L'Îlot Vache — Restaurant in Paris

My wife and I quite often say that we will leave a review of a restaurant, but very rarely do. However with L'Ilot Vache I do feel like something should be said about our experience.

Having tried unsuccessfully to have a meal here the Tuesday evening before our Thursday night as it was full, our expectations were raised. The menu promised good bistro style fare, and while the prices were elevated (we are on an island in the Seine, a stone's throw away from Notre Dame) we were excited by the prospect of a delicious meal out, our last of our holiday. I should also add, that we had just dessert here the night before (a treat on the way back from a show), which was very pleasant and the staff very friendly and accommodating.

But the fact is we 'finished' our meals this evening feeling a little underwhelmed by our experience. The portions seemed to be 2x larger than they needed to be and the quality wasn't something to shout about. Plates were cold, service was a little abrupt (only 4 tables occupied, so not rushed off their feet) and ultimately we thought the food comparable to a half decent British pub... It was OK, but not special, tasty, but not indulgent...

It may well be that they were having an off night (both front and back of house), but we have the sense that this may be an establishment that is resting a little too heavily on its location and captive clientele...

I should add, that this may (and reading the reviews IS) exactly what people are after, but for us as slightly snobby foodies it just didn't quite...

Bizarre and annoying experience here yesterday and I’ve enjoyed a pleasant dinner at the restaurant on a past trip. Dinner was fine and then they brought me a communal, used terrine with just thin remnant scrapings (a few ounces at most) of mousse clinging to the terrine wall instead of the two scoops of their “famous” chocolate mousse pictured on others’ reviews here and being delivered to adjacent tables. We’d seen them do this as a funny (I’m being generous on that one) “prank” when we first sat down but they then brought that customer the actual dessert on a clean, personal plate. I however sat there waiting for 15 minutes while my family ate their desserts and the woman and man tending the restaurant refused to bring me the actual dessert, saying it was a special treat to be handed the used communal serving bowl. Disgusting. We had seen this same bowl be handed to the table next to us and sat there picking up that table’s germs. They then tried to charge us for it until we contested the item on the bill, at which point they again asserted this had been the actual dessert. A silly, sour note to end the evening on and a clear sign of disrespect for visitors. There are far better options in proximity than to waste time at a restaurant that brings a dirty, used dessert and considers it...

So this is my favorite place in all of Paris. The lamb is esquite to the point to which lamb can be fantastic. I can't say anything higher about this main course. My Dad, brother, and l all ordered it and we didn't get off a single picture before they were gone. The cocktails were plentiful and flowing rather rapidly. Excellent precision in the drink making, even my mother was satisfied, that's a hard yes lol. My parents also ordered the house wine that flowed plentifully and had enough for two. Their own personal carafe, thank you. The ravioli with sage was and always has been simply magnificent. The foie gras was magnificent as well coupled with berries that fit the dish perfectly. It was perfect. The only mistake was that I ordered something off menu and it wasn't questioned so it was replaced with frogs legs, which I never have had, taste like chicken lol. My mother's scallop dish was also excellent and cooked to the perfect texture and consistency. It ended up being a rather strange culinary experience of a night but everything positive...