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Disappointing Experience at Restaurant GAYA — Châtelaillon Plage
We had high expectations for our dining experience at Restaurant GAYA in Châtelaillon-Plage, especially given its cozy atmosphere and stunning views of the bay. The restaurant itself is beautifully designed, seating around 30 guests, with a welcoming vibe and attentive staff. The service team was kind and professional, and we were made to feel comfortable from the moment we arrived.
Unfortunately, our experience quickly soured due to the combination of extremely slow service and disappointing food.
We arrived at 20h30, were escorted to our table, and immediately presented with the food menus. However, after ordering, we had to wait an unreasonably long time for the wine menu — about 30 minutes, despite asking for it more than once. When it finally arrived, it took another 10 minutes to receive our wine. At that point, we had already consumed all of the amuses bouches (nibbles) provided.
Staying on the topic of service, we opted for the 5-course tasting menu, and after over 3 hours of dining, we still hadn’t finished! It became clear that the kitchen was far too slow, with the entire evening stretching on into the late hours. By midnight, my wife had to leave before the meal was completed due to the time. I’ve never spent so long at a dinner table.
As for the food, we were disappointed by the overcomplicated dishes. While I believe in letting high-quality ingredients speak for themselves — such as lobster, which is a luxury product in its own right — GAYA’s approach involved strange combinations, emulsions, and sauces that detracted from the natural taste of the ingredients. The food simply didn’t live up to the standard we were expecting.
In conclusion, GAYA’s food was overly complicated and lacked the natural quality we had hoped for. The service, though very kind, was far too slow, which resulted in a generally disappointing experience. While the staff did their best and were wonderful, there was no way they could compensate for the letdown that was, unfortunately, a far cry from the high expectations we had.
The restaurant charges Michelin Star prices, but unless there's a dramatic rethink in both the kitchen and overall experience, it will never deserve or win one. The long service times, overly complicated dishes, and overall lack of refinement made it clear that it was a far cry from what we anticipated.
