Le Prince Racine — Restaurant in Paris

Le Prince Racine – Humiliating, Disgusting, and Dangerous

This was, without exaggeration, the most humiliating dining experience I’ve ever endured.

From the moment I walked in and spoke English, I was treated like dirt. The attitude shifted instantly — cold, dismissive, and snide. I’m a professional chef, and I’ve eaten in places across the world, and what I experienced here was not just bad — it was offensive.

The food? A total disgrace. My partner’s sirloin steak — the most expensive cut on the menu — was stone cold in the middle and so tough it couldn’t even be cut with a steak knife. I watched, in disbelief, as the owner came over and tried to “prove” it was fine by hacking away at it at the table. He couldn’t cut through it. He was sawing so hard the entire table was shaking. It was absolutely humiliating.

The veal I was served was practically raw and ice cold. When I raised this, they told me with a straight face that “veal is supposed to be served like that.” No — undercooked, fridge-cold veal is not acceptable in any professional kitchen.

The “soft” goat’s cheese platter was rock hard and covered in hair. Actual hair. When I pointed it out, they tried to argue that that was normal too. It was revolting.

Side dishes were clearly microwaved — stone cold on the outside and burning hot in the middle. I actually burned my lips. The beer was warm and flat, the chips were rubbery and dry.

The service was beyond rude. We weren’t treated like customers — we were treated like scum. No apologies. No accountability. Just defensiveness and arrogance from the staff and owner, who acted like we were the problem for daring to question their disgraceful standards.

I left feeling angry, embarrassed, and honestly shocked. This place has no business calling itself a restaurant. It was unsafe, unhygienic, and outright hostile.

The only positive thing I can say is that the fish dish was actually good and the decore was traditional amd quaint. Everything else...

Walking into Le Prince Racine is a quaint and charming space—intimate, beautifully set, with an ambiance that should make you feel welcomed. Unfortunately, the staff's energy did not match the warmth of the setting.

From the start, the service was cold and uninviting. A woman with dark brown hair, who seemed to be the host/server/bartender, sat me down with the air of someone doing me a favor rather than welcoming a guest. When I asked for a different seat, she seemed visibly annoyed, never made eye contact, and never once smiled. It was clear she did not enjoy being there, and frankly, her attitude set a tense tone for the evening.

Thankfully, the manager or owner stepped in and took over the table, significantly improving the experience. His attentiveness and professionalism made up for the initial discomfort; from then on, things ran much more smoothly.

As for the food, it was a mixed experience. The French onion soup was salty and disappointing—I left most of it untouched. The manager noticed and kindly discounted it, which I appreciated.

However, the beef bourguignon was spectacular—the best I have ever had. Tender, rich, and deeply flavorful, it was the saving grace of the night and the one reason I would...

When we arrived, we were given English menus and seated in the larger back room (nicely decorated) with other tourists. When I very politely asked for a French menu in French, the staff was visibly annoyed.

The lackluster service continued with our server. Regarding the food, my veal was delicious but the plating was sloppy and the "salad" was thrown on the plate; My husband's boeuf bourgignon was inedible due to excessively fatty meat. The waiter saw the pile of fat left in the bowl and never mentioned it or asked if there was a problem even though there obviously was. The wine he recommended was OK, but didn't really pair well with our dishes which was disappointing.

We ordered cheese for dessert and it was plentiful and delicious although it looked a bit funny due to the way it was arranged. We shared with a solo female (also American) diner next to us who concurred with our opinion of the restaurant and service.

There are much better dining options with delightful staff and amazing food - we will...