Le Grand Colbert — Restaurant in Paris

In my birthday at August 4th between 5:30 pm to 10:30 pm: My husband invited me to dinner there, and we ordered a Grand Colbert Royal avec 1/2 Homard,. We were served by a very nice waiter called Angelo. At the opposite table customers were being served by a waitress, who didn’t stop staring at us with curious examining eyes. What was going to happen now was shocking, something I have never experienced in my whole life. When our food came and we started eating, the waitress from the other table rudely commented on the way I ate oysters, saying she did not know that oysters could be eaten like this. I told her quietly that this is my own way of eating, while she replied sarcastically: “From you we learn”. I’ve completely ignored what happened as I didn’t want to spoil the night, until she came again to serve the table across from us, she looked at us and laughed madly and loudly. I could not believe that and I began to look around, searching maybe she was laughing at someone else behind us but only found a glass wall and no one. I asked my husband if she was really laughing at us, and he said yes! We finished our breadbasket in front of us, and this time it was her who brought us a new basket and, again, stared at us, pointing her finger, laughed loud and sarcastically in a way that made the customers around look at us. I’ve never experienced in my entire adult life a sane person act like this! I stopped eating and could not finish the food and waited for her to return to ask her about her strange behaviour. In the meantime, the manager of the place appeared at the opposite table, so I stopped him and told him what had happened politely, only to be shocked by his reaction that made things even worse. He began to deny with great anger and fury, accused me of making things up, without even thinking of saying a single nice word to calm the situation down, and without thinking of calling her, asking her about what happened! I told him that I did not come here with my husband in this expensive place to be humiliated in this way. It is not permissible for her or anyone else to mock us for the way we eat! He replied that he does not understand why I am upset at all and insisted that these were delusions in my head. I told him I have gone to hundreds of restaurants around the world, and I’ve never met anyone whatever his rank, who meets a customer complaint in such a rude way. My husband intervened and told him that I was right and that this is not the professional way to deal with such situations. I promised him that I would write a review of what happened on the Internet, and he said coldly, so do whatever you want and left us. I’d like very much those in charge of the restaurant to empty the camera that monitored what happened in the western corner across from our table publicly, so that everyone could see what exactly happened!I finished the food while Angelo graciously continued to serve us. The food was good and so was Angelo's courteous service. He saved the night! -------- A replay to the Restaurant response: Sir, your reply just proved my point! The same denial and accusation of exaggeration, exactly as you met my complaint in the restaurant! I doubt that you empty your camera, because if you did you would clearly recognize that it was Angelo who served our table from the start, and that the waitress had nothing to do with our table but her comments, laughter, and giggling when she brought the new breadbasket. Did I really exaggerate? It might be better to leave judgment to the people, and just publish the video to everyone "especially where the waitress gave us the breadbasket". ‏It amazes me too, that you marvel at my reactions! Of course, I will keep smiling, and I will tip Angelo! I think this goes without saying, and any civilized person would do it! I wouldn't leave without thanking the waiter who was so dedicated to serving me! Also, I will not lose my reason and objectivity when someone treats me badly! We are matures! The pictures were taken by Angelo himself before the problem...

It was my husband's and my last dinner after spending (literally) a lovely week in Paris celebrating 20 years together. I thought it might be fun to try the restaurant that was the preface for the romantic climax of 2003's "Something's Gotta Give". Playing an accomplished playwright, Diane Keaton wanted to celebrate her birthday at her favorite restaurant. What was nice was how this place looked and felt sophisticated and cinematic much like it was portrayed in the movie.

At the same time, tables were not scrunched together (like at Bofinger, for example) and it didn't feel all that stuffy. What was funny was that the menu cover stated "Diner Menu", which made me immediately think of a greasy spoon although the term 'diner' actually means 'dinner'. My French sucks. However, my confusion was not fully misplaced because shortly after we sat at our table, a small bowl of freshly crisp potato chips arrived along with a ramekin of marinated olives.

We started with our cocktail of choice, the 15€ Espresso Martinis, which we agreed were among the best we ever had. That might explain why we soon had a second round. The warm rustic bread arrived next with a typically crunchy crust and a soft middle which we slathered with their fresh butter. This led to the appetizers. My husband ordered the 21€ Whole Artichoke Heart which sat on a bed of arugula salad and was topped with a mound of Parmesan shavings.

I had never seen a heart that big on a plate. Quite refreshing with nice contrasts in texture. I went full Franco and ordered the 25€ Burgundy Large Escargots. There were nine plump ones in my order, and they were thoroughly delicious and not at all too chewy as they were soaked liberally in garlic butter. The snails were too big for the fancy pinchers they provided, but I speared them easily with the cocktail fork. Our entrees were even more masterfully prepared.

My husband had the 31 € Risotto with Crispy Zucchinis and Prawns. The dish was a creamy delight with five succulent prawns accompanied by zucchini and arugula. I went for the 33€ Braised Beef slowly cooked for seven hours and topped with braised carrots and parsley. So tender, much like an amazing pot roast, it could've fallen off the bone if there was a bone. It was accompanied by decadently creamy mashed potatoes and an add-on of buttery 8€ Green Beans.

Discretion be damned, however, as we went for dessert. Wanting to replicate the near-perfect floating island he had at Bofinger, my husband ordered the 14€ Floating Island. The meringue was not quite as airy, but the creme anglaise was a winner. I wanted a showy end to my meal and ordered the 18€ Baked Alaska, a delightful rendition of the traditional ice cream cake. It was stylishly flambed with rum. Dessert engulfed in a blue flame is what I call panache. In fact, the whole evening was quite amazing.

FOOD - 5 stars...classic French dishes executed with panache and satisfying flavors COCKTAILS - 5 stars...the espresso martinis were impeccable AMBIANCE - 5 stars...genuinely photogenic with a surprising sense of intimacy amid the packed tables...it's no wonder movies are shot in here SERVICE - 5 stars...attentive, responsive, and ingratiating TOTAL - 5 stars...if you're looking for the ideal Parisian dining...

My wife and I recently celebrated our 20th anniversary at Le Grand Colbert, an establishment we chose for its classy ambiance and the allure inspired by a memorable movie. While the overall experience left us with mixed emotions, there were notable moments that defined our celebration.

From the moment we entered, the restaurant's sophisticated atmosphere was unmistakable. The elegant decor, soft lighting, and attentive staff set the stage for what we hoped would be an unforgettable evening. Little did we know, our expectations would be tested early on.

Our excitement waned as we discovered a small insect, reminiscent of a cockroach, on the salmon appetizer we had ordered. Naturally, our initial enthusiasm was dampened by this unexpected encounter. However, it's crucial to highlight the commendable response of the staff. They promptly addressed the issue, acknowledging the presence of the insect and offering a sincere apology. To demonstrate their commitment to customer satisfaction, they graciously replaced the dish and insisted that my wife's appetizer, main course, and dessert were complimentary.

This gesture spoke volumes about the restaurant's integrity and their desire to rectify the situation. While the incident cast a shadow on our dining experience, we appreciated the staff's professionalism and commitment to making amends.

Moving on to the culinary aspect, we must admit that the food did not quite meet our expectations. While taste is subjective, we found ourselves less than impressed with the flavors and presentations. It's possible that others may find the cuisine delightful, but unfortunately, it did not resonate with our palates.

Despite our reservations about the food, we acknowledge that the staff did their best to salvage the evening. Our server remained attentive, offering recommendations and ensuring that we were comfortable throughout the meal.

In retrospect, our 20th-anniversary celebration at Le Grand Colbert will be remembered for its highs and lows. The restaurant's initial charm and the staff's efforts to rectify the insect incident demonstrated integrity and a commitment to customer satisfaction. While we were not enamored with the cuisine, we understand that taste preferences vary, and others may find it more to their liking.

In the end, our experience at Le Grand Colbert was indeed memorable, albeit not entirely for the reasons we had hoped. We left with mixed feelings, appreciating the effort made to salvage our celebration but unable to overlook the unfortunate incident that marred an otherwise...