surprised at how it changed his facial expression. Next the starter of calamari. Bearing in mind that the restaurant is by the sea, we were looking forward to the calamari. What we were served is what I can only describe as battered fish flavoured rings. These were clearly bought and frozen 'calamari' from the nearest supermarket. My partners fish meal resembled what a fish would look like if it tried crossing a busy road and then left to dry out in the sun. Fishy dried roadkill is what it should state on the menu. The side of lumpy mash potato was not much more palatable. My beef burger was not much better. That WAS roadkill! Why in all that's holy did I order a burger at a seaside restaurant I do not know. I was still chewing on bits of it an hour later, probably the poor creatures bum hole! After that I did not want a desert but my partner had the creme caramel from his 'set menu'. This was a strange looking rubbery dish covered in a sweet watery liquid. Finally to the bill. €67. That's including €15 for the 'award winning wine' (award for spanking the most tourists) Yum yum, what a bargain! If the food was hot it would have been a little more palatable but as suspected from my earlier comment, it had probably been left to warm up in the sun. Seriously now, this meal was disgusting and we are so disappointed. You are by the sea and you serve pre-made bought frozen produce. Shame on you. If you eat here its for the view only. It IS a tourist trap restaurant and nothing more. The positive reviews are too over the...

Disappointed!!! They seemed busy but friendly to begin with. The lady who took our order was nice and friendly. But it went downhill after that. The food came quickly. The kids had chicked burgers, which were good. I had fish and chips, which was awful. The fish was something I could buy from frozen section at carrefour, not what you expect from a restaurant!!!! My daughter had the kids menu, which they made a mess of. They then promised a crepe, which didn't come. After we waited a long time, then asked, they couldn't do a crepe so offered oce cream. Which was a smarties pop, which she enjoyed, but a little disappointing. However, many restaurants in La rochelle provide same for kids menu. It was the slow service was the worst part. They then gave us the wrong bill, which was for too little, but we were honest and told them. Not much of an apology, kinda rude and abrupt actually. Considering we saved them money and an argument with some other customer whose bill we originally received. Would not recommend. However, they have a monopoly due to location. Also, under our...

Our noon lunch on a Sunday at Le Bateau Ivre was very agreeable. We were warmly greeted by our waitress who took the time to show us on a slate "la formule à 18 euros" which included a choice from 4 starters and a choice from 3 main courses along with a complimentary glass of kir.  The "petite friture" was served with a tasty side sauce, and the "bavette" steaks were perfectly served "bleu" (very rare) as we had requested.  Our waitress and her younger assistant were perfectly charming, available when we wanted to make a request and absent when I, a very slow eater, was still enjoying my food.  We were perplexed by how few people were eating in this restaurant while the next door restaurant with a similar "formule" was quite full.   After reading a number of Le Bateau Ivre Google reviews, many about slow service a few months ago, I guessed that perhaps there had been a difficult and busy time in the summer.  But now, in October, I can assure possible future customers that the food and the service at Le Bateau Ivre fully merit our 5...