Grand Hotel "Château de Sully" - Piscine et Spa in Bayeux

Review of the restaurant. What a sad disappointment. The worst experience in a week of good food in Normandy.

The building is indeed impressive and extraordinarily well kept. The only exception is the toilet, which seems to require a bit of attention.

Unfortunately, the service or food have not been matching expectations.

I emailed to book well in advance. I did not receive a response for some time and only after I emailed once more I was told a table was available. I did mention it was a special occasion and we were really looking forward to the Michelin recommended cuisine.

Throughout the evening, there was no acknowledgment of the special occasion by staff (not even a "happy anniversary")

While of course this is not compulsory or required, it is part of the experience and expectations. And part of the service. But not a big thing.

Our table was not ready, despite being the time of the booking, so we went to the bar for a drink.

Drinks were a bit of a mess. The gentleman behind the bar was friendly and surely did his best. He mentioned  the fact it was his second day on the job. That is all well and we did our best to make him feel at ease. The problem though is: why was someone clearly not experienced for the job the person responsible for a service?

We asked for a simple international cocktail when we realised it would have been a struggle, but the poor guy had no idea how to make a Negroni (1/3 of each of the 3 ingredients and a slice of orange. No shaking, no stirring...). My husband didn't want a Negroni but it took so long to have the first drink done, that he eventually went for the same to make everyone's lives easier. Once we got our drinks they had to be taken back as there was no orange. You still thought it appropriate to charge us €36 for the two drinks. That seemed ridiculous.

While we were having our drinks we were brought some amuse bouche. They were lovely, but being at a low table with no napkin, it was a bit of an adventure.

We didn't know if by this time or table was ready, and there was no evidence we would be ever showed to it, so we chanced it and left the bar for the restaurant. Luckily, there was a table, but nobody bothered to let us know anything.

We went to dinner and decided to go for the tasting menu, which offer a fixed starter and dessert and only one choice for the main between two dishes. We both went for one but we then got told that that was finished. The waiter didn't speak any English so communication was difficult. We were surprised we had not been told *before* ordering. Anyway, we went for what the alternative was, which sadly was some poorly-assembled flavourless turkey.

We ordered the wine and the wine of our choice was not available. We were surprised to say the list. No apology. We were suggested another wine, which was eventually more expensive.

And that was it... We didn't feel cared for throughout the meal, it was... Plain. Salt is not the answer to everything.

I know businesses rely, partly, on feedback and I know that every business may have a night "off". So I contacted the hotel with pretty much this review and offered the opportunity to make things right.

Beyond some tepid words of apology, I was asked to go back and give them another chance. That was it.

I am not sure what kind of fool they think I am. Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice... Why on earth would I go back to an over priced restaurant which offered not-great food, poor service (and questionable floor cleaning)?

This is not the way to run a successful business.

Owning a pretty location may bring you business, the poor experience will deny *repeated* business.