Pottoka — Restaurant in Paris

I will give 2 stars because the food on the tables looked very good, although unfortunately I never got that far. Everything else was the most disappointing “hospitality” I had experienced within the past 12 months – and I dine out 3 times a week in different cities worldwide.

I booked for 7pm. I was about 10 minutes late, but no later than 15 minutes. This shouldn’t have been a problem since they already had my credit card details. Upon arrival, I was greeted rather unkindly and the manager was more concerned about where my ‘second person’ was (which I hadn’t booked for), than sitting me down at a table. I explained that I had only booked for one person (myself) but the manager kept insisting this was “not true” and, even if there had been a mistake, I had arrived. If someone is not attending it costs 50 € and I replied by telling him “I am here”. The manager – or owner – behind the counter kept me waiting and was working on his pad for about 10 minutes. I asked him if I could sit down – there was only one small table left – which I thought should have been mine. Everytime I asked, “no” was the answer and he kept on writing on his pad. He kept going on about the missing person and asking why I hadn’t checked the confirmation email and also why I hadn’t left my telephone number (which was not required, because they had my email address and credit card details). He kept on discussing and blaming me. This was extremely degrading and unfriendly and made me feel as though I was discussing with a bossy accountant . There was no restaurant atmosphere at all. I would like to apologise for the chef’s good work to the tables for having such incompetent management. I left without dining – at last he offered an uncomfortable counter seat next to the door. It wouldn’t have surprised me if he had already called someone else from his waiting list and was going to charge 50 € from me thinking I wasn’t...

For now I will never go to this restaurant again! Last week, I made a reservation for a restaurant by phone, but the restaurant staff told me that I was not booked. I was very embarrassed. With my guest (I had even shown the restaurant staff a list of calls I had called to the restaurant). Luckily, another guest canceled his reservation, so we could have a meal, but everything was a mess. The food was not bad, but it was not a special taste. I ordered a dessert, and they served the same dessert on our table. Not only this, but I paid for dinner in cash (£150), and they didn't return my change. So when I went to the counter clerk and told her, she didn't say anything to me, not to mention sorry, but gave me the change. I was so dumbfounded. I was with my important guest from the United States last Saturday, so I couldn't say anything. Because I didn't want to spoil the atmosphere. It was such a disappointing restaurant for me, and the employee on the order is remembered as the worst service person in my life. The restaurant, which has a Michelin star, might as well have the manicier-looking female employee start with a service...

It’s been a long time since we realised the Michelin stars are no longer a sure sign of food quality. Particularly when you compare 1 Michelin stars restaurants across countries, the Michelin system makes even less sense - that is because certain countries have a more competitive food scene so a 1 star in those countries can be like 2 or 3 in other ones.

Pottoka unfortunately does not even have the merits of a good non-star restaurant. We literally ordered the entire appetiser menu (picture attached), basic cocktails like Aperol Spritz, Gin and Tonic and a couple other cocktails. A lot of food (quantity over quality) with little taste, lacking salt most of the time. If there are Spanish influences in the kitchen, those cannot be found as the appetisers do not resemble the famous Spanish tapas so please don’t go there with that idea. The salami board, which is hard to screw up, was the highlight. We did not order entrees so we hope those to be the highlight, however, based on the service and the poor quality of everything we ate, we will leave that adventure to other people who are keen to try them out. We will not...