I went to a french restaurant yesterday in the early evening. Firstly i was the only one there.

After about 30 mins it started to fill up a little. The owner came around to welcome everyone with a big smile and hand shake. I was the only person in there that was not French.... I did not get the welcome hand shake, until i offered my hand in such a way that he had no choice. I finally got the welcome hand shake and the how are you? I said that i am very well thank you, i am English, and i will not be coming here again.

Don't think he will miss me....

Is it just the French?

Surely you remember enough French from your days at Village d'ile de France that you could pass off as French?... don't forget the beret though!

No, the French kiss to greet eachother.

He obviously picked you for someone working in real estate on Phuket.

Maybe the owner already knew everyone else, but, had never met you before?

How was the food?

Base your opinion on that, not because you felt snubbed. Not every restaurant owner says hi to me but doesn't stop me returning.

During my stay in Thailand, countless times I wanted to go into a French restaurant, nice change from always Italian or German/Austrian, but having a look at the prices made me change my mind. So how were the prices?

How was the food?

Base your opinion on that, not because you felt snubbed. Not every restaurant owner says hi to me but doesn't stop me returning.

I take your point Hans, and like yourself, I also don't feel the need to be greeted by the owner, however, for me, the food may be very nice, but if its delivery (service) is terrible,, and the environment not pleasant, I will not go back.

How was the food?

Base your opinion on that, not because you felt snubbed. Not every restaurant owner says hi to me but doesn't stop me returning.

I take your point Hans, and like yourself, I also don't feel the need to be greeted by the owner, however, for me, the food may be very nice, but if its delivery (service) is terrible,, and the environment not pleasant, I will not go back.

The point of this thread was she won't be going back because she wasn't greeted by the owner.

She didn't mention service staff, food or price as factors for not going back.

French people aren't always the friendliest bunch but they tend to not have much confidence in using English themselves. Could it be that the owner suffers from just that?

How was the food?

Base your opinion on that, not because you felt snubbed. Not every restaurant owner says hi to me but doesn't stop me returning.

I take your point Hans, and like yourself, I also don't feel the need to be greeted by the owner, however, for me, the food may be very nice, but if its delivery (service) is terrible,, and the environment not pleasant, I will not go back.

The point of this thread was she won't be going back because she wasn't greeted by the owner.

She didn't mention service staff, food or price as factors for not going back.

French people aren't always the friendliest bunch but they tend to not have much confidence in using English themselves. Could it be that the owner suffers from just that?

"Could it be that the owner suffers from just that?" - maybe, or, the owner could simply be racist. Many French "suffer from just that" as well.

I don't give a stuff if the owner greets me or not. As long as I have no problems with the food, service, ambience and, to a lessor extent, price, I don't care if I never see the boss of an establishment.

This need to be fawned upon, or best friends with, the manager or owner of a pub or restaurant is a very British thing.

On most occasions in my experience the wait person is the customer contact and any necessary communication is through that person.

I have a British friend here who gets quite huffy if the manager doesn't come over to talk to him. He can't understand that I don't give a stuff.

The owner probably thought the op was German?

During my stay in Thailand, countless times I wanted to go into a French restaurant, nice change from always Italian or German/Austrian, but having a look at the prices made me change my mind. So how were the prices?

Have you tried Lionels kitchen at the "Formula One" in Kata? (Formerly the "Grand Prix") Excellent and inexpensiv. I think he only shakes hands with his regular customers.

During my stay in Thailand, countless times I wanted to go into a French restaurant, nice change from always Italian or German/Austrian, but having a look at the prices made me change my mind. So how were the prices?

Have you tried Lionels kitchen at the "Formula One" in Kata? (Formerly the "Grand Prix") Excellent and inexpensiv. I think he only shakes hands with his regular customers.

Looked like his restaurant was closed last time I looked a couple of weeks ago..

Never had much desire to eat in a French restaurant. Mostly due to the small portions and stupid names on the menu. Anything worth mentioning? Other than snails, I have no idea what French cousine entails.

So I was at Chaba outside Laguna picking up some groceries I stopped at the thai lady outside selling coconuts and ordered a coconut. While she was opening it a thai guy walked up and ordered a coconut . She said Sawadi kha to him and engaged him in conversation. I was outraged, she never said sawwadi Kha to me ! She never engaged me in convesation either. The cheek of her. It ruined my day, was I not good enough for her to say hello to? Did his coconut taste better as it came with a hello?

I will never ever buy another coconut from her.

I really hope other forum members share my outrage and don't think my sense of entitlement is bigger than my common sense.

Yes, the "Grand Prix" has been closed for well over a year.

Many people are looking for this place.

The strong point of Lionel is cooking, not marketing.

His new restaurant is called the "Formula One". But there is no sign yet.

At the upper end of Taina Rd. there is a traffic light. Turn left. About 200 m (just before the parking of Kata Cable) you will see some multicoloured light bulbs. (That's where it is)

Every Sunday evening he has a set menu:

One day it was: Belle assiette de cruditées, Lasagne, Mousse au chocolat noire.

One day it was: Salade melée, Civet de sanglier, ...

One day it was his famous Paella Valenciana....

To somtamnication:

Some people are happy with their daily somtam and 5 times rice per day. Or fisnchips or a burger. Nothing wrong with that. But I just can't.

I know nothing about Turkish food. But I saw that there are two new Turkish restaurants in Kata. Of course I shall go and try them.

About "stupid names" on the menu: Not everything you can't read or understand has necessarily to be stupid.

And of course you can, but you don't have to answer to any of this because I won't read it, because you're on my ignore list.

And by the way, I like to laugh also, but nothing you wrote so far made me laugh.

And another by the way: My mothertongue is neither English nor French.

@ the OP. Was this the recently opened Chez Nicolas? If so, a review of food and service (besides the missing spontaneous hand shakes) would be much appreciated

To somtamnication:

Some people are happy with their daily somtam and 5 times rice per day. Or fisnchips or a burger. Nothing wrong with that. But I just can't.

I know nothing about Turkish food. But I saw that there are two new Turkish restaurants in Kata. Of course I shall go and try them.

About "stupid names" on the menu: Not everything you can't read or understand has necessarily to be stupid.

And of course you can, but you don't have to answer to any of this because I won't read it, because you're on my ignore list.

And by the way, I like to laugh also, but nothing you wrote so far made me laugh.

And another by the way: My mothertongue is neither English nor French.

LOL. You made me laugh!

One day it was: Belle assiette de cruditées, Lasagne, Mousse au chocolat noire.

One day it was: Salade melée, Civet de sanglier, ...

One day it was his famous Paella Valenciana....

Not very French is it?

Belle assiette de cruditées (veg sticks, hardly the epitome of gastronomic excellence)

Lasagne (not French)

Mousse au chocolat noire (French, but arguably Swiss or Belgian)

Salade melée (mixed salad, not French in any particular way)

Civet de sanglier (Boar stew, arguably French, but eaten by Romans and probably native to Alsace region which is French now but the stew predates that)

Paella Valenciana (Enough said!)

Phuket group ran out of Russians this year for the traditional bashing and switched to French???

This says a lot more about the OP than the French restaurant...................anyway, I don't do a lot of French food, although I do eat French Fries.