Gourmandise de Paris - Pyrmont

Cool French place on Harris Street with great atmosphere and delicious food (bacon crepe was delicious), but a bad service and average coffee ...

Hmm. It's been a while since I visited Le Grand Cafe, the French cafe in Alliance Française. I have memories of good food (back when it was part of the Becasse stable) but less than stellar service, against a backdrop of spectacular design. Well, the Mondrian-esque design is still amazing (the staircase is gorgeous), and I would recommend visiting for that alone. But I wouldn't hurry back on any other account. My coffee was super slow (unlike the customers after me who all got theirs and trundled off - pet hate alert) and had clearly been sitting around for a while by the time it wended its way to me. And my classic French breakfast - baguette with butter and jam - was so disappointing. When I lived in Paris good baguettes were non-negotiable, the local bakeries used to bake at set times of the day, we'd all line up and buy our baguettes warm out of the oven, then hurry home and consume them with lashings of rich creamy French butter and  whatever else we fancied. Well, that was so not breakfast at Le Grand Cafe. Dry baguette, a smidgen of butter, forgettable jam. Bof.

Hmm. It's been a while since I visited Le Grand Cafe, the French cafe in Alliance Française. I have memories of good food (back when it was part of the Becasse stable) but less than stellar service, against a backdrop of spectacular design. Well, the Mondrian-esque design is still amazing (the staircase is gorgeous), and I would recommend visiting for that alone. But I wouldn't hurry back on any other account. My coffee was super slow (unlike the customers after me who all got theirs and trundled off - pet hate alert) and had clearly been sitting around for a while by the time it wended its way to me. And my classic French breakfast - baguette with butter and jam - was so disappointing. When I lived in Paris good baguettes were non-negotiable, the local bakeries used to bake at set times of the day, we'd all line up and buy our baguettes warm out of the oven, then hurry home and consume them with lashings of rich creamy French butter and  whatever else we... read more

I like the decor in here. It's modern and interesting with different types of decor and seating including outdoor seating,a couch,stool and table and the usual It took a while for the menu to come but food did come out at a reasonable rate The waitress showed us what to do with snails and we liked it. If you didn't know take it out,leave it in the oil for a while then eat! The mains were disappointing My duck tasted like chicken! I'm still not sure! They put a lot of mash,though I liked it,it felt like it was there to make the meal look bigger than it is My partners chicken in mushroom sauce was ok,nothing special. And the side which was a potato bake was a little salty We tried the crepe,we liked the crepe skin but the ham and pineapple inside was just from the supermarket Overall it's just ok

I visited this place with my wife for mid week bite of lunch and we loved it.The menu is simple- crepes, salads, quiches, galettes and not much else, but r do not let you put off the place. It is just great.Service is good with a hint of France and the food is cooked freshly and delivered promptly. The galettes are brilliant and the salads just right.And soo reasonably priced. A great venue for lunch and I guarantee you will leave dreaming of a holiday to France.