Comments on: Le Refuge des Fondues http://paristriptips.com Just another WordPress site Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:48:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Susi http://paristriptips.com/where-to-eat/18e-arr-restaurants/le-refuge-des-fondues#comment-145 Susi Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:32:30 +0000 http://www.paristriptips.com/where-to-eat/18e-arr-restaurants/le-refuge-des-fondues/#comment-145 Lighten up people ! Oh my goodness !! one goes there for the "show"....The owner is great ! I have been going there since 1982 when I was a student in Paris, and I am happy to report very little has changed...except maybe the owner is nicer...much to my dismay...The first time we went there, after being seated as described above...climbing over the table....which I thought that was hilarious and unique..and I still do..Then he barked at us..."red or white??" ( for our wine choice ), and then again a bit later "beef or cheese" (for our fondue choice)..folks , chill the F out....this is not where one goes for a culinary experience, this is where one goes to have one of the most unusual, fun and amusing dining experiences!!!! bon appetit, et amuse toi bien !!! Lighten up people ! Oh my goodness !! one goes there for the “show”….The owner is great ! I have been going there since 1982 when I was a student in Paris, and I am happy to report very little has changed…except maybe the owner is nicer…much to my dismay…The first time we went there, after being seated as described above…climbing over the table….which I thought that was hilarious and unique..and I still do..Then he barked at us…”red or white??” ( for our wine choice ), and then again a bit later “beef or cheese” (for our fondue choice)..folks , chill the F out….this is not where one goes for a culinary experience, this is where one goes to have one of the most unusual, fun and amusing dining experiences!!!! bon appetit, et amuse toi bien !!!

]]> By: Angela http://paristriptips.com/where-to-eat/18e-arr-restaurants/le-refuge-des-fondues#comment-144 Angela Mon, 24 Oct 2011 20:34:01 +0000 http://www.paristriptips.com/where-to-eat/18e-arr-restaurants/le-refuge-des-fondues/#comment-144 I have to preface this with the fact that I am Asian-American. When I entered the place, the owner proceeded to hum a stereotypically Chinese melody, and then he put his arm around me as if posing for a picture while saying something about a "Chinese dragon." Now, yes, people in France seem unable to comprehend the idea that one can be ethnically Asian and not particularly identify culturally as Japanese/Chinese/etc., but I have never seen any person in France so utterly rude and upfront about his own ignorance. Besides the way we were treated, the tables are laid out so that they are all right next to each other, with no space in between for anyone sitting against the wall to exit. As a result, the owner insisted on making anyone unfortunate to sit against the wall climb over the tables we were going to eat on. I, and my friend, were wearing skirts. This was not pleasant, and if we attempted to exit without his help either via pushing the table out or climbing out as he insisted, the owner would promptly yell at us. As for the food, it was average. It was your average melted Swiss cheese, though the bread was good. The meal became much more enjoyable once the owner existed the restaurant for whatever reason and another much less intrusive and rude person took over to refill bread and drinks. While you do get a good amount of food, it wasn't particularly delicious, and the service, in considering the initial warm welcome we received, was not particularly great. To sum up, I would not reccommend this place. You can find fondue at a comparable price without the unpleasant experience of being grossly offended and being trapped in your seat for two hours, which would be unfortunate if there was a fire or if you were in need of using the restroom. Also, the fondue is not 15 euro. It is now 21 euro and not particularly worth it. I have to preface this with the fact that I am Asian-American. When I entered the place, the owner proceeded to hum a stereotypically Chinese melody, and then he put his arm around me as if posing for a picture while saying something about a “Chinese dragon.” Now, yes, people in France seem unable to comprehend the idea that one can be ethnically Asian and not particularly identify culturally as Japanese/Chinese/etc., but I have never seen any person in France so utterly rude and upfront about his own ignorance. Besides the way we were treated, the tables are laid out so that they are all right next to each other, with no space in between for anyone sitting against the wall to exit. As a result, the owner insisted on making anyone unfortunate to sit against the wall climb over the tables we were going to eat on. I, and my friend, were wearing skirts. This was not pleasant, and if we attempted to exit without his help either via pushing the table out or climbing out as he insisted, the owner would promptly yell at us.

As for the food, it was average. It was your average melted Swiss cheese, though the bread was good. The meal became much more enjoyable once the owner existed the restaurant for whatever reason and another much less intrusive and rude person took over to refill bread and drinks. While you do get a good amount of food, it wasn’t particularly delicious, and the service, in considering the initial warm welcome we received, was not particularly great.

To sum up, I would not reccommend this place. You can find fondue at a comparable price without the unpleasant experience of being grossly offended and being trapped in your seat for two hours, which would be unfortunate if there was a fire or if you were in need of using the restroom. Also, the fondue is not 15 euro. It is now 21 euro and not particularly worth it.

]]> By: Mario http://paristriptips.com/where-to-eat/18e-arr-restaurants/le-refuge-des-fondues#comment-143 Mario Sat, 28 Aug 2010 12:23:26 +0000 http://www.paristriptips.com/where-to-eat/18e-arr-restaurants/le-refuge-des-fondues/#comment-143 Took a trip to Paris May of 2010 with my boyfriend. He had dined here when he was in college and said I had to try this place out. WOW! What an amazing experience! The atmosphere is incredible, the food is good & wine in baby bottles is dangerous! I kept drinking wine & it led to the worst hangover ever the next day! I met the most amazing people! We laughed! We dined! We drank! We tagged the walls! Perfect!!! Also, this place is not sexist. I am a guy and I was made to climb up the table to get to my seat. The owners were very nice & respectable! Will go here again whenever I visit Paris again. Took a trip to Paris May of 2010 with my boyfriend. He had dined here when he was in college and said I had to try this place out. WOW! What an amazing experience! The atmosphere is incredible, the food is good & wine in baby bottles is dangerous! I kept drinking wine & it led to the worst hangover ever the next day!
I met the most amazing people! We laughed! We dined! We drank! We tagged the walls! Perfect!!!

Also, this place is not sexist. I am a guy and I was made to climb up the table to get to my seat. The owners were very nice & respectable! Will go here again whenever I visit Paris again.

]]> By: Bubu http://paristriptips.com/where-to-eat/18e-arr-restaurants/le-refuge-des-fondues#comment-142 Bubu Thu, 22 Jul 2010 12:53:39 +0000 http://www.paristriptips.com/where-to-eat/18e-arr-restaurants/le-refuge-des-fondues/#comment-142 It was better when it wasn't so touristic. I often went there but now, us french, are forbidden to enter in to let the place to strangers who gives more tips ... shamy ... "It’s a lot of fun, go with a sense of humor and enjoy the young, vibrant atmosphere!" -> If you love when someone makes fun of you, that's your right. And more when you are strangers who don't speak french at all and don't understand what they're saying ... about you ;) PS : food is "good" but very not exceptional It was better when it wasn’t so touristic. I often went there but now, us french, are forbidden to enter in to let the place to strangers who gives more tips … shamy …

“It’s a lot of fun, go with a sense of humor and enjoy the young, vibrant atmosphere!”

-> If you love when someone makes fun of you, that’s your right. And more when you are strangers who don’t speak french at all and don’t understand what they’re saying … about you ;)

PS : food is “good” but very not exceptional

]]> By: Blair G http://paristriptips.com/where-to-eat/18e-arr-restaurants/le-refuge-des-fondues#comment-141 Blair G Wed, 30 Jun 2010 18:41:44 +0000 http://www.paristriptips.com/where-to-eat/18e-arr-restaurants/le-refuge-des-fondues/#comment-141 This is my favorite restaurant in Paris. I return here every time I visit. The food is delicious, the wine-in-baby-bottles is campy and fun, and the cramped seating almost forces you to interact with your fellow diners and make some new friends for the night. Highly, highly recommended! This is my favorite restaurant in Paris. I return here every time I visit. The food is delicious, the wine-in-baby-bottles is campy and fun, and the cramped seating almost forces you to interact with your fellow diners and make some new friends for the night. Highly, highly recommended!

]]> By: Brenda http://paristriptips.com/where-to-eat/18e-arr-restaurants/le-refuge-des-fondues#comment-140 Brenda Sun, 07 Mar 2010 20:06:15 +0000 http://www.paristriptips.com/where-to-eat/18e-arr-restaurants/le-refuge-des-fondues/#comment-140 I completely disagree with the negative comments. This place is one to go to for the experience. This was the most fun I had in Paris. I was not comfortable climbing over the table so my husband sat on the climbed over and the waiters had no trouble with that. They were nice and gave great service. The food was good - it was not exceptional, but it was good. What's so fun about this place is because you are sitting right beside someone else, you naturally talk with them. We met two groups that were a ton of fun and ended up spending the rest of the evening with a couple from Germany. If you are open to meeting people and to having a totally different experience, go there. It's so great! I completely disagree with the negative comments. This place is one to go to for the experience. This was the most fun I had in Paris. I was not comfortable climbing over the table so my husband sat on the climbed over and the waiters had no trouble with that. They were nice and gave great service. The food was good – it was not exceptional, but it was good. What’s so fun about this place is because you are sitting right beside someone else, you naturally talk with them. We met two groups that were a ton of fun and ended up spending the rest of the evening with a couple from Germany. If you are open to meeting people and to having a totally different experience, go there. It’s so great!

]]> By: parisina http://paristriptips.com/where-to-eat/18e-arr-restaurants/le-refuge-des-fondues#comment-139 parisina Thu, 17 Sep 2009 20:56:58 +0000 http://www.paristriptips.com/where-to-eat/18e-arr-restaurants/le-refuge-des-fondues/#comment-139 no recomiendo este sitio a nadie, que quiera comer una buena fondue. no recomiendo este sitio a nadie, que quiera comer una buena fondue.

]]> By: AJ Mesiti http://paristriptips.com/where-to-eat/18e-arr-restaurants/le-refuge-des-fondues#comment-138 AJ Mesiti Wed, 12 Aug 2009 22:48:17 +0000 http://www.paristriptips.com/where-to-eat/18e-arr-restaurants/le-refuge-des-fondues/#comment-138 i went there with my family tonight! we had a great time!!! don't expect fine cuisine (its not about that). the guy running the floor was speaking to us in french the whole time despite the fact that we clearly did not understand a word- he was enjoying himself. its in a GREAT area with a small market and several cabaret establishments. if you're in paris for a few days and have time to add a different type of meal to your itinerary, go here. if you only have enough time to have traditional tourist experiences, this may not be your place. i went there with my family tonight! we had a great time!!! don’t expect fine cuisine (its not about that). the guy running the floor was speaking to us in french the whole time despite the fact that we clearly did not understand a word- he was enjoying himself. its in a GREAT area with a small market and several cabaret establishments. if you’re in paris for a few days and have time to add a different type of meal to your itinerary, go here. if you only have enough time to have traditional tourist experiences, this may not be your place.

]]> By: FrankInFL http://paristriptips.com/where-to-eat/18e-arr-restaurants/le-refuge-des-fondues#comment-137 FrankInFL Thu, 30 Jul 2009 18:29:27 +0000 http://www.paristriptips.com/where-to-eat/18e-arr-restaurants/le-refuge-des-fondues/#comment-137 We've been there several times, the last with a group of people (we were guiding) who had never been to France before. Everyone had a great time. The fondue is acceptable, the wine is... drinkable, the atmosphere is indescribable. Klaas got it right. If you're overly sensitive and/or not in the mood for a fun evening, go someplace else... please. We’ve been there several times, the last with a group of people (we were guiding) who had never been to France before. Everyone had a great time. The fondue is acceptable, the wine is… drinkable, the atmosphere is indescribable.

Klaas got it right. If you’re overly sensitive and/or not in the mood for a fun evening, go someplace else… please.

]]> By: Klaas & Ingeborg http://paristriptips.com/where-to-eat/18e-arr-restaurants/le-refuge-des-fondues#comment-136 Klaas & Ingeborg Mon, 08 Jun 2009 17:50:04 +0000 http://www.paristriptips.com/where-to-eat/18e-arr-restaurants/le-refuge-des-fondues/#comment-136 Best place to meet other people from all over the world, love the babybottles. We call it the BABYBOTTLE PLACE. We took the meat fondue, it's good, no complaints. For excellent food and another sphere (more luxury maybe) you might better try another restaurant and leave us having FUN!! ;) Till next time!! Best place to meet other people from all over the world, love the babybottles. We call it the BABYBOTTLE PLACE. We took the meat fondue, it’s good, no complaints. For excellent food and another sphere (more luxury maybe) you might better try another restaurant and leave us having FUN!! ;)

Till next time!!

]]>