Le Marquis — Restaurant in Faro

I never give bad reviews, only positive ones.

But this place needs a serious wake up.

A local living close by, I was driving past on the way to a client at 1300 on a Friday (lunch time)...

I see what looks like a nice restaurant, the kind of place I would bring my parents and other visitors...

Hungry, and with some time to spare, I decide to stop to check the place out.

"Happy Friday" I say to the not very welcoming individual standing there looking like a waiter...

I explain that Ive never been here before and would like to check the place out - I ask for a large beer and the menu and proceed to look around and choose a table.

Without saying hi, or welcome he asks if I will be eating...

Well... it was lunch time... and the sign does say restaurant... so one would assume I would likely be there for lunch...!

He explains that I cant have a drink unless I am eating..

OK... so Id like to see the menu and can I have a beer whilst I look a the menu...

No he says.. he cant serve me unless I eat.

I hadnt been given a menu yet, and was already get an unwelcoming vibe from the restaurant, which only has one table sitting. So not exactly busy.

I take a seat, ask for the menu and a large beer again.

The clearly untrained-in-customer-service waiter brings me a menu, but no beer...

He explains that I cant have a drink unless I am eating... having not even given me a chance to open the menu yet!!!

Whilst picking his nose in front of me!

I left mentioning this to what I assume was the owner, addressed her politely in German, explaining that I am a local coming here for the first time, am very disappointed and wont be coming back.

She seemed not to care at all... didnt even try. turn me around by offering me a drink (it was a very hot day) and encouraging me to look at the menu...

Had they have brought be a drink and given me a chance to look at the menu I would almost certainly have had lunch, and probably come back with visitors again and again.

I will never go to this restaurant ever again, I dont care how good their food might be...

Based on the non-existent welcome and bad service this place should have the title of cafe, not restaurant.

This is how they welcomed and treated a local that would likely be a repeat customer on a hot day at lunch time...

Seriously disappointed and I didn't even have the chance to sit , wet my lips and look at the menu.

A bit no no no from me...

Full disclosure, I'm writing this review as I digest last night's meal at Le Marquis and perhaps I should wait for the wine cloud to pass so that I can offer objective and insightful opinions. However after food that good it is impossible to be objective and my meagre vocabulary isn't capable of describing the flavours and atmosphere that Marquis effortlessly serve. I ate the pasta with shrimps followed by bbq style ribs and both dishes were the kind of food I will bore people about for years to come. My companions tried the rest of the menu but I couldn't listen to them, I was lost in the delights on the plate in front of me. The ribs in particular were sweet, smokey, sticky and succulent and raised the bar for the way pork should be served. I've added pictures, but they don't do the food justice, skip them and book yourself a table, now. If I'm lucky I'll see...

Saturday night in early June and the place only had 20 covers (25%) . It was a warm evening so sitting out was fine in the lovely outdoor area and once we were seated the owner ignored us completely whilst jabbering away to the next table , one of whom was wearing a baseball cap throughout service. The food was well presented with not much choice for vegetarians and the portion size for the mains was small. Three of us had the pork ribs acompanied with and incredibly small portion of potato bravas. My coffee creme brulle had a base which resembled instant whip not custard . My first two choices from the wine list were unavailable and tap water at 3•5€ a pop is a bit much. The place needs to do better if it wants to recapture the old "French Restaurant" that used to occupy...