> Over the past five or six years, I have been to Pastis several
> times, for group dinners of different sizes and for smaller dinners
> for two. I have generally had good, reliable bistro fare with
> bistro-style service.
>
> Recently, one of my cousins from Paris was arriving in Toronto for
> a quick overnight stay on the way back from a conference in the
> US. I made reservations at both Scaramouche and Pastis--both tried
> and true with respect to food quality and ambience.
>
> When I made the reservation at Pastis, I asked for a banquette
> table as I know from experience that those tables are the most
> comfortable. When I arrived at the half-full restaurant that
> evening, I noted that M. Gurnon and his reservations person had
> knowledge of my request.
>
> We were nevertheless shown to one of the tables in the centre of
> the restaurant right in the middle of service traffic. We asked
> about the other tables (the restaurant was half-empty) and M.
> Gurnon indicated that oh, with the Film Festival, etc., they were
> very busy. In other words, they were not prepared to even consider
> what I recognize to have been, at best, a request as to table.
>
> My cousin and I declined the table and left the restaurant. I was
> very disappointed at the way that we were "managed" and I will
> regrettably not return again to Pastis.
>
> Your review spoke of the noise in the restaurant. I think it's
> an excellent topic as it can for sure irretrievably mar a
> nice dinner.
>
> I wonder however about your experience about asking for a
> particular table or area when you make the reservation, or being
> shown to a clearly problematic table if you arrive without a
> reservation. I appreciate that the restaurant business is always
> pressed to maximize revenues (i.e., by squeezing tables in), but
> like noise, your actual dining location in a restaurant can be
> decidedly substandard and can also wreck a dinner out.
>
> I just thought I would share my experience with you and query your
> experience on table selection in restaurants.