Comments on: Le Refuge des Fondues

By: AJ Mesiti

AJ Mesiti — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 22:48:17 +0000

i went there with my family tonight! we had a great time!!! don’t expect fine cuisine (its not about that). the guy running the floor was speaking to us in french the whole time despite the fact that we clearly did not understand a word- he was enjoying himself. its in a GREAT area with a small market and several cabaret establishments. if you’re in paris for a few days and have time to add a different type of meal to your itinerary, go here. if you only have enough time to have traditional tourist experiences, this may not be your place.

By: FrankInFL

FrankInFL — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 18:29:27 +0000

We’ve been there several times, the last with a group of people (we were guiding) who had never been to France before. Everyone had a great time. The fondue is acceptable, the wine is… drinkable, the atmosphere is indescribable.

Klaas got it right. If you’re overly sensitive and/or not in the mood for a fun evening, go someplace else… please.

By: Klaas & Ingeborg

Klaas & Ingeborg — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 17:50:04 +0000

Best place to meet other people from all over the world, love the babybottles. We call it the BABYBOTTLE PLACE. We took the meat fondue, it’s good, no complaints. For excellent food and another sphere (more luxury maybe) you might better try another restaurant and leave us having FUN!!

Till next time!!

By: Edouard

Edouard — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 17:04:09 +0000

Awesome place. Not a place for sensitive boys and girls from what the reviews say so don’t go if you cry easily when a french guy makes jokes. Lighten up people…

By: dave

dave — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 23:45:49 +0000

i don’t know what some of these people are complaining about. the owner’s eccentric and french and you know the deal when you get in the door. the food is amazing, the price absolutely reasonable, and the atmosphere one of a kind. people need to lighten up and enjoy themselves a bit more.

By: Julie

Julie — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 22:02:19 +0000

This was the worst place I have ever been. First thing is the owner is very rude, the place is so small and hot with all the fondues going, they seat you way to close to other people you don’t know and makes you climb over the table to sit on the bench. The food is terrible, the place doesn’t look very clean and when the owner thinks you have been there to long he’ll tell you to go very rude!! We were told to hurry up even though the people next to us were there a long time before us (they were parisians and we are Canadians) makes you wonder what kind of business this is. But anyways I paid the bill which was way more than it should have been 44euros but should of been 38euros but whatever I paid it anyways. So me and my husband leave he had somewhat like the experience drinking from baby bottle and talking to people me not so much, we left and walked about 1 to 2 block when suddenly the owner comes running after us yelling at us that we didn’t pay so I told him that I had paid the girl at the bar and he kept arguing with us. so we walked back to the restaurant with him embarresed as hell he went in and asked the girl working if we had paid and of course she said yes. Then he looked at us no sorry nothing. I’ve never been so humiliated in my life and to think that I spent all that $$ for a crappy evening with my husband in Paris. so one word of advice STAY AWAY!!

By: Lisa

Lisa — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 01:33:54 +0000

This place is my very favorite restaurant in Paris. I first visited it as a student in 1985, and go back every time I’m in town … with family, friends, even my students. The last time I went, the owner recognized me and commented that I go there a lot. Love the meat fondue, but have never had a problem with the cheese. It was a bit of a disappointment when, by 2004, they had updated the plumbing and done away with the turkish toilet because that was a highlight of the Refuge experience. Can’t wait to go back!

By: Jonty

Jonty — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 04:55:55 +0000

This place is amazing I have dined in many restaurants around the world but this has to top anywhere that I have ever been.

By: Barry Dean

Barry Dean — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 20:35:53 +0000

I visited this restaurant in February 2004 with my mother, and we both loved it. It was cramped, but for €15 each we got an apéritif, nibbles (potatoes and sausage I think), and then the baby’s bottle of wine each, which was very nice, and the generous meat fondu – chunks of beef, a bowl of hot oil to cook it in, and various delicious dips. It was fun, the food was good (although I can’t comment on the cheese fondue) and unbeatable value, and certainly somewhere we’d recommend.

Actually, I climbed over the table, not my mother, so it can’t be that sexist! Sadly I never figured out how to get permission to write on the walls, which are covered in past customers’ comments.

I have read that a sister restaurant has just opened in New York. If it’s anything like the original, it’s well worth a visit – a great antidote to stuffy and formal dining experiences!

By: Caralien

Caralien — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 22:59:33 +0000

We came here about half a dozen times during University (’95/’96).

Yes, it’s absolutely sexist that the females had to climb over the table, but it was so much fun going there (and does anyone really want to watch a guy walk over the table, who will probably fall from not knowing how to balance himself?)

A good value, absolutely ridiculous, and best with a group. I can’t believe it’s been 13 years.