Le Petit Jardin Cafe — Restaurant in Venice

Bonjour mon ami. I do not review restaurants but cannot pass on this one. I also wish I had written a review for every good restaurant and every good experience in Sarasota County. It would be a part time job. We have great restaurants and great people. Well, except for one. And the reason I write this review is because my wife and my daughters came home upset after a Saturday lunch attempt at this restaurant. We have four kids of which the youngest is a foster child. She is our daughter. Mom and the girls who like anything Paris related decided to visit this restaurant for lunch only to run into two librarians who decided to be a "manager" and "waitress" at a restaurant for the weekend or some similar experience to explain their behavior (nothing against librarians). These two were exceptional at staring at my wife and daughters. Once in a while to break only to whisper something to each other. The girls were quiet so maybe the two were just ready to pounce with a "shhhh, quiet" if a noise was made. Maybe it was the lack of service and mediocre Sysco food that made them wonder how this young family would react. Who knows what it was but it made my family uncomfortable. The food? well, mediocre at best and definitely lives up to the name le petit. An open faced sandwich that was overpriced with a french name. Orange juice from a local supermarket again expensive le petit OJ. This place is not fancy dining so imitation is acceptable. In conclusion, if you have kids stay away. It is a popular place for the senior community. If you don't bring your kids they will thank you with mediocre uncomfortable service and le petit...

We went there for the first time. Nice Cafe. It is hard to find if you do not know where it is. You have to know their location.

The smell there is wiered. But you can use it fast.

The food is good. Portion is small -europian size.

Coffee is Amazing good.

Crapes are very bad. I am from Europe too, I know how to make crapes.

Sandwich was great. Lots of meet and good sauce.

The potato salad is the Best in Venice!

Waitress is very nice girl. Love her.

I put 4 stars because they added 20% ! Tips automatically!

Hmm..why is it? 15-18% tips is good,since all food coast went up,they already have a big increase in their wages. Why would I pay 20% of tips for 2 people? If I had 8 people, lots of work etc..I understand 20%, but for 2 people... no.

I think I will not go back. I am not rich enough to pay 20%. I am a cook and I do not get any tips at work.

It's so sad that greed is everywhere.

I guess you prefer to take 20% tips once,than to have 15-18% every week. Thank...

HOW CAN THIS BE CALLED A "FRENCH" CAFE with absolutely nothing with BRIE on the menu??? That was already a big disappointment. It had been over a year since my friend Janet and I lunched here and we did remember the food was good. The place looked clean, and service adequate. When I order something that mentions CRAB, I feel perhaps they should mention when it is NOT really crab. If I know it in advance, I'm OK with it. This Le Petit Crepe with Crab and Shrimp was tasty, but definitely NOT real crab. The cup of Split Pea soup was very good. Janet wanted to LE MANDARIN CHICKEN SALAD and was impressed with the taste and size of it. When the bill came, it was presented on one of those modern, new contraptions where you have to use your finger to sign (not your nail!) and it pretty much tells you what to tip. That was the last straw for me - I will...