Jardin Notre-Dame — Restaurant in Paris

Since it was my first time visiting the area near Notre-Dame Cathedral, I chose the restaurant closest to it. Today, I ordered the 23-euro set menu. The foie gras on toast for the starter was quite good. I also ordered six snails for 11 euros and a glass of rosé.

When I finished my main course and went to drink my wine(I drank about 60% of the wine.), I noticed a small fruit fly in the glass. I called the waiter, and here’s where it gets interesting:

he performed what he thought was a humorous skit, vividly mimicking how the fly flew into my glass, and then asked if I wanted to cover my wine glass with a small metal bucket used for bread. I had had enough by then. Shouldn’t he have apologized first? It’s that so hard to say SORRY?

Did he think he was funny? When I finished paying, I told him that the food was good, but his service was lacking. Before I could finish speaking, he turned and walked away. Excellent!

That was really professional service. But food is ok. And the dining location near the street is a good place to take photos of Notre...

The food was more than ordinary and resembled food from low-end establishments like fast food. Onion soup was not the rich and slow-cooked soup you always remember and expect from French cuisine. It was more like a quickly prepared broth with onions, pieces of baguette, and a cheesy crust (not all the cheese had melted).

My daughter ordered an avocado and shrimp salad, BUT she couldn't eat it because the sliced avocado and a heap of shrimp were generously smothered in mayonnaise sauce. Even though she intentionally chose what seemed like a very simple dish.

Turkey schnitzel and french fries - hmm... like fast food and nothing special.

For dessert, my daughter wanted a tart - just ordinary.

I'm sorry, but such a lunch is not worth the amount I paid (over 40 euros). For the first time, I regretted choosing a place for lunch based on positive reviews on Google Maps.

It's worth noting the excellent service provided by the waitstaff. They are great and attentive.

Also, the taste of French lemonade Artisian was a pleasant...

Jardin Notre-Dame was a short and scenic walk from the cathedral, and we were drawn in by the big open window and beautiful patio. We were greeted right away, and the food was absolutely delicious. The French onion soup, in particular, was a standout.

Unfortunately, the service did affect our overall experience. While the male server was kind to us, we witnessed some uncomfortable interactions between him and a younger female server. He raised his voice at her several times in French, not realizing we understood. It seemed to upset her and also drew the attention of the chef behind the counter.

Despite this, the food, location, and atmosphere were all wonderful. It was a beautiful spot to enjoy a meal near Notre-Dame, and with a more positive energy among the staff, it could have been...