Date: 14-Jan-2001 06:45
Author: Harry Cantrell/NJ
Subject: Restaurant experiences
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Mark, two experiences ran the spectrum. Both were in France at 3 Star Restaurants. First the good: Michel Guerard's; Greeted at the front porch of a Spanish style Villa by a gentleman that spoke English to us without hearing anything we said. Sat us on the porch, menus given, complimentary Kir Royales, and a small plate of amuse bouches. Are told that when YOU are ready to be seated at your table, just come in, it will be waiting for you. The entire meal was flawless, from the service-you NEVER saw them, but they ALWAYS saw you-(example, I drink lots of water, the glass was never less that half empty) and the FOOD!!! This experience from front to back has NEVER been duplicated anywhere else. Now the bad-Guy Savoy in Paris. The sommelier recommended a 1993 Chablis. Both of us knew enough about Chablis to question the year-but was reassured multiple times that this was excellent, and all it needed was to be decanted (I have never seen a young white wine decanted before) It was tart, acidic, thin. Expressed our displeasure, he just srugged his shoulders and walked away, never to be seen again. Had the tasting menu. One of the dishes was inedible-WAY too salty. The waiter questioned why we weren't eating it, when informed, he just said that some people like it that way. No attempt to replace or taste. The final straw-with coffee at the end of the lackluster meal came a small blueberry muffin. In my dinning companion's muffin was a 1/2 inch by 1/2 inch piece if blue PLASTIC-cooked in the muffin! When shown to the waiter(it was hanging out of the muffin-he offered ANOTHER MUFFIN! Needless to say I have done my best to prevent anyone I know from repeating this $300 per person disaster!!