GrandCœur — Restaurant in Paris

I have never written a bad review about a restaurant in my entire life, but I’m going to do this now! We came to this restaurant mid August and can only assume that the Chef was away for his summer vacation. It was without a doubt the worst food we have ever eaten. Usually we were just pay and go however it was so unacceptable and so revolting that we just had to say something. Having been seduced by the rather pretty photos and website as well as the reviews we were very excited however upon entering the rather grubby courtyard we were disappointed by a very underwhelming exterior dining area. It feels rather like a catfish – the reality does not match the rather bucolic scene that they portray. We were also bombarded by music being played from a dance studio overlooking the courtyard all evening drowning out any kind of ambience. This is however the least of our concerns. When finally a waiter came to our table they told us approximately 50% of the menu was sold out and we were left with a few slim pickings from a very reduced and small menu anyway. We were also told that the only rosé that was available was a Magnum and they had no rosé available by the bottle which seems rather strange in France.We wondered whether to get up and leave at that point as we were already so unimpressed by it and there was nothing left on the menu we particularly wanted to order however seeing as it was already close to 9 pm, we decided to stick with it and make the best of it, however, that was impossible. My husband ordered the bouillabaisse which comes in two parts. Two separate servings. Both were ice cold and tasted absolutely revolting. I actually urged him not to continue eating it because it really didn’t taste correct. We’ve eaten many bouillabaisse In the south of France and it’s one of my husband’s favourite things, but this was literally revolting. I ordered the confit of Lamb that was stuffed in various different very badly prepared vegetables. Again, the confit was lukewarm bordering cold, Looked horrific and tasted like something that would be served on an aeroplane at best. It definitely had the feeling that it been microwaved and reheated but not very well. Let me be clear – my husband literally eats ANYTHING and devours everything that is served to him on an aeroplane however he left almost all of his food which is unheard of. I took one bite of my main course and immediately left it. My daughter and her friend also left their food. Ordinarily, we would chalk it up to bad luck and move on, but this was so far beyond that. We did let them know that this was inedible but were told that “French people enjoy this”. I can only imagine that The actual chef was away on vacation. We have just spent the last few hours googling the Chef incredulous as to why we had the experience we had this evening and cannot fathom any other reason. We did manage to have all the main courses removed from our final bill, but we were very happy to pay for the drinks that we received and the wine. We were surprised to find that they had also charged us for the starters. I would’ve thought they would’ve removed that from the bill. This horrific experience cost us €188 for what was a couple of drinks and some very poor appetisers for my daughter, a wasted evening and we left hungry having to pick up a crêpe on the side of the road on the way back to our hotel. We shall be making our hotel aware not to be sending any more of their clients there in future. Without a doubt the worst experience I’ve ever had in a restaurant!...

An Unmitigated Disaster: New Year's Eve at Grand Coeur, Paris

I can only describe my experience at Grand Coeur as a nightmare in three acts: horrendous service, painfully overpriced food, and an all-around sense of dissatisfaction that lingered long after we left. At €150 per head and €60 for a wine pairing, this "Michelin-adjacent" restaurant managed to shatter any illusions I had about fine dining in Paris.

Let’s start with the service, which was so abysmal it bordered on insulting. We were greeted by a disinterested host who couldn’t even manage a smile, let alone any semblance of warmth. Our waiter, clearly overwhelmed, took an eternity to acknowledge our table, let alone take our drink order. I’ve had more attentive service at a crowded café during rush hour. Courses were delayed, wine was poured with an air of indifference, and despite the “celebratory” nature of the evening, the staff seemed more interested in gossiping among themselves than offering any kind of hospitality. It’s a travesty that such a restaurant has any concept of customer service.

Now, the food. It would be generous to call it underwhelming. For €150 per person, I expected dishes that not only looked exquisite but also offered depth, creativity, and genuine flavor. Instead, we were served what can only be described as bland, uninspired fare. The “signature” amuse-bouche tasted like something you’d find at a mid-tier bistro, and the main courses were little more than pedestrian attempts at haute cuisine. The beef was overcooked, the fish underseasoned, and the sides were limp and lifeless. To charge such extortionate prices for food that lacked any sense of refinement is an outright scam.

The wine pairing for €60 was another joke. The wines were mediocre at best, and some of them didn’t even remotely complement the dishes they were paired with. It felt like a half-hearted attempt to add value to an otherwise lackluster meal. The sommelier, when we could finally get his attention, was uninformed and uninspired, offering no explanation or enthusiasm about the wines.

I’ve been fortunate enough to dine at some of Paris’s most revered establishments, but Grand Coeur is a disgrace to the city’s culinary reputation. It’s an overpriced, overrated, and underwhelming experience that left us questioning how they can justify such prices for what is essentially subpar dining with the worst kind of service. Save your money and your time—there are far better places to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Paris without feeling...

Atmosphere was amazing. High ceilings, walls with ancient exposed stone, low candle lit lighting, creams, golds and navy blue velvet. The 'Plats' were the showstoppers overall.

What detracts from the score: the desserts, the 'entrees', and the bread they served.

Desserts: Pretty presentation but more importantly, unexpectedly, WAY too sweet. What I'm starting to grow accustomed to in France is desserts that don't assault your taste buds with sugar. These were un-welcomingly sweet.

'Plats' - the crab dish was the best - I'd pass on the rest we had

Bread: They didn't serve baguette. They served pain aux céréales (essentially wheat bread that’s heavy). It's just bread right? NO NOT IN FRANCE - it's a key component to your meal and I think that detracted from almost all the dishes.

'Entrees' Veloute Soup: 3 Was a little too thick - could have been dipping sauce. The flavor was amazing though (but didn't go well with the bread). Fresh Crab: 5 It was delightful - a little tangy sweet and salty all at the same time. Light and Fresh. Fois Gras: 3.5 Not the best we've had. It wasn't as creamy and sultry as others - a bit more…chunky….and gelatinous I'd say. Not having baguette detracted here.

'Plats' Scallops: 4 Creamy lemony sauce and greens. The scallops were seared beautifully: I didn't give it a full 5 as the scallops were just a bit fishy - could be described as 'organic tasting' but borderline too fishy. Canard - roasted veggies: 4 Canard is between a chicken and duck texture , beautifully cooked with roasted veggies. Giving it a 4 as the veggies and the canard didn't necessarily flow together well. Both delicious in their own right on the plate. Lamb Shoulder over veggies: 5 - Just yes. Beautifully tender Lamb Shoulder that melted into a bed of roasted sweet potatoes on every bite.

'Desserts' Mueille -Fille: Pear Too Sweet Citron Crème Meringue: Too Sweet Apple Pie: It's the upside down kind and personal preference is the pomme aux fine which is small slices of apples on top of flaky pastry. This was like apple candy on top of a crust that was cold and all around too sweet.

Would I go back: Yes What would I order: White Wine: Unfortunately, I can't remember what it was but it was the dryest white I've ever had and was delicious. 'Entrée': Crab 'Plat': Lamb Shoulder 'Dessert':...