LE LYAUTEY

As can be seen from the plethora of awful reviews. A distinctly AVERAGE tasting meal, with AWFUL staff.

French cuisine, famous all over the world, this place really has everything to learn. Having just read the amount of shocking reviews I am surprised this restaurant is still in business.

My partner and I ate at this restaurant recently. From the outset it seemed like a nice traditional French restaurant but couldn’t have been more wrong.
We sat at a table outside as it was a nice warm day. We had to ask for the menu as we were ignored by two of the waiters several times after we had sat down, when we finally got hold of a menu it was just given to us, nothing said, and the waiter went back inside.

I ordered the onion soup as a starter with roast duck as the main, my partner ordered just a salad as a main. The food then came out all-together. I wouldn’t have minded so much if it was a starter/side (like garlic bread) But you cannot eat soup alongside duck, particularly being on a small table where the is not enough room for 3 dishes. I immediately, politely, told the waiter I did not want the onion soup as it had not come out at the correct time and I only wanted the main meal so that I could eat with my partner. The waiter refused to take the soup back and said he did not care as I would be paying for it either way. The soup remained on the table for the duration of our meal, and it was not touched.

The food was nothing more than average. When we were finished, in order to try and avoid any drama (my partner hates it) I calculated the bill (minus the soup which was around 9 euros) and left the correct amount of cash on the table to cover the bill. As we began to walk off I was summoned back by the waiter who had served us – I willingly went back to the restaurant to once again explain about the onion soup. What happened next was truly shocking…

I was brought back into the bar where the waiter explained, aggressively, the situation in French to who I can only guess was the manager. I then reiterate to him, again politely, that the soup was not brought out as a starter like I had ordered it and therefore did not want it. He then tells me he is calling the police if I don’t pay the remaining 8.90 for the onion soup. After this, all hell breaks loose…

I say to all 3 members of staff who are now aggresively surrounding me that the situation is ridiculous over a soup, and that I am leaving, having already paid for what I had eaten.
My exit is blocked by one staff member who pushes me backwards, and as I then once again attempt to move past him, the manager comes from behind the bar, behind me and bear hugs me unsuccessfully (see picture of mark left on my waist) attempting to throw me to the ground. I manage to shake him off and he then tells me that he has customers in and not to make a scene (how does that even make sense as up until this point I have been polite and calm?!)
A lot of shouting ensues, me in English, them in French, and at this point I think the manager realises his mistake as he then disappears. I manage to get out of the restaurant and the two other staff who tried to block me in the restaurant proceed once again to stop me from leaving the outside area of the restaurant. By this point I am kicking off and only then do they back down when they see I am not being quite so polite now I have been man handled.

After I leave I bump into a local who has witnessed the whole thing asking what happened – I explain to them and they inform me this restaurant is known for this sort of behaviour, and they are very aggressive rude men and this is a common occurrence here. SHOCKING.

It was my last night in Versailles and on my trip which was a shame as it left a sour taste of the area. I took pictures after all of this in order to post this review.

Please just avoid this restaurant at all costs.

Avis informatif que je vous invite vivement à lire pour vous éviter ce que l'on vient de subir comme injustice et comportement dédaigneux avec ma compagne en fauteuil roulant au sein de cet établissement :
Sachez qu'un minimum de 10 euros pour un règlement avec la carte bancaire est exigé ! Alors oui c'est légal SI C'ÉTAIT AFFICHÉ VISIBLEMENT ET CLAIREMENT AVANT TOUTE CONSOMMATION. Pour notre part on a été mis devant le fait accompli après la consommation avec la mention sur la note de caisse.
J'ai été obligé d'aller retirer à une banque à proximité, minimum 20 euros bien sûr, pour régler 5 euros pour 2 cafés.
J'ai été obligé de laisser seule ma compagne durant ce temps, sans sécurité alors qu'elle a besoin d'aide pour quasiment tout. (Historie d'être sûr que je revienne payer, présomption d'être un voleur avant toute chose hein).
Au moment du paiement forcé en espèces, je dis quand même au serveur que ce n'est pas normal de procéder ainsi. Je n'ai insulté ni manque de respect à quiconque. Mais pourtant deux autres collègues sont venus se mêler de ma discussion avec lui. À trois, aussi lâchement, et injustement, on me "cloue" le "bec" en m'incitant vivement de dégager le plancher (appelons un chat un chat), définissant la conversation totalement inutile et futile ! Et qu'ils avaient autre chose à faire...

Alors oui le chocolat chaud maison est excellent, pour info, mais il y a très sûrement d'autres endroits où il est aussi délicieux mais où nous serons accueillis et traités bien plus sympathiquement et humainement...

Ne vous fiez pas au panneau qui annonce un possible "petit-déjeuner anglais" : c'est juste pour attirer le chaland, le produit ne peut jamais être servi ! Le chef est très rare et surtout commence à travailler très tard le matin. En face d'une gare où les gens prennent le train pour aller bosser cela peut paraître curieux mais c'est comme ça : ni à 8h, ni à 9h, seulement quand il veut, pas le lundi parce qu'il est en réunion (sic !), pas le dimanche parce que c'est dimanche ! Et c, et c...

Dommage, la terrasse est belle et bien exposée.
Venu pour prendre un dessert en terrasse.
Malheureusement le dessert chois n’était pas le bon.
Le pain perdu était sec malgré la crème anglaise qui aurait du cacher cette imperfection.
Nous testerons une autre fois pour confirmer ou pas ce premier avis.

J’ai récemment testé ce restaurant et mon expérience a été en demi-teinte. Malgré un nombre limité de clients, le service s’est avéré assez long, ce qui a un peu entamé l’expérience. Côté cuisine, la pizza ne m’a pas convaincu, manquant de saveur et de générosité. En revanche, le burger était plutôt correct, sans être exceptionnel.

Ce qui relève clairement le niveau, ce sont les serveurs et serveuses : chaleureux, souriants et très agréables, ils apportent une touche positive à l’expérience globale. Dommage que l’efficacité du service et la qualité de certains plats ne soient pas totalement à la hauteur.