Le Jardin - Gordes

What a horrible experience! If you're ever in Gordes, please make sure to avoid Le Jardin. If you want to meet an owner who disrespects and treats you horribly, then you should go to this establishment. I thought it was an isolated incident, catching this owner in an off day, however, after thinking about this treatment, I started reading through other Google reviews. I would have avoided coming into this establishment looking for a nice espresso to start my vacation in Gordes. Upon entering, we ordered 5 espressos for the party and the owner decided to come over and kick us out. The town of Gordes should get together and kick this owner out!! If you're ever in Gordes, just walk past this establishment and go to the next restaurant on the street.

I genuinely don’t know where the previous reviews about rude staff are coming from . We arrived for lunch and despite our very poor French language skills we were treated politely , efficiently and friendly . My wife and I both had the quiche which was unbelievably tasty and extremely well priced . The surroundings are in beautiful garden slightly away from the centre of wonderful Gordes.

We had an emergency for my elderly father that required the bathroom. The owner turned him away even though he told him it was an emergency because he wasn’t buying anything. So we decided we would sit down and have a drink and dessert so he could use the bathroom. Once they realized we weren’t eating actual lunch the owner snatched our silverware and napkins my sister asked if she could keep her paper napkin and he said “no you are not eating”. We were treated with disdain and rudeness. If they had just let my dad use the bathroom for an emergency in the first place, we wouldn’t have sat down and ordered a round of drinks and dessert to appease the owner ! Sometimes it pays to be nice. We are all human. Be kind to others. No credit cards, no alcohol unless you eat food, lots of rules, take your business elsewhere.

Do not come here!! Unbelievably rude, hostile and agressive. I don’t often write negative reviews, but this cafe owner chased me down the street yelling when I took a photo of the front of the place! Our family sat down, ordered espressos and a sandwich for our son. There were two other people in an otherwise completely empty place. The waitress says “one sandwich for four people? No!” And when we politely tried to explain it was just for our son who was starving she went to get someone, the owner I suppose. He came back and was for some inexplicable reason furious at us and yelled “this is a restaurant! You EAT here! If you want a coffee go to a bar!” And proceeded to kick us out. I am well aware of how French people find American tourists annoying so believe me we try to be as polite and aware as possible. I can understand if the culture is more strict about only sitting down in a restaurant if you are ordering food. But regardless, rudeness, aggressive, hateful attitudes don’t work in any culture. He could have politely said the same thing and we would likely have apologized and thanked them and left. Instead, he followed us out the door, and when I took a photo of the place he started yelling sarcastically and aggressively “take a picture of me! You have to EAT at a restaurant!” I can’t imagine how anyone in the service industry could survive like this and maybe they shouldn’t.

The food was good, but nothing especial. The price was reasonable. The garden seating area is nice but poor service. The owner was impatient and rude. We enjoyed the meal, but we wouldn't come back.