Les Amours in paris — Restaurant in Paris

I really hope travelers(especially for Asian) don’t end up here and end up having a bad experience. I visited with my family and, as expected, we wanted to sit at an outdoor table. Even though there were clearly empty seats, they insisted they were reserved and flat-out refused to seat us there. I know there are many restaurants like this in Paris, but this place made it very obvious — they led us to one of the most uncomfortable tables. (Please, can we stop with this kind of racial discrimination? You’re not better than anyone else!) We didn’t have much time so we stayed anyway, but we already felt unwelcome. Then when we asked for ice, one of the staff literally reached into the ice-filled cup, picked out a few ice cubes with their hand, and ate them right in front of us. And then — without changing the cup — they tried to serve us the same one! When we explained it, they apologized and brought us a new cup, but seriously… what kind of restaurant staff eats ice out of a customer’s glass like that? The restaurant was nearly full, but most of the staff seemed to be chatting and not working efficiently. You could tell there was no clear division of labor — service was painfully slow, and it took more than 10 minutes just to get the bill. And the tip? They initially asked for a minimum of 12% — are you serious? I’ve lived in Europe and never had to tip like this. I made it very clear I didn’t want to leave a tip, but they kept insisting. I ended up giving €5 just to leave. When I paid by card, they even covered the “No tip” button with their thumb, trying to hide it — even though I clearly said I didn’t want to tip. The food was just okay. The French onion soup wasn’t properly caramelized, which was disappointing. For a French restaurant, the food was barely average. I honestly suggest going somewhere else. Just because you smile doesn’t mean you’re running a good restaurant.

Bien sûr, si vous êtes Français, cela pourrait...

The ambiance of this establishment is exquisitely designed, creating an atmosphere of elegance and refinement that complements its culinary offerings. The cuisine is nothing short of exceptional—each dish is a testament to the chef’s prowess, marrying flavors in a symphony of taste that is both satisfying in portion and aesthetically pleasing. Indeed, this restaurant has swiftly ascended to become one of my most esteemed recommendations within the vicinity of the Eiffel Tower.

Notwithstanding its many virtues, there was an aspect of the dining experience that I found rather disconcerting. It pertains to the establishment’s approach to gratuities. Upon presenting the bill, which amounted to 108 euros, it was automatically augmented to 124 euros by the service staff without prior consultation. This practice, while perhaps intended to simplify the transaction, detracts from the principle of discretionary tipping. In the United States, gratuities are a well-established norm, reflecting acknowledgment of service excellence at the discretion of the patron. It is uncommon, and indeed, frowned upon, for establishments to impose a fixed service charge without explicit communication beforehand.

While I am wholly inclined to reward exceptional service, the essence of gratuities lies in their voluntary nature. This unsolicited presumption of a service charge, absent of prior notice, mars an otherwise impeccable dining experience. It is my hope that Parisian establishments will continue to uphold the cherished tradition of discretionary appreciation, rather than adopting an approach that might be perceived as an imposition on guests’ generosity. Such practices are pivotal in ensuring that the dining experience remains not only a gastronomic delight but also a testament to the respect and consideration between patron and...

Loved our dinner here. We made reservation on Google. It was busy at around 8pm, but we were seated promptly.

Absolutely loved the French onion soup. I loved that it had a lot of broth that was flavorful and not just filled with bread or have the texture of a bisque. It was truly a good French onion soup.

Beef bourguinion was throughly enjoyed with the presentation to the exquisite taste.

Cheeseburger was delicious. Our daughter loved it. The “famous” steak (as labeled on the menu ) was OK but the peppercorn sauce that came on the side was fantastic. The French fries that came with the burger and the steak were really good too.

Salmon with green beans was excellent as well!

The only questionable moment was when we were paying for the bill, our server specifically asked us to leave gratuity and the gratuity percentage choices were given on the credit card machine (like in USA). We were shocked. That was the first time we were blatantly asked to leave a tip all the while the server was stating right at us. When people do this in USA, they politely look away as you enter the tip. That was not the case here. We know to round up our bill at the end for great service. But even higher end restaurants like the ones with Michelin stars or at a hotel like four seasons did not throw tipping in our face like this. I think learning how to ask for gratuity with grace is something this restaurant can teach the staff. We left the restaurant feeling quite uncomfortable. So I docked a star for atmosphere...