Brasserie Gabriel — Restaurant in Lyon

Discourteous, Unprofessional and Audacious...they cancelled the booking within 10 min of reservation and didn't even bother to inform, most pathetic place in France.

We are traveling all over world for past 20 years, the management and staff of this restaurant were the most discourteous of all. They totally lied to us and are covering up for their shameless behavior. We reached the restaurant at around 6:45 pm and requested for a table. The staff over there told us to wait for approximately 30 minutes and come back after 20-30 minutes. He even allocated us a specific table in the front area of restaurant. So we just went to a nearby shop and returned back within 30 minutes by around 7:15 pm. They refused us to let-in. When we told us about our booking, they simply said that it was a mistake. This was despite the fact that our booking of a table was noted down by their own staff. When we informed them that the booking was done by us already, they said that their staff made a mistake and we have to wait another 1 hour. We politely requested them and then they produced some other person from staff who clearly refused to even consider our booking.

We were just stunned by their unprofessional behavior. We didn't even call names or said anything except requesting them for giving us a table as per the advance booking done through their staff. Because of such people, 2 hours of our time was wasted in a cold temperature of nearly 7 degrees C.

We have never seen such behavior by any restaurants anywhere in France since past two decades of our international travels. Not just they refused to commit to the confirmed booking, they put the blame on their own staff and walked away as if nothing happened.

While answering our review here, they have the audacity to take a complete turn around and blaming us for their own mismanagement. Mistakes can happen anywhere by anyone, to err is human as they say. But justifying the mistake and putting the blame on its own customers for no reason, is the worst any business could do. This restaurant is the classical example of this, a case history I am going to talk about to my business management students world-around.

No matter whatever justification and false accusation the staff or management is trying to do in the response to our review, we must clarify that they not only failed us in their behavior and politeness and professionalism, but also showed their true character by blaming their own customers and paint a false image of their own behavior showing lack of business acumen and basic courtesy.

Anyone reading this review will understand, that customer-first concept doesn't exist with some of such restaurants. France is well known place for its polite people and welcoming attitude for their guests, however, some places like this are a dark example of this...

We sat down, we were laughed at by the staff as they joked in French, we waited for around 10 minutes, the staff came over, stood for 30 seconds without saying anything then went away again and served someone else, they then came told us they didn’t serve food past 1430 (it was 1440 and this information was not available on their website), then laughed and joked about us in French as we walked away.

Our group (15) had just had a lovely time playing music for a large parade in Firminy, where we had been welcomed with open arms and treated outstandingly well by the local people.

I was very excited to show the rest of the group around Lyon after being here for the RWC, but unfortunately this experience has made me ashamed to have said anything.

To close for food at 1430 is inconvenient, but understandable.

However, to not make this clear, and to laugh and make fun of international guests because they aren’t fluent in your language is is a disgrace and a black mark on your beautiful city and country.

I must say that in particular this was as a result of a 30-something year old man, with earrings, medium length hair with blonde highlights and an attitude that seemed to suggest he believed he was the dogs bollocks.

If you’re French you’ll probably be fine, but if you’re British then I would go to one of the many other lovely restaurants in the area in hope of finding some basic manners and common courtesy.

P.S. from reading other reviews it seems we’re not the only ones who received these levels of service, and that responsibility for this will be put on us under...

My last meal in Lyon has also been the best one.

Brasserie Gabriel is between the end of a street full of restaurants that all look very interesting and a beautiful square with a large church. That also means that it's in a very touristy area and I was ready to have a mediocre meal.

The experience was quite the opposite instead and I would now recommend the place wholeheartedly to anyone.

I decided to go for a set meal and add a starter.

The onion soup was delicious and rich. The best I have tried so far (admittedly it was the first time for me to have this course in France).

The escargots were delicious and I love the way they got served.

The confit duck was also delicious and rich and the macaroni on the side a great complement.

After so much richness of flavors for desert I was hoping to find something small and punchy. Café gourmand offered the perfect solution as it allowed me to taste small bites of 4 different desserts, including a creme brulee.

In the end I wanted a liquor but just outside they were starting a projection of the festival of lights Lyon is famous for. The restaurant allowed me to finish the meal outside, sipping a gorgeous premium cognac, while enjoying the show.

In general I found the staff to be extremely gentle...