Kyla
Google
Le Matignon Paris: A Disappointing and Uncomfortable Experience
I haven’t felt this uncomfortable at a restaurant in a long time. From the moment I walked in, I felt unwelcome. The hostess acted as if she couldn’t find my reservation, making me spell my (very simple) four-letter name unnecessarily. Throughout the evening, she continued to give us unpleasant looks from the hostess stand, despite us being dressed appropriately for the venue. The only explanation I can think of for this treatment is that I was the only Black person in the restaurant that night, dining with a white friend.
Service was just as disappointing. Our waiter seemed eager to rush us through the meal, despite the restaurant being nearly empty on a weeknight. We had planned to stay as it transitioned into a club, but given how quiet it was, it didn’t seem like that was going to be much of an event. I had also noted in the reservation that we were celebrating a birthday, but when we mentioned it to the waiter, he seemed confused and uninterested. After flagging him down multiple times, we finally had to select a dessert ourselves.
As for the food, my salmon was extremely bland and absolutely not worth the price. I don’t mind paying for an expensive meal, but I expect it to at least have some flavour. On top of that, the overall service was inattentive and dismissive—we had to work to get any attention, and when our waiter wasn’t around, the other staff barely acknowledged us.
I honestly couldn’t wait to leave. I felt so unwelcome and uncomfortable that I have no intention of ever returning. Given Le Matignon’s reputation, I expected much better, but unfortunately, Paris can be hit or miss—and sometimes, that includes a dose of subtle discrimination.