Char T. S.
Yelp
Disappointing to say the least. I was really looking forward to this culinary experience after reading about Chez Etienne in a raving substack post, but unfortunately I was let down big time. Upon arrival, there was a long wait, which I normally don't mind. This one, I did mind, not due to the wait but rather what was witnessed during it. Multiple health code violations (speaking in American terms, I of course am unfamiliar with French health code), one of which being a bread knife dropped to the floor and promptly stomped on. It seems that the standard procedure for this kind of mishap is to swiftly wipe it off with a rag and continue slicing bread for the loyal patrons. Bread which was clearly being reused from tables that had not finished theirs. Needless to say, when it was my turn to be served bread, I did not indulge. It seems that hand washing has not become a regular practice here, as a member of the crew coughed into his hand and then proceded to plate a number of desserts bare handed. I witnessed the walk-in fridge be opened multiple times, and there was open buckets of salad on the floor with raw meat hanging above them. To put it simply, I was appalled. The cherry on top of it all was the abhorrent service by what seems to be the "mother" of the restaurant, who rushed my sister and I out the moment she decided we were done eating, and the extremely subpar food. We ordered the seafood pasta and grilled squid, both of which were under seasoned, greasy, and upsetting. I personally will not be returning.