Le Bistro des Augustins — Restaurant in Paris

DO NOT COME HERE IF YOU LOOK FOREIGNER:

I went to this place and the servers were super rude, I was standing for a while outside and they didn’t even look at me, not even one approaching. I was waiting for them to ask them for a table. Then they started to look at me but not even one attempt to ask me if I wanted a table or to tell me they were booked. After maybe 10 minutes of being standing and them LOOKING at me, I decided going straight to the person serving tables and asked her if she had one spot for me, she looked at me from top to toes and told me I needed a reservation. There were 2 tables at least but not sure why she said so. I wasn’t looking bad since I had a dress. She was very rude and felt discriminatory to me. Anyway, save yourself from the bad moment.

EDIT: I have to edit my comment to respond to the owner/manager in the comments.

Yess you in fact have no record that I was there because I wasn’t welcomed, I stood up over there for more than ten minutes while the guy on the bar and a lady serving tables were looking at me. Another family (looking like immigrants as well, maybe Indians or south Asians), were there being ignored as well like me. That’s why I said if you look foreigner, because the rest of the people sitting there were speaking French.

Before me, just a minute before, the lady sat down a couple who came with no reservation and there were 2 other tables there, that’s why I said I felt discriminated. I am not confusing the place with other restaurant, I am pretty sure it was this because I was super excited to try it since it was recommended on TikTok, so it surprises me and also saddens me that instead of taking accountability and doing better, they try to diminish my opinion/experience and not acknowledging that the lady look at me from head to toe in a despective way before telling me they were booked, that’s why I recommended to other Foreigners or Non French speakers to save themselves from a bad moment.

I left Paris already, so I am unable to visit there and “clarify” the situation. But I do believe that people should be accountable for their...

Dec 2022: this is always my favorite place to dine in when I am in town. As usual, I came by after visiting Norte Dame. It was around 1:45pm. When I came in, the server told me that I had to sit outside because I did not have reservation (there were 2 tables opened, and 2 other tables were leaving). They provided blanket, but it was very cold that the blanket would not help. There was a pair of couple arrived after me, who had the same situation, and they were sat outside (we occupied all the tables outside). Guess what, there were 4 group entered the restaurant, and they were all sat inside (I overheard that 2 groups do not have reservations). This is unfair as it was very cold without heat lamp, and my food got cold soon after it was served. The food tasted good as usual, but I was not happy with my experience.

Nov 2021: This is a small bar/restaurant closed to Cathédrale Notre Dame. I always come here for lunch or dinner if I am close by. The hostess is very friendly. The restaurant was fully booked, but she offered me some water and asked me to wait for 5-10 minutes. She was able to get me a table inside the restaurant in 10 minutes. The hostess is managing this small restaurant by herself that she is basically the hostess, waitress, and bartender. A chef was working in a small kitchen in the back.

Their specialty is gratin chauds. My favorite is Nordique (pommes de terre, crème, saumon, oeuf, aneth, ail, emmental potatoes, cream, smoked salmon, dill, garlic, emmental cheese, and egg). The food is not cooked until customers order. The wait is usually about 20 minutes. Not recommend ordering gratin chauds if you are hungry.

The dish was fresh out of the oven when it was served. It was very hot, which was perfect for the weather. It was also very flavorful! Will continue to come back...

WARNING - DO NOT VISIT IF YOU ARE A NON-FRENCH SPEAKING TOURIST

The lady at the counter is supremely disrespectful if you talk to her in English. When we asked her something, she just said no, and started audibly mumbling in french. We were subjected to cold and rude behaviour throughout. These sort of experiences really make you dislike your entire vacation experience.

UPDATE (Responding to the reply by the restaurant):

Team - understand your POV in supporting your long-standing colleagues, and appreciate you expressing a desire to be equitable. However, (a) I think calling what we experienced a “misunderstanding” is incorrect. Firstly, we were subjected to rude responses not once but multiple times, with audible disgruntled comments in French. Secondly, this being linked to language was made clear in the very first conversation, where the denial of our polite request was explained by the server stringently telling us she does not speak english, and not helping us find a table. Again, this was followed by rude tones and comments. (b) I don’t think this issue can be brushed aside since it is occasional. Even a few instances lead to turmoil for guests. We felt marginalised and troubled as foreign tourists.

Hoping for closer introspection and action...