My wife and I chose Café de l’Homme for our final evening in Paris because we wanted a memorable dinner with a beautiful view of the Eiffel Tower. Unfortunately, it became the most disappointing dining experience of our trip.
Our intention was simply to reserve a table with a great view and order dinner from the regular menu. We never intended to book the restaurant’s most expensive fixed-price dining experience.
When we arrived, we were informed that our reservation required us to purchase that package. I never received a booking confirmation of what we had been booked for - only a simple date, time, and address type of confirmation. All of this came as a complete surprise. It included items we never would have ordered on our own, including champagne, dessert, and a mandatory multi-course meal. I even asked whether we could instead order from the regular menu or choose a less expensive option, but I was told that was not possible.
Because it was our last evening in Paris and we had already planned the rest of our night around this reservation and a scheduled Seine River cruise, we reluctantly stayed. Looking back, we probably should have left, but at the time it did not seem like a practical option.
After returning home, I contacted the restaurant. To their credit, management carefully investigated my concerns and discovered that the price had increased after I requested a booking and we had been incorrectly overcharged by €100. That billing error was promptly refunded, and I appreciated the professionalism shown by Eli Lazovsky throughout our correspondence.
However, no accommodation was ever offered for what I believe was a genuine reservation misunderstanding. Whether the confusion resulted from my misunderstanding or from the way the reservation was handled, I never intended to reserve a mandatory fixed-price dining experience. I simply wanted a table with a view.
Unfortunately, the meal itself did not justify the price. The food was good, but certainly not among the best we enjoyed in Paris, especially considering the cost. Our premium table was also behind a hedge, which partially obstructed the lower portion of the Eiffel Tower. In hindsight, I think some of the tables set farther back actually offered a more enjoyable overall view.
If you are considering Café de l’Homme, my advice is simple: before completing your reservation, make absolutely certain you understand exactly what you are booking and exactly what it will cost. Had we understood that we were committing to the restaurant’s most expensive fixed-price experience, we would have made a different choice.