Sometimes I love TripAdvisor Members.

[sravenk]

From the forums:

I have to confess that one reason I love this place is that it's the only restaurant in Paris I've been where the staff really are as snooty and arrogant as Parisians are always accused of being. The last time I was there, two Americans were so angry at the rudeness that they walked out. I find this amusing because in my many

Comments

[ultraviolet730]

Using my French-made icon...

I think the rude Parisian stereotype is overplayed, but I have never seen all that many ugly Americans in Paris, either. I would have been more impressed if the poster had just admitted they LIKE rude Parisians and don't like Americans. Who among us can't appreciate a good, rude Parisian?

I had one of those "Life is great" moments in a Paris restaurant once. I was trying to use a bit of French and ordered something to drink, and my voice went up at the end, since I was a little unsure of myself. The waiter was totally rude and mocked me. What the waiter didn't realize that among his table of Americans was a genuine Parisian, who slammed him with a withering retort/stare, forcing the waiter to apologize. It was awesome!

Or how you say, fantastique? :)

[badtyler]

Something like that happened to me once! It was my b-day and we went to this place that had recently gotten a great review from the NY Times BIG mistake!

Our reservation was for 9:30 and by 10:30 we were still sitting in the bar, NOT being offered free drinks, or even the French equivalent of Goldfish crackers. My friend who planned the evening went to speak to the 80 lb. hostess in the LBD* and not knowing that he was a native Parisian, she said some rather nasty things to one of the busboys in French.

Needless to say, she got quite an earful and we ended up storming out-- nothing makes a dramatic exit like storming out in an opera cape-- I love you, Jean-Louis!

And we had a delicious Indian dinner.
A year later, Chex Snooty folded.

Pity...

not.
*Little Black Dress
:)

[mantaraggio]

nothing makes a dramatic exit like storming out in an opera cape

Hahahahah. I must have one! I have no idea where one buys such a thing though...

[badtyler]

At the opera supply store, silly... I think he got it in Paris.

Thank you for not making fun of the fact that I typed 'Chex Snooty' instead of 'Chez Snooty'--

Oooops.
;)

[sandyosullivan]

Hey UV, it's not just ugly Americans... when I'm overseas, Americans don't make me cringe when they do that stuff (though they often are louder than everyone else), its Australians. Fuck, I think I saw someone actually wearing corks on his hat (a thing from the early 20th century bush, for getting rid of flies) once loudly proclaiming that the (could have been French) couldn't make decent beer. I ran away. Quickly.

[sravenk]

Oh, for sure! And for me it's the Canadians, especially when we get all loud about how much better than Americans we are when we are doing the exact same things.

[sravenk]

Aw, there's the knee-jerk I know and love. As a Canadian I think I am really into self-deprecating humour, so I like to see Americans making fun of Americans. And okay, well, fine, making fun of Americans is also our unofficial national sport. So I found the story funny, not so much because people got pissed off and left but because the author liked the restaurant for the very reason that it lived up to their expectations of rudeness.

That said, I do love the comeuppance the other way around, too. Nobody mocks my minioneer!! I am glad your friend put that jerque in his place.

One of the things French folks are renowned for doing to Canadians, as opposed to Americans, is to respond to us when we do speak French with, "Excusez-moi, je ne parle pas l'anglais." Which of course is to say that Canadian French, particularly Quebecois French, is not French at all. And they would rather you just speak English than offend their ears with that mangled patois

[sravenk]

No, I haven't read any David Sedaris (don't shoot me if you see this, Tyler!). That sounds really funny; I should look it up!