My husband wanted to grab a coffee on our way to Jardin du Luxembourg, and Café Fleurus presented itself as a convenient option. It was, in fact, the site of the most unpleasant interlude of our entire trip.
I stayed outside with our two small children while my husband went in, and as there was a sidewalk patio lined with empty tables, we took a seat while we waited. I figured it would only be a couple minutes, but my husband was in there for a long time. I guess service was pretty slow, less than ideal for take-out coffee.
We were there long enough that my brother and sister-in-law caught up to us with their toddler (we were meeting them at the garden) and joined us on the sidewalk. At this point, an angry manager or other officious staffer came out and told us we weren't allowed to sit at the tables. They were for dine-in customers only, and not for people waiting on take-out. There were probably twenty chairs on that patio, and only one of them was occupied by a dine-in customer, who shook her head as the manager went inside, telling us she found his behavior unnecessary and rude. My brother's family left (and honestly, I think this was the point--that guy saw a bunch of Asians on his patio and ran right out), but my husband was still waiting on his coffee, which he'd already ordered.
When he was finally ready, our six-year-old said he had to go to the bathroom, and I went in with him, not asking permission to use the toilet in a place where we'd paid for coffee. While we were in there, someone knocked aggressively at the door, and I was surprised to find no one waiting when we went out.
We weren't looking to extend our visit a moment longer, but our three-year-old decided he had to go potty as soon as his brother came back. My husband went with him, and at that point, his coffee was on a table, and I decided to sit down for a couple minutes, screw that guy and his probably racist nonsense.
That prick of a manager stormed out of the café and railed at me for sitting when he'd warned me away. He got in my face and said the tables were for dine-in customers, and that only dine-in customers were entitled to sit and use the bathrooms. I was stunned and went right back at him, saying we hadn't wanted to be stuck there for more than fifteen minutes, but my husband's coffee took a long time, and also was HE the one knocking like a psychopath while a CHILD used the bathroom? What an incredible way to treat anyone, let alone a paying customer. I've never even heard of a place that won't let your kids use the bathroom when you pay for coffee.
I doubt he'll ever see this, but I hope someone in his life does, because he should be known for the weaselly little scumbag he is. What an entire waste of space and oxygen, what a stain on his country and net negative for the world. If I ever go back to Café Fleurus, it'll be to use their bathroom and have a fight. read more