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Le Parisien - Review
(French - GEELONG)

Review Summary
Le Parisien 15 Eastern Beach Road GEELONG VIC 3220  View Full Listing Reviewed by Auguste Escoffier on 06 July 2009 Atmosphere Food Service Total 10 / 10 4 / 10 1 / 10 15/30
1-10 Could be better | 11-20 Average | 21-30 You must go!!

(10/10)Atmosphere

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 tired 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)

(4/10)Food

We order few Entrées and that was a pleasant experience. Also asked the waitress to take a photo of us and she seemed t very happy about the request, but took the photo anyway.

We ordered 4 mains, Poultry, Beef and 2 fish. I thought the mains were pretty ordinary. All mains serve with same sides, bean stuff tomato (which was better than expected), what I thought was a rock hard croquette (We wish we could have throw them to rude waitress and the chef) 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 and the middle of the steak tasted 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 I thought the béarnaise sauce was smelled more like just out of tetra pack than freshly home made and that there was more parsley in it than tarragon. Second time chef served me steak as it was with different sides. I send the horrible steak back, I thought they going to settled the blood and serve me back.

One of the fish we ordered seemed 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 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 Brule were better. I wanted to order Soufflé, but not worth the 20 minutes wait though.

Over all we had good entrees, good view, bad service, below average mains. Toilets were not clean enough for me ; I saw dirty table cloths covered with paper that 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. Don’t except ‘Vue de mond’ or ’the Brasserie’ but most probably you’ll get what your moneys worth.

When I was cooking I used to do 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 chefs to visit and see what others are doing. May be try ’the Brasserie’.

(1/10)Service

I'm not bragging about 43 dollars (probably for chef’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.

Other Reviews

Date	Reviewer	Atmos.	Food	Service
13 Sep 08	Petals	9/10	9/10	9/10

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