Restaurant le savoie — Restaurant in Lesparre-Médoc

Thursday May lunch on the patio under the large red sunbrella was enjoyable and relaxing. The surrounding tables to ours were full of couples partaking in the entree-plat-dessert combo and also a full bottle of wine. It’s one of those 2 hours for lunch places. Upon being seated we were given an amuse bouche starter. There are wines by the glass (local/regional) and premium list as well. We chose the entree-plat combo since we had an appointment at a nearby chateau for a visit/degustation. We were served by a team of people (3) who were quick in their service. The food was nicely seasoned and well-prepared (tender and moist flesh, roasted skin) and good value for price. My only wish was for more salad. I also wish they would have advised me on a different wine choice given my order. (sweet white didn’t match the fish) The third server advised that I couldn’t change the wine but could order another and gave a cost-effective recommendation. The restroom navigation was a bit odd but it was an interesting trek through the old building that has an unusual layout. Between 1-2pm there were a number of 8-10 person tables seated, which considerably changed the vibe and...

The plus side: the food and wine is good... the negative experience: The service is terrible and very snobbish. We ordered two menues (one for 33€ and one for 46€) and I asked if it is possible to change the entree to a cheaper salmon carpaccio and they confirmed my wish. At first the served the wrong main course and did not excuse the mistake and let my wife eat her canard alone while I had to wait for my filet with foie Gras. After I ordered the check I asked why they booked all my courses to a la carte prices. With a snobbish smile they did tell me that it was not possible and that's why I had to pay the higher prices. It is a typical tourist trap where they charge 8€ for a bottle of water and you have explicitly ask for tab water (which only the locals get without asking). If you don't mind terrible service it is a good place in the middle of Margaux. We won't come back after this terrible...

Food was great. Staff were very attentive. Prices were agreeable. Restaurant was beautiful. So why no 5th star? Two reasons. First, we came for lunch and reserved the terrace for 11 people. However when we arrived, the owner informed us that the terrace would only be available if we all ordered the "menu". For me this is like keeping the reserved seat hostage unless we paid enough for the privilege of sitting there. In the end we ordered more than what we would've been charged on the menu and were told that we could go sit at our previously reserved seat - never had that happen before and bear in mind the place wasn't full. Finally the restaurant overcharged us and had to be...