The Bombardier — Restaurant in Paris

I went to watch a match with my friend at this bar after seeing on “AlloMatch” that the game would be diffused. Not only did we have to beg for them to put the matches on but the whole time they didn’t want to put the volume on and we were basically watching a game on mute ! The waitresses, apparently thinking they’re funny, constantly make rude or impromptu remarks when I order. “Jokes” about my order or about how much “they’re tired” that day are something I didn’t appreciate nor found funny. The worst part, after paying exorbitantly high prices, even compared to Paris standards, and ordering multiple drinks and meals, I am still frowned upon for staying in the same bar for another match, with the waitress telling me that I had to consume something additional in order to stay longer ! (again, this was some sort of “joke”). To make things worst, although I speak English very well, I am still appalled that a bar next to the Panthéon in the Paris Latin Quarter could speak to and greet clients EXCLUSIVELY in English. The waitresses make very little effort to talk the native language of their guests, which is French. (We’re in Paris next to the Sorbonne for God’s sake) In resume, this is a very expensive place to spend more than 1 hour in. If you’re feeling rather debaucherous and money is nothing but toilet paper to you, go ahead, but if you want something authentic and AMICABLE, please skip this one, your wallet and friend will thank you...

Me and a pal were in Paris for a few days for the Rugby World Cup, and we visited the Bombardier as we were told for sure they would have Rugby on the TV's. No disappointment there. The beer selection is enough and is all from their brewery back in England. I sampled a few of their beers and particularly enjoyed the Director's Cut. The servers are working hard both behind the bar and in front and appear slightly worse for wear but are friendly and efficient. The place is wonderfully old and just the right amount of shabby. There are a few tables outside where you can sit in the shade and gaze across at the Pantheon and the many tourists in the area. The Bombardier is not a tourist spot, it is an ex-pat pub run by Brits and it had a very welcoming vibe and plenty of regulars. I went there twice on Saturday, we shut the place down Saturday night, and twice again on Sunday. My first trip on Sunday, there were three of us, me, my pal and my serious hangover. But, a lovely Classic English Breakfast set me straight and the hangy took his leave early. Every component of that breakfast was cooked very well and I enjoyed every bite. The remainder of the menu is relatively simple, but the kitchen was steadily pumping out plates,so it would appear that the food is good enough. From what i saw passing by me, it certainly looked tasty. Go, drink beer, talk to people and have a good time, I...

The Bombardier is a good pub where warmly wrapped in it's authentic British vibe you'll easily forget being in Paris until you glance out the window at the fantastic view of the Pantheon. I've visited the place several times and have always enjoyed it. As England was preparing to battle the Swedes on the Russian fields I therefore thought it would be the perfect place to meet with friends and share in the revelries over a few pints. Though I obviously expected the place to be very crowded I hadn't realized the pub experience would be be brought to the epitome of Britishness by the unwelcome addition of an hour long queue to the bar. I say an hour but that is actually an estimate since after 40 min of this grueling exercise and still 4m away from the source of refreshments I abandoned all hope in typical existentialist French form, raised a white flag, turned and answered the calls of a welcoming terrace a few blocks away. Though many would admit it was difficult to foresee England's presence at this stage of the competition I thought the pub owner could probably have had the foresight to add one or two more people behind the bar to answer the thirsty calls of the inevitable horde of punters that would flock to its screens. I hope you hold no hard feeling Bombardier, as I hold none towards you! You're a good, perhaps even great, pub. Just not...