We've eaten at this restaurant many times over the years and found it to be excellent. On our most recent trip we called ahead long distance to make a reservation.
Making the Reservation: The chef/owner told me he needed a telephone # but would not accept my cell phone number-- only a local Crested Butte wireline #. I told him I didn't know the local number for my hotel. He then said he would have to have my credit card number. Because of identity theft issues I told him no (I do not want my cc # written on a reservation sheet for everyone to see since I know it would stay there until the reservation book is used up, maybe for many months). He told me he would not take my reservation w/o the cc #. I told him that we wouldn't eat there. However, my husband did want to eat there and called him back. The chef/owner took the reservation w/o the cc since he then said he knew the local phone # at the hotel where we were going to stay. We thought everything would be fine, but read on.
Arriving at the Restaurant: We arrived approximately 15 minutes prior to the reservation time and gave our name to the receptionist. She went to the kitchen and told the chef/owner we were there. He came out and in a loud and pompous voice announced to the whole restaurant, "We will be prepared to seat the [our surname] in 15 minutes." So we left and waited for the 15 minutes. I expected maybe not to be seated immediately, but he could have been much more gracious. However, we were positioned while we waited so we could both see and hear what was going on at the restaurant. Several other parties arrived anywhere from 10 minutes to 5 minutes early and all of them were seated when they arrived. We returned to the restaurant precisely on time and were seated at a tiny table for two in a room that seated only 12 people-2 tables of 4 and 2 tables of 2. We were the first people in the room, the other tables were filled shortly.
During the Meal: The chef/owner made a big show of greeting and bringing to each of the other tables a special small appetizer for the table before they ordered. He passed us by everytime with never a look in our direction--only 2 feet away. When we asked our waitress (who was very nice) if that appetizer could be ordered, she explained that he only did that for close friends (everyone else in the restaurant!). At the end of the meal, our waitress told us that our dessert was on her. She was obviously very embarassed about our treatment but was powerless to control the chef/owner.
Bottom Line: As I said at the beginning, the food is very good, but the treatment by the chef/owner because of my questioning his reservation method was vindictive and childish. We should have left the restaurant and not come back when we first arrived, but actually we were curious to see how he would behave and we found out--not maturely and not customer friendly. BTW, the restaurant food is French, but he is not, so I don't blame the French. Over the years, I have recommended this restaurant repeatedly--but no more!
We will not eat there again and neither will our friends.
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
