Jacqueline Byun Review of Hélène Darroze
Very disappointing experience at Helen Darroze res...
Very disappointing experience at Helen Darroze restaurant. My two daughters and I took my wife for her birthday dinner on a Saturday evening (June 17th, 2017). Below is what I wrote to the Helene staff on following Monday:
"I wanted to advise you of our experience at Helene Darroze. My wife was very much looking forward to the dinner and had a pleasant dinner overall. However, we don't think we will be returning to the restaurant for two reasons:
- The bill included a full adult charge for our two daughters (ages 10 and 13). {we had been advised a few days earlier by email that children would be charged GBP 52 up to age 12} For age 13, I can understand the full price being charged per your email below. I didn't want to raise this when the bill was presented as I find it awkward to be raising queries on the bill in front of your staff.
- The manager of the wait staff, I believe he's French. I appreciate that he's quite firm and organized but we found him a bit overbearing on his staff. For a few of the chocolates and desert that my wife couldn't finish, she asked if this could be taken away. We understand the restaurant policy which was explained (for health/liability reasons, takeaway not allowed), but the manager's initial response to the staff seemed quite rebuking. According to my wife, the manager also seemed quite agitated when my daughter and I had gotten up to go to the restroom when he was coming over to present our menu boards. It almost made us to be very conscientious of not having to offend the manager, it at all possible. It's not the kind of environment I expected at such a prestigious restaurant."
Below is the response we received that afternoon:
"Thank you very much for your email, I truly appreciate you taking the time to write to us about your dining experience which I was, of course, so concerned to read.
I have forwarded your email to our management team, who will reply to you in due course.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of any further assistance in the meanwhile."
Well it's been two weeks and still no response from the restaurant, which was expected. I won't mention the bill amount which is self explanatory for such a restaurant. However for a substantially lower bill and as same or even higher quality, I would recommend Five Fields, Elsytan Street, or Gordon Ramsay.
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