I had a traumatic experience at this place! Without hyperbole, this was one of the worst experiences I have ever had trying to dine out.
The inside of the place reminds me of something you'd see in Brooklyn. This is why I took a sick friend to see it. Besides my love of tea, this is not my sort of place.
After we sat down, I noticed some children with oranges (to which I have a grave allergy) the next table over. I tried to warn the woman in whose care the children seemed to be. She ignored me.
After 5 minutes of trying to get the woman's attention, my friend - a blonde, blue-eyed fashion model - said "excuse me" in a low voice and got the woman's attention. She told her that I had a food allergy at which point the woman became immediately billigerent.
At this point, I should mention that I am a black American writer and translator who has lived in Paris for some years now.
Since the children had started to eat the oranges and I started to react, I warned the woman and my friend that I had an epi-pen in my bag. She told me that she was going to call the police and the fire department and have me taken away. All the while, I am trying to control an oncoming attack.
"I don't know how people do things where you're from, but here you don't just walk into a restaurant and tell the OWNER what to do. This is MY RESTAURANT." At this point, it was lost on me that there might be a racial component when she threatened to call the police not to aide me, but to threaten me to leave. And I would have left, but I had to make certain that I could stand.
The emphasis is not mine. Her two employees were cringing behind the food prep station and the customers looked visibly uncomfortable. Moreover, she kept screaming "this is MY RESTAURANT."
She threw the check at me (it hit my companion) and refused to accept my card, even though it met the minimum as stated on the menu. As I had no cash, my friend paid. He hands were shaking.
I asked her to please step away from me and told her that I felt assaulted. She said: "No, I feel like you're ASSAULTING ME." And I responded, "But you are the one walking towards me" as I made my way towards the door. My friend got between us and as we were leaving she told me she thought the woman was going to hit me.
I have lived in Paris for years and for all the stereotypes about French customer service, I have never been treated like this. Not once did the owner to anything to help, but took every chance to intimidate and harass. Mind you, though the place wasn't full, there were seated customers. Her employees watched with horrified looks on their faces. One young server tried to bring me water but was repelled by her employer.
When I said that I would review her establishment on YELP, she threatened to call the police again. Mind you, at this point I had been to lightheaded to even stand.
The woman I am referring to was dark-haired and heavy set in a way that you don't often see in France, much less Paris. If she's there, you'll know and I would recommend giving her a wide berth.
My girlfriend is a Polish human rights worker and thought I should have called the police as the owners was certainly against EU anti-discrimination statutes, but I didn't want to bother. I just wanted to warn people that the place is owned and operated by a callous and irrationally aggressive person and there are so many other places in Buttes aux Cailles that are more worth your time. read more