L'Ile - Issy-les-Moulineaux

When I first found the restaurant, L'ile looks like a perfect place for a romantic date with my partner. We cross a pretty bridge across the canal and arrive at this beautiful French mini chateau like setting in the park. Upon arrival, we were warmly welcomed by the two wonderful hostesses who kindly showed us the table, as we admire the decor of the restaurant. Unfortunately this is where all the magic ended. First the restaurant doesn't have a paper menu, which is not a problem as this is common amid the pandemic. What is frustrating though is that no one bother to come explain to us if that is the case. We sat alone and were completely ignored for half an hour before being acknowledged by a very stressed and highly disgruntle waitress, who told us this is an online menu with QR code and in French only before walking away again without offering help or recommendation. No water, no snack, no service. After returning 15 mins later and took our order (this is 45 mins after sitting down), we finally had something to drink after an hour. Hoping that the food, which looked amazing online will redeem itself, was only a fantasy. Starter was seafood fritters which were all cold. Main course were beef fillet which was impossibly chewy and veal milanese that had so much flour on it that it tasted more like a savoury cookie. My partner joked that she think her 10 year old little sister must be the chef today. Feeling absolutely disgusted by the food and service, we hurried to get the bill (still took 20 mins) and walked out more dissatisfied than going to a 24 hours McDonald's drive thru, and this actually would be disrespectful to McDonald's. We were also not the only table that was badly received. Every single table around us had people trying desperately to catch an eye contact with someone. No wonder the waitresses were annoyed, I would be as well if I work in such in understaffed environment and have to serve terrible food to customers who will no doubt be upset. Having traveling around France for over a decade and spend weeks in Paris at ends, this was by way the worst dining experience ever in Europe. I hope that this review will help other travellers make the right decision.

Very bad service and very unpleasant staff. Food is good and location is very nice but we felt uncomfortable with the staff being rude. They look understaffed vs the number of tables which could explain why our waitress looked so overwhelmed but doesn’t justify at all her rudeness. Overall i’m disappointed because the meat is tasty and the deserts are very generous.

The restaurant is on a large island on the Seine. It has plenty of outdoor tables and stylish comfortable seating indoors. There were some smaller tables but the majority of guests were parties. Menus are accessible only via a QR code on the table. Your account shows what you have ordered and you use this method to pay online before you leave. Two courses and a couple of glasses of wine cost 95 euros for two. We chose a salmon and a pork dish. Well presented, tasty and sufficient. The desserts were large and the Flottante something to experience.

Overall food is fine but nothing really out of the ordinary. The lunch menu is perfect for a business meal 25€ two courses or 28€ for three. But hygiene please!!! Mice running between glasses on the bar, all kind of birds cherry picking in the almond jar used for customers and cockroaches in my napkin…

After two years of COVID I expected the personnel to be more motivated. Waited about 30 minutes for a drink while I was eating there, my drink actually arrived after my desert. The waitress was rude and uninterested. Food is good, nice bbq, staff should be motivated a bit more.