Le Bistrot Gourmand — Restaurant in La Rochelle

Hello to anyone considering this restaurant. I just finished dining here for the first time, and I have to say, it was a thoroughly unpleasant experience.

First, the ambiance: the place is nothing special, resembling something you’d find in South End, rather than the charming La Rochelle I was expecting. It was overly crowded, and honestly, the whole vibe felt off—like everyone there was just trying to get through the night.

The only reason I even came to this place was to meet my daughter, but I wish we had chosen somewhere else. I observed how things work here, and if I were a health and safety inspector, I’d seriously consider shutting it down. Service was slow and unorganized, and after what felt like an eternity, the food arrived within three minutes of ordering—definitely a red flag. It made me wonder how it was prepared.

I ordered the Sirloin Steak, which was completely flavorless. They claimed the fries were homemade, but they were so soggy and disgusting, I couldn’t finish them. On top of that, they rushed me to pay the bill. After a 9-hour drive from London, I wanted to relax and enjoy my meal, but they clearly don’t understand that a paying customer deserves time at the table.

The staff was also incredibly rude and unprofessional, especially if you don’t speak French. I found them to be borderline racist, which made the experience even worse. My advice? Don’t waste your money here. In fact, don’t even bother visiting this area—there’s nothing here for you. It’s boring and overrated.

I don’t understand how anyone could leave a positive review about the food here. It’s as if they’ve never dined out before. There are so many lovely places to eat, but this is definitely not one of them. Good luck if you want to dine here—maybe bring a drink and cook your own meal, because that’s about the only way you’ll get...

We were having dinner here with my family, the meal ended in a disaster and this 1-star review. I, as a vegetarian ordered the burger with goat cheese. The waiter even asked if I wanted it vegetarian, we said yes. After I finished my burger halfway, I noticed something weird under the fried goat cheese. There was something much thinner with a totally different white surface. I already had an idea but tasted it before. It had a different consistency than the cheese. Turns out they've put fried chicken in my vegetarian goat cheese burger. I gave a bit of it to my non-veggie family and they agreed. Of course it wasn't the waiters fault, but why did the kitchen chef even put chicken in it? It doesnt even say chicken on the menu. I got my "not eating meat" streak ruined, and my whole evening aswell. And what makes it even worse, I'm not eating meat because I feel bad for the animals, but now imagine I would be allergic to meat, the day would have ended in the hospital... I am lucky I'm not allergic to meat but this still is a shame for the kitchen chef, cooking my meal, and by this sadly also for the whole restaurant. We told a waiter what happened, and he wanted to tell the kitchen chef, but the her shift ended already. The waiter then told us that the manager offered a free coffee or tea, which was a nice gesture, but of course no excuse for what has happened. Were only here for the holidays, but if we were living in La Rochelle, I'd never put a foot in there again. This shouldn't happen in a restaurant, and I hope that other vegetarians don't have to...

Today’s visit to the bistro, nestled amidst the vibrant market atmosphere, was an absolute delight. Accompanied by friends, a toddler, and our dog, we were greeted by an ambiance that instantly captivated us.

The food was excellent, a solid 4/5, but it was Jessica who lifted our experience to a 4.5/5. Her attentive and warm manner ensured that we felt not just like guests, but like valued friends. She was all ears for our needs, promptly brought water for the dog, and was an outstanding hostess even without us speaking French.

Jessica skillfully cared for us without making us feel overwhelmed. Her service was impeccable, and she demonstrated an extraordinary sense of timing by serving our child food immediately, without waiting for the usual course sequence.

We are deeply impressed by the quality of service and the personal touch Jessica added to our visit. It’s this kind of experience that makes us consider planning another visit despite a tight schedule. A huge thank you to Jessica for this experience. ❤️

#BestBistro #MarketExperience...