Le Procope

Superbadkitty: I insisted my husband take me to this place after reading your review. My goodness, what a horrible experience! We arrived here way before dinner time (Wednesday 2 Nov 2011) and the place was beautiful - but empty. There was a longhaired redhead in a short red dress (that looked like she should've been a hostess in a nightclub instead) who showed us to what must be the worst table in the whole of a very empty restaurant. We got a table directly on the left of the entrance door and my poor husband had to pull the table out to get it as there was literally about only half an inch room on either side of the table. We couldn't understand - there were so many tables so why squeeze us, and onto a bad one facing the door? We then sat and waited without knowing what to do etc for 10 mins (we don't speak French). Until finally, an Asian (Chinese or Vietnamese?) guy came over to (begrudgingly) take our order (despite us waiting without asking for service). This man was surly and after I pointed out to him what I wanted on the menu, and told him "medium", he then took my husband's order without asking how he wanted it done and immediately asking if we would have mineral water etc (as we know the term gazeuse now). We ordered half a bottle of red wine too - Louis Latour Chassagne Montrachet. Then we waited and waited... Nothing for another 10 mins. Then the Asian guy reappeared with the red wine and some water (out of the tap). I clarified with him our order as I wasn't sure as my husband wasn't asked how he wanted his steak done. I asked if he could speak English and explained we are tourists who can't speak French. He became rather defensive and behaved as if (of course) he got the order right. Well, luckily for us he did. But he just ignored us after that. Our red wine was served too warm and we tried for another 10 mins to get someone's attention to try to cool the wine down. We were just ignored. Then finally, a young waitress came to deliver some bread and when we told her about the temperature of the wine, she totally understood and immediately brought an ice bucket to cool it. Our meals arrived well cooked - heavily salted though, and with a salty jus too, but with really crispy chips. Not a disappointment -  like most of the staff. I write this as I feel that people should know this about this restaurant. My poor husband was dragged along when he was ill, and just because I believed this was the best place for us to celebrate our anniversary. Unfortunately, it wasn't a welcoming friendly experience I anticipated after reading your review Superbadkitty and I deeply regret having insisted to my husband we come here. On my receipt, Table 24/1 Facture No 915, 8000 Marie B 19:59, I can say only the young waitress (Marie?) was good and she really made an effort and provided service. If not for her, the whole experience would've been totally bad with warm red wine. The rest of the staff were uninterested in customers.

Café Procope is not a known as a top-class food establishment but as the first and oldest café in Paris. It is known to have had a string of illustrious patrons throughout its history. The menu has traditional and typical French food (if you like French food), and for a place which draws so many tourists who come to experience a little bit of Left Bank history, the service is remarkably warm, friendly and highly welcoming as well as tolerant of tourists.

On Y mange très bien et on y réspire l'air du Siècle des Lumières!!

Was very busy and the staff try their best to be polite and attentive. The food was OK. The place is rather pretty and on a less busy day one could have a good culinary experience.

Excellent place, very attentive staff. I would absolutely recommend it!

Bad food, high prices. Typical tourist trap