Chez Francis

Ambience is great, staff is good. Food has a certain level of refinement to it and it’s amazing. Drinks are also good, we tried pinacolada and it was crazy good. Will surely return to this restaurant if I ever come back to Pondi

Walked by many restaurants but nothing on menu compared to this gem - Chez Francis. Vijayakumar was our waiter - he was super friendly (always smiling) and so helpful. The Chill Pill drink was superb. I had it without ice and it was perfect. The Roasted Pumpkin, Apricot, Spinach and toasted sunflower seeds was an exceptional dish. Every mouthful was thoroughly enjoyed. The Ratatouille had perfectly stewed vegetables and the flavour was incredible. The Carrot Halwa was a decadent dish, moist and flavourful. The restaurant had many seating areas, with beautiful architecture, and super clean. This is a restaurant not to miss when staying in Pondicherry.

The menu posted online is different from the actual menu. We ordered two dishes: one with mashed potatoes and chicken, and another containing mashed pumpkin and prawns, along with a regular cocktail. The prices were too high for the portion served. Service tax was charged extra. Better to go to other restaurants instead.

Your feedback is clear but could be more polished for a formal tone. Here’s a revised version: We ordered crepes and grilled fish. The crepes were unique and enjoyable; however, the grilled fish was very dry and served with cold French fries. Overall, the experience was disappointing, especially considering a service charge was included despite minimal effort from the staff. Let me know if you’d like further tweaks!

Let's just say this is one of those dusty places in Pondy I used to go to because it is empty most of the time, but now I know why it's empty. I had reserved 2 days ahead, a table for 10 for 11am (not meal time). They mentioned that lunch would only begin at 12 and they can't offer it at 11am. I said I wouldn't need lunch and if they have a tea menu - we would order from that. They confirmed that they would be able to cater to the same and confirmed my reservation. The night before my reservation I stopped by for a quick dinner and told them that if possible, I may need an extra chair for one more person for the reservation next day. They said they they don't offer anything at 11am, are unwilling to host and were very rude and unapologetic. They cancelled the reservation and did not inform me. They then asked if I can pay them extra money for the bigger group and said they can offer a private space if I give them the money. I was very surprised because usually restaurants are happy to take a bigger group (more orders I am guessing?) and I was very clear I don't need a private space. Very disappointed with the unprofessional behaviour.

Very elite and authentic french cuisine garden restaurant. The food is great. It is not very crowded which is the best part. Generally, you will be able to find a table on your visit.

In the bylanes of the French colony of Puducherry, lies this cute restaurant. It was the highlight of our two day visit as a family to Puducherry. The decor is naturally beautiful with a lot of ambivalent light and plants. We chose to sit indoors in the air-conditioned room as it was hot in the afternoons. The server was smiling & we loved his recommendations. The cream of crab soup was light & yum. The Seafood platter was an absolutely delicious recommendation. It was a French preparation with the Tiger & Jumbo prawns & veggies tossed in herbs. The Calamari was crunchy fried, the white cheesy sauce was full of flavour. Poulet du Champignons with Ratatouille was also amazing! The Cocktails were ok. They had no breezers! My teenage kids, who are more into fast food, also enjoyed the food! Our average bill for four came up to Rs.4k. Bit expensive but the experience was really wonderful.

A must try in Pondy for those who wish to taste authentic, sophisticated and gastronomic dishes! Hats off to Chef Michel, u nailed it! among numerous “touristic” restaurants u stand out! Highly recommend ! Keep the spirit and mementum!