Le Bouchon

01/10/09

rude staff, poor manners,

by ndb2009 at Citysearch

I had dinner here with a friend on a weekday night and the whole experience was terrible. First of all when you walk in, the place is so tight you can barely squeeze by the tables without knocking something over. There is no hostess station so I basically found myself just standing, puzzled and it was awhile before anyone noticed my confusion. In the meantime I was standing in the middle of the restaurant with people bumping into me not knowing were to go-annoying. After my friend and I were seated we met our waitress and she was very rude. She acted as if she was doing us a favor by even talking to us. I never give a bad tip but she was so abnoxious that she only got the minimum 10%. The ambiance and vibe of this place was so unpleasant I would never go back.

• Pros: neighborhood spot
• Cons: rude staff, crowded space, limited menu

01/07/09

A Waste of Time and Money!

by Jade510 at Citysearch

I agree, rudeness seems to be the theme at Le Bouchon. I have travelled extensively and frequently through France and this restaurant is both underwhelming and unwelcoming. I have also been a rater for a very popular national restaurant chain with a large variety of restaurants, including French Cuisine. Le Bouchon would not pass any of their standards. We booked a reservation for 9 people on New Years Eve weeks in advance. This 45 person capacity restaurant had 2 seatings, one at 7:30 and one at 10:00. We took a limo and arrived early at 9:45 from our hotel. We were told to find a bar in the area because the restaurant was too crowded with others waiting. We crossed the street and went over to a bank lobby and returned at our seating time. It was nearly 11:00 before we were seated. The 1st seating patrons refused to leave on this cold evening as if they planned to stay all night, and we were crammed in waiting for our tables. Some in our party had worked that day and been up since 5AM. No drinks, hor d'oerves or any laniappe were offered, let alone an apology. Once we were seated the prix fix menu of 65.00 was no longer appealing when they ran out of the best appetizer composed of lobster, shrimp and scallops and had nothing comparable to offer as a substitute. They were also out of the entree, Lamb Chops and served our dessert without the Profiterole, again no apology, offer of substitution from anyone including the owner who chose to sit with more familiar guests. We spent over $800 and were not even wished Good evening or Happy New Year. In a restaurant so small, I expect a more personal touch. I get it in France, which is full of small neighborhood restaurants and charming people, whether in the villages, French Riviera or Paris. I would never go back to this restaurant and for anyone who wants to get a flavor or France, skip this one, it would represent a bad stereotype!

• Pros: Small, it seemed a guy behind the bar with long hair was the only one who was pleasant!
• Cons: Rude, limited wine list with higher than normal prices for the value, not very accomodating

09/09/08

Good but TIGHT!

by bd1234 at Citysearch

The food was really good but the place is so cramped and loud it's almost a stressful experience! I think we went on a Tuesday or Wednesday night and the place was packed. It seemed like quite a few were regulars and I can appreciate why. The bartender was very nice and helpful with selections and the food was very good. But, like a mentioned earlier, the tables were as close together as I remember Francesca's being...maybe even more so. In fact, we were seated against the wall and the patron at the next table who had her back to our table would have her hair on our table when she would tilt her head back to laugh or whatever she was doing. Ick! I have no idea how the waiter managed to squeeze in there to take our order and deliver food. The place was so loud, I had to ask my dining companion to repeat himself a few times. I don't recall ever having to do that at any other restaurant I've ever been to (other than Francesca's). All and all a good meal but I probably won't be back simply due to the noise and close quarters.

• Pros: Food and bartneder
• Cons: LOUD and CRAMPED!!

08/12/08

AVOID

by SKY123 at Citysearch

They placed too many tables for the small space they have. Midway through the meal, waiters/waitress had come and asked us to move closer to our table in order for they to get through - we were already tightly squeezed into our limited space. Food tastes good except I got food poisoned. Most unpleassant expirence I have had.

07/07/08

Rudeness of a Bistro without the benefits

by friargee at Citysearch

We WERE long time customers. No more. The wait staff learn their rudeness from the owner. A waitress spilled a glass of red wine on my wife. The owner witnessed it! No apology. No offer to pay for cleaning. Many years ago, Bouchon was in the lead. They no longer deserve the popularity. They are not a bistro (bistro means fast in Russian), and anyone who has waited over an hour for a table knows that that aint fast) -- Margaux, Bernard, and Matou have out-bistroed them. The Costco duck now surpasses Bouchon's. It is resting on laurels earned many years ago -- if the wait staff and the owner don't want to be there, why would a diner?