Le Bûcheron — Restaurant in Paris

We came to this coffee... For a coffee.

4:40pm, not that late. A young waitress came, we asked for two coffees, but she replied apologetically : I'm sorry, I won't be able to serve a coffee.

( Note from a Parisian : This is actually a bad Parisian coffee practice to force you to take more expensive beverages. A coffee is around 2,50€ while a beer is around 5,50€ )

I was aware of the existence of that practice but didn't think it would happen here. I used to come here when I was student.

My friend switched to a more expensive beverage. I kindly requested tap water.

I don't want to encourage such practices but I also genuinely came to this coffee... For a coffee.

It's like going to a Starbucks for an expresso : just 100% normal. If Starbucks stopped selling expressos from 5pm for boosting sales of more expensive drinks, it would probably be seen as a bad commercial practice.

The waitress came back to the bar and her manager, a very aggressive lady, yelled at her something like : two clients, two beverages!!!!

I was shocked. I felt bad for the waitress and even regretted to have requested water because the manager yelled at her.

Then, she pointed a coffee machine cup at me, and said : this is him, who wants some water?? Or a coffee?? And started to nervously activate the coffee machine, complaining and saying something like "It's the last time I do that"

Blood rush to my head. I'm not an animal. I am polite and courteous and try to never hurt people in my daily life. I don't want anyone to talk to me or about me like this, especially for something as insignificant as a coffee.

However, I remained calm, I stood up and went to the bar and told her : "I neither like these manners nor your aggressiveness, towards your waitress and towards us. It is not necessary to make the coffee in such conditions."

"I also don't like those bad practices of refusing serving a coffee because it's end of afternoon in order to push people to take more expensive beverages. We leave. I wish you a good evening."

She was so agressive and ( to my opinion ) tried to find an excuse by saying : we only serve coffees at the terrace tables!!

I replied calmly : There are many tables inside with people having drinks of all kinds, and you would only serve a coffee to the couple of tables outside? In any case, it seems fishy to me. Goodbye.

She ended up replying : I don't give a.... You can leave, goodbye!!!

I can't imagine as a French, that such things could still happen. I was with a friend from another country. It really gives a bad image of France and makes people think that we have no sense of welcoming tourists.

We went to another cafe, 50meters from this one, where they gladly served us coffee, water, lemonade, and smiled at us.

Avoid...

The best surprise in 2024 so far!!

Service + food = winning concept!!!

Such a heart-warming welcome to start ❤️

Then we need to talk drinks & food!

Drinks: at 8h30 p.m. it was still happy hour! We had mexican mules (tequila) and basil smash - both really well assembled

Food: Best gratinated onion soup I had in years and I mean it 🌰🧅 A burrata and tomatoes, wonderful greens selection A poireaux vinaigrette (leaks) - exceptional! Mark my words (am a chef)

-Truffle Rigatoni - really nice, a tad heavy, but hey, it is supposed to be as such!

Rigatoni al arrabiata - perfectly seasoned

Chicken and chimichurri: really nice, but i'd have gone more "hard core" on the taste buds markers (garlic, chili pepper, cilantro)

Home-made duck confit - très très bon

Highly recommended the mushroom 🍄 fricassée as a side

Desserts:

Crepe nature ✅ Pistachio ice cream 🍨 (Maison Berthillon - 0 mistake)

I wish I had asked for the waiter's name (who's also the floor manager). A passionate man, in love with his "carte" and with always the nice word to meet and greet.

All in all a lovely experience I would recommend.

Price? All the mentioned for a bargain: Eur55 per pax. They understood what it means to be honest, generous, fair and delectable.

Chapeau,...

A friend and I stopped here by chance, mainly because they offered the "planches" of crudités and cheeses. (It was a LOT of food. 3 personnes could share it.) They were very busy at 8:30 pm, with 1 bartender and 1 waitress, but seated us quickly. The menu is very clever. The names of dishes are word-plays en French. The bartender took our order, and brought our drinks - totally calm, pleasant. The waitress running to the back, to serve those outside, remained cool and calm. Later, bringing us more bread with a smile. And when we paid, she even spoke some English. Very sweet. It was delightful find, on the busy "touristy" Rue de Rivoli. I will return with more...