Kristen F.
Google
My friend and I were really looking forward to trying this place last night, but could not have been more disappointed. The owner was outrageously rude (and drunk), and despite repeatedly asking him to please leave us alone, he would not. He then proceeded, after his staff (who could not have been more lovely) suggested he leave us alone, to sit at the table beside us instead and throw over the occasional comment. He was like a drunk child.
When we arrived with my dog, he was near the entrance. He immediately - not knowing anything about me or my dog- let her off the lead without asking. He then patronisingly told me 'having her on the lead is very bad dog training. You need to trust your dog.' She, of course, ran away and into the basement of the place. He was trying to call her back and she did not come. I got her back, but he kept coming at her quite aggressively to pet her, without realising she was terrified of him. He then let her off the lead again - she was so afraid of this man, she again ran away. I told him to stop doing this - it's my job to keep her safe, letting her off the lead means she's safe and can explore but she's not and cannot in this place. She's my dog - I know her - leave us alone.
He patronisingly told me I'm doing it all wrong, repeatedly talking down to me, and tried to let her off again. Finally we were seated downstairs. The owner kept coming back to our table - where my dog was then sleeping on the floor quietly - and agitating her again. I kept saying to him, 'Please leave us alone, you're upsetting me and my dog, we just want a peaceful evening, please go, we do not want to talk to you and I do not want your dog training advice,' but he would not.
What makes it worse is that for most of the evening he would only talk to my male friend about my dog - he completely ignored me telling him to leave, both when I was polite, and when I got increasingly agitated at his enormous disrespect. We stayed for our drinks and left, with him continuing to lecture my friend about how I should never have my dog on a lead in public bars. It was incredibly rude, patronising, and inappropriate, on so many levels. My dog could have been nervous, aggressive, etc. and he just continued letting her off. Fortunately she is very well trained and came back to me, but what a completely embarrassing excuse for a man.
The staff continually came to apologise to us for his allegedly drunken behaviour, the other patrons came to note to us how horribly rude he was being and complimenting how polite we stayed despite his behaviour. He obliviously continued until we and the table next to us both left.
The place is beautiful, the garden makes it feel really special, the staff were so lovely, and the wine was good. But I will never, ever be going back to this place. And if you're female, you plan to bring your dog - or you just don't want to be belittled and aggressed by a drunken Frenchman - skip this place. There are better places around.