Batignolles sur Poissy

06/08/2026: Update: Reply to the restaurant's response below the initial review I hesitate to leave even 3 stars - the morning service deserves 5 stars and the afternoon (after 3 pm), 0, or less if it was possible. Bruce, who works in the morning, is exceptional. Professional as can be and friendly - if you're a regular, you're greeted with your standard order before you can even ask. I couldn't imagine a better way to start the day. However - after 3 pm, the service changes as the cafe turns into a pub where you have to order at the counter and bring your own drink to your table. I recently met with a friend who was unfamiliar with the practice and when she asked if she could go find a table, was told yes. Rather than explaining that she'd need to wait for her cafe, he prepared it (sloppily, with coffee spilled all over the saucer) and left it on the counter. When I went to retrieve the now cold cafe and order for myself, I questioned him about why he didn't let her know, and the server wound up screaming at me, shocking other customers, telling me it was obvious and that everything was explained on a sign nearby, which says "service au bar". My friend, whose native language is Spanish, had misunderstood, and having spoken with French customers since, I've learned it's not too clear for them, as they also thought that you ordered at the bar and were served at your table. The system isn't clear and as my friend's experience indicates, even if you ask politely, you're not given an explanation, then blamed for not understanding it. Conclusion: if you're looking for a welcoming spot to have an excellently prepared cafe, this is the go-to place. Before 3 pm. After 3 pm, avoid at all costs - you'll get unprofessional, unfriendly service from a barman who thinks he's god's gift to humanity and won't hesitate to scream at clients. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Concerning the restaurant's response: I believe there must be problems with the automatic translation into French from whatever language the response was originally written in, as the message is hard to understand and comes loaded with grammatical errors. Nevertheless, if I understood correctly, I can clarify some details - as I explained the day of the incident, my friend (who is not blond) has been there 2-3 times in the afternoon but was unfamiliar with the order of operations. And, as stated in my review, I have spoken with a French friend who has been there far more often and, despite that, was also unfamiliar with the operations, thinking that "service au bar" meant order at the bar, and you'd be served at the table. The fact is my friend specifically asked if she could go sit down and was told yes. Not yes, but wait/come back for your drink - a simple statement that would easily clarify the order of operations and was simple enough to say to ensure the process worked as they wished. Neither my friend nor I am unfamiliar with the restaurant industry having both previously worked as waitresses. Speaking to clients in such a manner would have gotten us fired. It's simply unacceptable, as other clients present visibly agreed. Furthermore, I never said I had a problem with the process - I rightly have a problem with the way we were treated, the presentation of the cafe, the fact that the server couldn't just step outside to explain when he noticed she wasn't coming back or clarify from the beginning, rather than passive-aggressively letting the cafe sit on the counter for 15 min while he was unoccupied. If the server needed to be that petty, he could have at least prepared a new one, and one that wasn't spilled onto the plate. To readers of the initial review - I believe the response gives you an idea of the kind of treatment you get in the evenings. Again - wonderful place to go before 3 pm - you're greeted warmly, served promptly and with a smile, the perfect way to start your day.

02/08/2026: I went there for a couple of drinks while passing through Poissy, and yeah, it's a little bar where you have to order at the counter, a bit of a rip-off, but oh well, it's not the end of the world. As for the atmosphere the evening I went, it wasn't great for an August night.