- 整體 2
- 食物 3
- 服務 2
- 氛圍 4
Disappointing First Experience Despite Good Food
I recently hosted a brunch at Ben Paris for the first time and, unfortunately, my experience was far from welcoming. I had a reservation for six people at 11:30 AM. Upon arrival, the restaurant was moderately busy, but not overcrowded. Despite this, I was not greeted by the host and had to actively get her attention just to be acknowledged.
At the time of check-in, three of our six guests had arrived. I was told we could not be seated until the entire party was present. After about 15 minutes, we were five out of six, with a possible seventh guest joining. I asked if we could be seated with the majority present, noting that the remaining guests were likely to arrive shortly. The host was inflexible and dismissive, offering only two options: be seated immediately as five or wait until all six arrived. Despite several empty tables being set, she showed no willingness to accommodate or empathize with our situation.
When the remaining guests arrived about 10 minutes later, I requested additional seating. The host refused and responded with visible frustration, including eye-rolling—behavior that felt unprofessional and disrespectful. It was disheartening to feel so unheard and unwelcome, especially as someone bringing a group of first-time guests to the restaurant.
Eventually, I asked to speak with a manager, but none were available. Thankfully, another server stepped in and was incredibly understanding. They quickly helped us move to a larger table, which salvaged part of the experience.
On a positive note, the food was enjoyable. I ordered the double burger, and everything arrived promptly. I appreciated the variety of mimosa options (orange, grapefruit, pineapple) and the availability of a medium-sized pitcher for $56, which was a nice value.
That said, the initial treatment by the host left a lasting negative impression. No matter how good the food is, hospitality begins at the door. I strongly urge management t