"Cafe terrasse panoramique"--that's what got me in the door. This place is a tourist trap. Smack…read moredab in the middle of Gruyère, it probably gets all of its traffic from walk-ins that haven't done their research. Just check Trip Advisor and you'll see all the terrible reviews for the hotel and the restaurant.
The service is terrible. I was told I can sit outside by a bartender. I sat around for 10 minutes waiting for someone to bring me a menu. I even asked for one, and at that point the server didn't even answer me, she just got the owner to talk to me. He tells me the table is for 4 people and I can't sit there. All of the tables in the restaurant are for 4 people. He points to one of those tables that seat 4 and told me to sit there. I said "but that's also a table for 4, why can't I sit here?" And he says "I'm the owner and this is my restaurant and I'm telling you you can't sit here." Wow, rude. He might as well have been swinging from the trees and beating on his chest. Great logic there; I can see that logic isn't his strong suit, and he gets his way using "because I'm the owner and this is my restaurant and I said so." I'm guessing he didn't want me to sit there because it was close to a good view and maybe he wanted to save it for a larger group. It wasn't even that good, it was the table with the closed window so the view was obstructed.
That seemed like the perfect time to leave. I went to Cafe Restaurant des Remparts nearby where they also have a panoramic view, but the service is way friendlier. Glad I didn't stay at St-George of the Jungle's restaurant!
His wait staff looked miserable. If that's how the owner treats customers ready to buy an overpriced fondu pot, I can't imagine how he treats his staff. By the looks on their faces, not very well.
The washrooms are also disgusting. Small and stinky. Not good ventilation. The air is damp. You can smell everything that happened before you got in there, which isn't exactly the most appetizing.
I would definitely avoid. There are better hotels to stay in in a more livable city like Lausanne. La Gruyère is awesome to spend a half day in, see the castle, eat and drink, and learn how they make cheese, but I wouldn't overnight there, but if you do want to overnight in Gruyère, I would say do not go to this restaurant's hotel. It's a 3-star that's overpriced due to its convenient location. Just go to Lausanne, it's close enough.