Brasserie Excelsior Reims — Restaurant in Reims

Our hopes and expectations were set high for our final meal in Reims. Needless to say, unfortunately we were left bitterly disappointed and borderline offended by the service and food we received - hence this review. Too long didn’t read: beautiful restaurant. Overall mediocre, overpriced food. Slow, inattentive, borderline offensive service. Opposite of what excelsior should mean. Take your money and appetite elsewhere!

The food was sadly entirely mediocre and certainly overpriced considering the quality served - 3 stars. We visited as a couple so our sampling of the menu was limited, but still telling as to the overall quality and the value for money of the restaurant. For entrees we had the burgundy snails and the tuna mango tartar. The tuna mango tartar was tasty and served nicely, while the burgundy snails were certainly tasty, the shells on several of mine were crushed, leading to them being inedible as they had shards of shell in them (one of which I did not notice and had a nice surprise for my teeth). For mains we had the scallops with risotto and the chateaubriand with pommes frites, both made us raise our eyebrows. While the scallops were cooked nicely, the risotto had clearly been made well in advance - it was dry, hard and lumpy - not something you expect from a dish that costs 33 euros. The beef was also cooked rather nicely and as ordered (medium rare), but the accompanying pommes frites were something off a kids menu, clearly from a frozen bag - unimaginable for a nearly 30 euro dish and accompanying a chateaubriand nonetheless at “this level” of restaurant.

While the food was mediocre, the service can truly be regarded as contrary to what the restaurant’s name might suggest - 1 star. It is the small, tiny things which start to pile up and eventually become rather insulting to a customer and make it feel as though you are simply a wallet to extract money from. Theres no friendliness, passion or fun in the service, it is just order and delivered - like fast food. It is clear that the restaurant has a high turnover of staff, because the training of staff was clearly sub-par. Our waitress poured about half a glass of champagne on our tablecloth, not the glass - not even apologising for it. After each course, we waited 20-30 (not exaggerated!) minutes for our dirty plates to be cleared - it was the same for the tables seated next to us, who were also remarking as to the abysmal service on their own. The pommes frites were initially forgotten and when politely remarked, an annoyed “yes” followed and some time later the (frozen bag) pommes frites arrived, no quick apology or a smile. When I politely asked for the winelist while waiting for the mains, it was forgotten about and when the mains were eventually served, I this time asked for a glass or red, which was delivered rather quickly, but was fridge cold - maybe 8c. When the wrong dessert was delivered and I politely said that it was not the dessert I had ordered, once more an annoyed sigh without an apology and heelturn to eventually, 10 minutes later, retrieve the correct, though fridge cold, dessert. Not once were we offered or asked whether we would like anything more to drink, once we had finished our mains we had to wait another 60 minutes with empty glasses to receive our to-share dessert and, eventually, pay.

Though it is clear from other reviews that on its better days, the restaurant certainly delivers a good experience - sadly not for us. Averaging the two scores for food and service, we arrive at the overall...

Honest review here; I'm living in Reims for a few months and i've tried a lot of food places, I've been eyeing this one for a while and finally tried it today.

Pros: Excellent service, wonderful staff, lovely setting, very relaxed atmosphere. Good Champagne and wine list, accessible pricing especially for their set menus, a set meal and glass of Champagne will be around 50EUR.

Cons: the food is good bistro at best, I had the duck starter which was nice, but not fine dining level, the bread doesn't even come with butter, and the plate felt a bit generic.

I had the Brandade crémeuse de Haddock, which was unloved and dissapoining; made up of 90% mashed potato and then 2x small specks of very dry haddock, the top crust was overcooked & on the verge of burnt, which for a very simple dish at a quiet time of service is sub par.

Not in anyway unenjoyable, but not in anyway memorable, and so I write with detail incase anyone is looking for their special meal in Reims to be a gastronomical delight; because you will be dissapointed if you elect this place as that choice.

There are plenty of other options in Reims which offer a much, much higher calible of food, but this place is really lovely for the staff, the service, the calm and the setting, so maybe for a quick easy lunch it's...

We were there to celebrate a birthday … it was a mistake!!

The staff and in particular the head waiter (maître d’ ?) were inattentive, unfriendly, and dismissive for the get go.

One of our main courses was a Fresh Tuna Steak - we specifically requested “pink”, which the maître d’ acknowledged.

When the dish arrived it was well done - “brown” inside … !

We returned the dish. The maître d’ said he will speak to the chef.

When the replacement dish arrived at the table it was literally FROZEN in the inside and smelled bad … clearly, it was neither fresh nor indeed properly cooked, as the meat was raw throughout.

On once again complaining to the maître d’ he said “you’re the only ones who are complaining all the other guests in the restaurant have no complaints”!

The conversation with him was very annoying, since he did not acknowledge the problem even though he could see the raw and frozen tuna steak on the plate! Not only was it disappointing response from the maître d’ at a supposedly reputable establishment, this place is not inexpensive.

The bad experience ruined our evening.

Avoid this place as there are numerous better places throughout Reims!

The Excelsior has no...