Google
We visited le restaurant Les Gorges du Pennafort at the end of July with my parents-in-law and were very disappointed by the level of service, particularly considering that the bill for four people came to €660.
My father-in-law uses a wheelchair, so when we booked, we were told to call five minutes before arriving so that the gate could be opened. When we called, the receptionist initially said there was no reservation under our name and made little effort to investigate further. I had to repeat the family name several times before she finally found the booking.
When we arrived, the gate was already open, so we parked in the disabled space and helped my father-in-law out of the car and into his wheelchair. At the entrance, the receptionist told us, without a smile or apology, that we had used the wrong entrance and would need to return to the car and drive around. We had not been told that there were two entrances. Getting someone with limited mobility back into the car is not a simple matter, yet she was not proactive in suggesting an alternative. I eventually proposed going around via the road on foot, which she accepted, but this option should have been offered to us immediately.
Once inside, the food and menu were good, but the welcome and overall level of attention fell far below what we expected from a restaurant in this price range. My parents-in-law speak English, yet no English menu was offered. I later saw a photograph posted with another Google review showing that an English-language menu was available, which made this omission even more disappointing.
There were also several inappropriate attempts at humour. When my father-in-law asked for a business card, the waiter told him that he should first decide whether he liked the restaurant before being given one. He had to ask again at the end of the meal. At another point, the waiter said that he was now “scared” of my father-in-law because he had received a mean look from him. This was not appreciated as a joke and felt particularly out of place in a restaurant of this standard. Sometimes it is better simply to respond politely and professionally to a guest rather than trying to joke at their expense.
At the end of the evening, my parents-in-law were tired and wanted to leave, but we had to ask for the bill three times and then wait around 30 minutes before we could finally pay.
The food was good, but the service lacked warmth, empathy, professionalism and attention, especially toward a guest with limited mobility. For a €660 dinner for four, we expected a considerably higher standard of care. We received a far warmer and more attentive welcome at a simple lakeside restaurant nearby.