Planchette Bistro and Creperie — Restaurant in Ambler

I attended Planchette last week and I ordered the Coq Au Vin (roasted Chicken in a wine reduction) which Was delicious, but do be careful, as there are many tiny bones to choke on, and with sides that were boring at best...white rice with Zero seasoning and blanched string beans that were tough and "stringy"! A better choice may have been Asparagus... but I know the owner to be somewhat cheap, so string beans will probably be his only choice, ever! I ordered as an appetizer, the Escargot in a garlic and butter sauce (normal) but at first I was given the wrong fork used for clams or mussels and when I called over, the less than boring and Zero personality "waiter" and asked for a proper fork, I also informed him that 3 of the 6 I was served had snails that were missing in action...non existent! It turns out the owner came over and When I told him, he boasted to me that they were Fresh snails that came In-The-Shell as opposed to those that are sold loose or shell-less and that are stuffed into the shell afterwards, and that during the cooking process they shrink and retreat back into their shell, making it more of a chore to dig them out... with even the correct fork. He took them to the kitchen (as if to retrieve the tiny snails) and came back with 3 tiny shriveled snails on a dish and said...Violá! As if that solved the issue... of having to hold the greasy shell with my fingers and search for non-existent snail meat! I've eaten at some of the best French Restaurants in the US and have never been served Escargot without tongs to hold the shell with, while plucking the meat out with a fork, so you can imagine how much a fool one would feel sitting there turning an empty shell this way and that, searching for his appetizers and having to hold the greasy shell with my fingers!! I even made the suggestion that he purchase the snails separate from the shells and to cook them first and then stuff them into an empty shell for easier extraction...to which he said that his were Fresh...not canned! Canned would have been preferred compared to the mess these were! I also suggested he try to serve loose escargot in a burgundy wine reduction, which is a very tasty way to enjoy them without the digging...to which he scoffed and insisted on staying his course as being the only way these will be served! With that in mind, I witnessed him at tableside assisting another 3 diners, that same evening, digging out their escargot for them...twice...for 2 of the 3 seated there. Not exactly the experience one looks for when out to enjoy a fine meal...to have the owner, help to retrieve your food for you...its akin to having your Mother slice your meat as a child would have her do! Embarrassing for both you as an Adult diner, And for the Owner acting as the Mother! (a male owner)So...By All Means...avoid the Escargot!!! There wasn't a dessert menu and rather than being offered dessert, I had to ask if there Was dessert available! I was told verbally of the 4 choices and wasn't quite sure what was being described but I do remember the chocolate souffle being mentioned so I ordered that...it was adequate at best. As for the decor...I will Have to take some credit here...as I was contracted to design the digitally printed balconies with the flower boxes filled with the silk flower arrangements as well as the Art Nouveau chalk boards for specialties above the In-the-restaurant Kitchen ...and the exterior signs made to look like rough hewn wood but in actuality digitally printed wood. As a gift to the owner, I created the replica of the Eiffel Tower from welded steel rods and tiny l.e.d. lights and a base with tiny hand made trees to resemble the actual base found beneath the Eiffel Tower in Paris. So...for the decor I'd proffer 5 stars...but for the blah sides, the non-existent dessert menu, the horrid escargot experience sans tongs, the lack-luster waiter, and the tap water put into the fancy bottle to be used as your thirst quencher, and the way over priced "meal"...I hesitate 1 star! If you visit...Good Luck! Did I say.. "Avoid...

A memorable Mother’s Day Dinner: Rude, overpriced and mediocre. A Mother’s Day - we made reservation they took it for 7:30p arrived few minutes late. I was not greeted, seated at worst table and server gave me exasperated look. While awaiting for my party to park asked for the menu to start appetizers, the server stated “I told you to be here at 7:30, it is 7:47pm”and refused to give me a menu.

My party arrived and finally gave us a menu. I should have left and gave the server my peace of mind but it is Mother’s Day despite feeling disrespected and treated so badly at the start. We stayed. Tried to order appetizer and same server informed me “I need ALL the orders now”. I then pressured my family to choose their meal while server was looking annoyed at us. My husband asked to move to a different table and the server changed his attitude and said he will take the order after we move to a better table.

The rest of the meal was okay at best. They messed up the order had to wait for bouillabaisse after everyone had their meal served because the server was annoyed and in a rush. Considering each entree was ranged from $45-$55 I expected better from the food but even more from their attitude. After the server acknowledge missing my order he offered dessert in compensation which we appreciated. However, when the bill came they charged us for all the dessert and had to clarify his offer and said he can only remove 1 dessert.

Overall the most horrible experience I had as a customer in a restaurant that touts gourmet with okay food. The best thing on the menu was the calamari, grilled octopus and the fries they were superior to their overpriced entree.

As for the server and his rudeness it is inexcusable but I forgive you, you may have family that was waiting for you hence your rush to close and want to go home on Mothers Day but you made mine memorable. The food may have been more palatable if it weren’t for this interaction.

If you want French food in Ambler we highly recommend La Provence with better food, ambience and professionalism from all the staff, unfortunately they are...

My fiancée and I just paid over $100 for the WORST meal either of us has ever had at a "nice" restaurant! I have never so viscerally hated, Hated, HATED a meal! Nearly every step had something wrong. Firstly, the bread: it came with an oil to put on top. A little bit of garlic in it. Olive oil? NO! It was either the palest, faintest, weakest olive oil I've ever tasted as a bread dip or, somehow, they served us vegetable oil. I could ONLY taste the garlic. At these prices, why skimp on something like that? Next a TWELVE DOLLAR French Onion Soup. At that price, I was hoping this would be the first quality French Onion Soup I had had at a restaurant since the pandemic. NOPE! Firstly, it was CLEARLY made with chicken broth. Secondly, it was overly herbaceous, with floating herb bits highly visible in the light yellow broth, a common sign of covering up low quality French Onion. No crisp or even chew left the the bread. Overly sweet. From the caramelized onions? Not based on the pale yellow color of barely carmelized onions! Must be added sugar. My fiancée had it right on the money: "This soup tastes like Stouffer's Tabletop Stuffing!" Grilled Calamari- well cooked and tender, I admit. Flavor wise? Grille flavor and NOTHING else. Butter lemon, anything, all missing. My fiancée put SALT on hers. She has Bistro Fries. She liked them. HOORAH! They can successfully fry potatoes and put cheese on them! (For my money, they were FAR too soggy). Ando now, the crown jewel: a THIRTY SEVER DOLAR Bouillebase. In a "tomato and saffron" broth. My God, it was the FISHIEST thing I've ever tased. Now, I've not had Bouillebase before, but I HAVE made my own Fisherman's Stew before. When you use FRESH fish, it has fish flavor while still allowing flavors like fennel bulb and tarragom to come through. THIS tasted as my fiancee again said, "Like tomato water and a dock." Old fish overpowered all NO HINT of saffron! My fingers still reek of old fish! Robbery at these prices. They veneer of "fancy" with no quality, like the WORST "French"...