Brasserie Le Bruegel - Boulogne-sur-Mer

On my latest visit to Boulogne I made my usual visit to Le Bruegel a very typically French brasserie. Always a nice place to start the stay with the familiar faces and quick efficient service. Plat du jour was veal or hake. I chose the veal which was very good. Two of my companions had the hake which looked good also, came in a generous portion, and received very positive comments.

We used to enjoy visiting this Brasserie, but it's no longer worth a visit. No interest in customers and poor service. Left without ordering as nobody was interested!

I travel a lot and eating out is probably the most important during these trips. Now I know where the French got their reputation (which in most places is not true anymore). If you really want a Fawlty Towers-experience, this is it. This place is more a practical joke than a restaurant. When the waiter (or possibly the owner) was taking my order, he halfway walked away whithout saying a word when guests came in to seat them. I knew I should have walked away but somehow stayed. When I got my food no “bon appetit“ and when I was done he was not bothered to ask how it was, as he is supposed to. Did not hear a word. When I asked the bill, it took 20 minutes while he was helping other guests, I had to stand up and ask for it on my way out. There are many places to eat in Boulogne sur Mer, if you want to eat instead of having a laugh please look somewhere else.

€15 for a 3 course lunch and no compromise on quality. Superb. I had stuffed muscles, calamari and chips then pomme de tart. The boyfriend had a terrine, fish of the day and also pomme de tart. All very enjoyable. The dog also had a good time socialising with the other dogs in the restaurant.

Visited for breakfast as part of a French Experience day. Basic petit-de-jeneur of croissant, baguette with butter