I've been writing favorably about Les Debats, 6, place Victor Hugo in the 16th, since it opened in the fall of 2009 with lunch formulas at 25 and 28 and lunch menus at 35 and 45 €. I thought the price quality ratio was so good when I ate there in November (2009) that I took Colette in January 2010 and she added it to her list: the bill for us with a bottle of wine and no bottled water ran 101 Euros.
In April (2009) I noted that the service was absent of hustle, portions were bigger, instead of a towel dispenser or cloth towels, two rolls of paper towels sat beside the sink, the prices were a bit up, my bill, with a bottle and glass of wine, 2 coffees and no bottled water = 119 E and they over-charged me 50c too boot.
Well, today, there were no formulas or "menus," the glorious upstairs was closed, the service was horrid, the bill would have run to an excess of 150 E if we'd had three courses and coffee and the gaspacho was watery and nigh tasteless, the tuna brick characterless and the beef tartare pink on the top and outside and dark brown inside - and of whatever color was pretty tasteless as well (no picture, I don't want to tempt you to try it) .
Go? No! Since I know some friends listen to my recs (indeed one of my oldest French colleague/friends was there today; I'm afraid d/t me) I wanted to issue this warning; it no longer is not on my list, it's been downgraded to "junk bond" status. Sic transit gloria and all that.
Thanks for the update. Hope you can find some other places in the 16th worthy of the trip.
Posted by: Anne | July 11, 2010 at 09:02 AM