laura aiello
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I chose Au Top to celebrate my 30th birthday because it was one of the few places in Paris advertised to stay open until 2am on Sundays – something I confirmed both online and by asking directly. I planned the evening specifically to celebrate turning 30 at midnight, so this detail was crucial.
Our reservation was at 21:30, and most guests arrived by 21:45 – I even have Uber receipts to prove it. As is normal at a celebratory dinner, we took a bit of time to settle in, order drinks, and enjoy the moment. At 22:30, we began ordering, only to be informed without prior warning that the kitchen was closing and we could no longer order starters. After some discussion, the waiter/manager reluctantly allowed us to order, but not without making us feel like it was a huge inconvenience and that he was doing us a favor.
We ignored the poor attitude because I didn’t want to let it spoil the night. We continued, ordering multiple dishes, including large steaks to share. Then, without warning, we were informed the restaurant would close at midnight – contradicting what we were told beforehand and what’s listed online. The same manager said he’d “make an exception” and let us stay until 00:30 – again, treating it like a personal favor rather than standard hospitality.
The final straw came at 23:30, when the staff brought out my birthday cake and lit the candles – a full 30 minutes before my actual birthday. In my culture, this is considered bad luck, and I had explicitly chosen this venue to celebrate at midnight. I kindly asked if we could wait, and reminded him he had just said we could stay until 00:30. But he insisted the restaurant would be closing soon and ignored my request.
What happened next was completely unacceptable: without permission, the chef cut the cake I hadn’t even had the chance to blow out or take a photo with. This level of disrespect and lack of communication was shocking. My sister and I were stunned. When we tried to explain how upsetting and inappropriate this was, the manager doubled down and blamed us for being “late” – even though we were within a completely reasonable time frame for a 21:30 dinner reservation.
He gave a half-hearted apology, but it was laced with excuses and deflection. At that point, we paid immediately and left. For the first time ever, we didn’t leave a tip – not out of pettiness, but because the service did not deserve even a cent. (And our tips are usually very generous)
Thankfully, the bar across the street welcomed us warmly, and we managed to turn the night around. But Au Top single-handedly ruined what was meant to be a special and joyful celebration. I will never go back, and I strongly advise others not to rely on this place for important events. Hospitality is about respect and communication – Au Top failed on both counts.
