Le Parisien

4 Below Average

Food  1      Ambience  6      Service  6      Value  3     

We ordered the rabbit, which read the praise of chiefs and visitors at the entrance. In the course of a meal (already in the mouth) showed a long, black hair, is clearly not rabbit. Immediately we called the waiter and pointed to it. He offered to bring again the same dish, of course we refused. After that to us before the end of dinner, nobody of the staff came up with no apologies, no proposals of any presents. We have only received an apology when we were given a receipt. Thanks Le Parisien for memorable dinner with eating hair.

Apr 28, 2012 

1.8 Not Recommended

Food  1      Ambience  3      Service  2      Value  1     

The food at Le Parisien is woeful. My first course of Onion soup was acceptable flavour, however, disappointing presentaion with soup terrine on paper a doily with sprig of Parsley to garnish (circa 1979). My second course was scallops baked in a bechamel sauce.

This was a recommendation made by the waiter who claimed it was the most popular dish. This was at best tasteless with over cooked scallops. It was served with 2 large freshly cut wedges of lemon. I assumed that this was to add to the dish and did so in the hope that it would add a little flavour. Big mistake. The lemon made the sauce curdle and the scallops taste worse. I asked the waiter if the lemon was supposed to be on the plate with a cheese sauce. He told me that the chef uses the same garnish for all seafood regardless of type of dish.

Given that I'd spend $23.00 for a very small entree I was very disappointed. If this is the most ordered entree I would suggest it isn't ever ordered a second time. This place obviously hasn't updated their menu since the 80's. They have updated their prices though. I knew I was in the wrong place when I saw a daily special of morrocan chicken tenderloins. Acceptable dish for sitting on a bar stool at my local but really not what I would expect in a restaurant. Overpriced and poorly executed.

Sep 22, 2011 

4 Below Average

Food  3      Ambience  7      Service  5      Value  1     

I had the not so fortunate pleasure of dining at this supposed "top class restaurant". It started off as a romantic dinner, the bruschetta was really tasty but quickly deteriorated when our second entree of calamari came out. They brought out a plate containing 4 tiny slivers of calamari on top of a massive plate of salad and charged us $20!

The night continued on with our mains, my partner ordered the lamb shank which was nice although not $40 worth, I've had better lamb shank somewhere else! I ordered the veal which was supposed to have a creamy mushroom and white wine sauce. The sauce looked like dishwater and the taste was non-existent. I had to sprinkle half a hand full of salt and pepper to get any flavour out of this bland, tasteless dish.

The waitress came to check if our meals were ok and I was quick to let her know that the meal was bland and not up to scratch and she advised she would let the kitchen staff know. A waiter then came out to apologise and said the kitchen staff would be out to speak to us about it. The kitchen staff never came out so we requested the bill. The bill came out and they had charged us full price for my main which I thought was a bit steep and also charged us $11.50 per corona (we had 4 at $46!).

When we went to pay for the meals we told the waitress we were not happy to pay full price for my meal as it was not up to scratch. The senior staff came and spoke to us and basically didn't give a rats that we were dissatisfied and continued to say that as we were the minority of people that complain, he didn't care as he already had enough business and demanded that we hand over the cash.

As he could see that we weren't going without a fight he agreed to take a measly $20 off the $150 bill. My advice if you are considering dining at this restaurant is Don't bother! They charge exuberant prices for food that isn't up to par. I've had better meals at a service station!

Sep 06, 2011 

6.5 Recommended

Food  5      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  5     

Ambience and service was very good, but very disappointed with the food. Entrees were fair. My calamari was nicely cooked but the lettuce leaf and grated carrot underneath tasted very fishy. I realize that it was underneath the calamari, but it wasn't a calamari taste. I couldn't eat it. My husband's main was the special osso bucco and was not cooked enough.

This dish should melt away from the bone but it was still very tough. I had the seafood casserole. It was so hot I couldn't eat it for a few minutes. The seafood was so overcooked it was difficult to identify the types of seafood. The garnish was halves of boiled potato. $45 for this main, I expected much better.

Jul 25, 2010 

6 Average

Food  4      Ambience  10      Service  2      Value  8     

Le Parisien restaurant used to be one of my favourite places. We used to go Le Parisien more often in 2004/05. I still recommend their duck, bouillabaisse (best I had tried in Melbourne) and most of the entrées. And they got one of the nicest views and environment. For me look and feel wise second to Circa (The Prince).

Recently few of my friends visited from overseas and we decided to take a one hour drive from Melbourne to visit my old gold. (Saturday, 4th July 2009). We order few entrées and that was a pleasant experience. Also asked the waitress to take a photo of us and she wasn’t very happy about the request. She was complaining, but took the photo anyway.

We ordered 4 mains, poultry, beef and 2 fish. Mains were pretty ordinary. All mains serve with same sides, bean stuff tomato (which was better than expected), a rock hard croquette, (We wish we could have throw them to rude waitress and the kitchen staff) and that’s it! Most probably those sides were left over from last night. Or might have prepared way before the service time.

I ordered steak medium rare (53C), but the steak was more close to very rare, middle of the steak was still cold. (Probably not thawed? properly!) I had complained and she bought back the steak again in few minutes. By the way, another waiter told me that’s how french cook steak. Still bleeding heavily and now some parts very tough and stinks like burned in a MW. (I was a chef for about 12 years before I change my career, I saw some bad chefs cook steaks on ‘TV’.

Anyway this place is a fine dine and I guess they didn’t microwave my steak). Moreover béarnaise sauce was smelled more like just out of tetra pack than freshly home made. There was more parsley in it than tarragon. Second time kitchen staff served me steak as it was with different sides. I send the horrible steak back, I thought they are going to settled the blood and serve me back.

I'm not bragging about 43 dollars (probably for kitchen staff’s learning curve) for the steak I never had. But it wasn’t my fault that you can’t cook. It wasn’t my fault I waited 15 minutes and left empty stomach, while others in my table enjoyed. It wasn’t my fault you were busier than normal. And you had more than one hour between entrees and main.

All this time I wasn’t mad but was expecting your disaster recovery skills to kick in. You didn’t even apologize for the mistake. They didn’t, even ask for alternate. You didn’t care, as long as the till get filled? I'm very disappointed of their overall performance.

One of the fish we ordered was dry and there were no asian flavours (laksa) as described on the menu. Just pureed pumpkin, baked tomato, and the rock hard croquette. Our side dish potato chats were dry. (Might have par cooked and reheated). I had bloody steak from them previous occasion as well, but not bad as last time.

Probably since Le Parisien more of a seafood place, they might have fewer orders for beef. So they might have to freeze expensive eye fillets (shouldn’t have). With higher thickness more thawing time, on top of the cooking time. So while the seafood waiting on hot range for steak, seafood also get overcook. Le Parisien should scrap the things they can’t do properly and concentrate on what they can do. Why eye fillet? For me eye fillet is the hardest cut to cook properly, try scotch or rib eye. I would blow torch eye fillet quickly and slow cook in the oven to the perfection, yup take time and skill.

Desserts were always been average and was same as 5 years ago so we didn’t order any. Le Parisien idea of dessert would something with some cheap ice cream with beautiful garnish. Soufflé and crème brulee were better. I wanted to order soufflé, but not worth the 20 minutes wait though.

Overall we had good entrees, good view, bad service, below average mains. Toilets were not clean enough, dirty table cloths covered with paper reminds me a restaurant in Footscray. Normally I won’t be writing this nag, but after recommending to dozens of people I felt like I should. I wouldn’t go there again, recommend not trying steaks and being careful with desserts for the future customers. Le Parisien used to have a nice bunch of F&B staff who actually knows me and my friends by our names. We didn’t except that after 5 years, but should have done a better job.

Le Parisien hadn’t change their menu last 5 years or so. However bouillabaisse not in current menu, hope most of the dishes were same as 5 years ago. I still think their seafood better. When I was cooking I used to visit many better restaurants to compare and keep my standards up. I had rediscovered few things from Le Parisien as well and I have a thing for them. I suggest their kitchen staffs to visit and see what others are doing.

Jul 06, 2009 

7.5 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  6     

The best point about our dining experience was the outstanding service which complemented the beautiful candlelit surrounds. The food didn't quite live up to the prices and at times was a little disappointing but the night was always back on track with the professional and knowledgeable waiting staff. Overall a delightful restaurant with top quality service which we would return for and hope for slightly improved food to match the prices.

Apr 23, 2009 

8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  6     

There is no doubt this is a classy restaurant. And the food is very good. But very good is the best I can say and I'm afraid that at the prices they charge, I expect better than very good. I can eat very good food at many places for a lot less. This would be a once in every 20 year type outing when trying to impress someone, not a once a week with the wife and kids place.

Apr 02, 2009 

6 Average

Food  6      Ambience  5      Service  7      Value  6     

The ambience was nice until the staff started dragging heavy tables around over the wooden floorboards. Not sure if tinned asparagus is a French delicacy but I would have preferred fresh.

May 24, 2008 

8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  8     

Has become a Geelong culinary institution, now it's at the waterfront it continues to be a favourite.

May 19, 2007