468605 Tue Dec 11 17:36:34 -0800 2007 2 18 Manhattan 0 3199953 The four of us had lunch this week. The three of us arrived to an empty foyer. Maitre D' was not around, so we got a chance to take a good look at the space. The closet door looks very beaten up, walls scuffed up and looks not nicely maintained. Maitre D' arrived (or was she a coat check person?). She immediately asked for our coats, gave a single number for all three coats and checked us in. "Are all of you here?" she asked. "I am not sure" I said, thinking that my friend might have arrived early. She looked at the three of us and said "Well, there's only three of you, so the party is not complete!" "Um, maybe my friend checked in already?" She then looked at the computer and said "Um, well, actually there is someone waiting for you guys already". So much for warm reception -- this was just cold and borderline un-professional. At no point did we feel welcomed to the restaurant. Taken to the room. There were probably three tables occupied. My friend was already seated and we all got seated. That's when I realized that our table was very small. It was a square that's probably okay for a casual bistro, but definitely not for an upscale restaurant that Tocqueville would like to be considered. I glanced across the room and noticed that the same table is used for 2 people next to us. After looking at the menu, I took a look at the room. While the decor is pleasant, the room is not maintained very well. There is a deep gouge in the walls right next to our table. The white base boards along the walls are filthy. A simple patch and paint job would solve the cosmetic issues. The three of us ordered a la carte and one friend ordered the prix fixe. Soon after the amuse bouche arrived, we started encountering service problems. My friend was telling a story and she was clearly not finished with her amuse bouche, when the wait staff said "Excuse me" three times and then asked "Are you finished?" Appetizers came, then main courses came. During the course of our meals, water glasses were never refilled. We had to ask twice for them to be refilled. We then ordered the chocolate tasting to be shared, while one friend who ordered the prix fixe already ordered her dessert. Ten minutes later, the prix fixe dessert arrived (panna cotta), but not the chocolate. No one mentioned that it was coming, so we started sharing the panna cotta. Fifteen minutes later, the panna cotta was cleared, the bus boy arrived with the chocolate AND a panna cotta. Our waiter happened to be nearby and he whispered "They already got the panna cotta" During our dessert course, I then noticed the table next to us -- a round table with 4 chairs was occupied by a party of 2. I don't understand why they would sit a party of 4 in a small table designed for 2, then 1 hour later sat a party of 2 in a table with 4 chairs. After paying, we went to get our coats. One friend wanted to have a rest-room stop, but couldn't find it. Who would know that an unmarked door between foyer and bar would be the rest room. The rest room suffers the same maintenance problem with peeling wall paper. Icing on the (bad) cake.. When we gave our tickets, the same Maitre D'-Coat Check person retrieved our coats. She found three coats, but one friend was missing her hat and scarf. She described the items, but was given the wrong scarf. The coat check person then said "Why don't you come to the closet and tell me which one" One friend's coat was missing (coat check person couldn't find it), so she asked him to describe it. He did, she looked for few seconds then said "Why don't you find it yourself here!" then pointed the closet to him. WE WERE APPALLED. We did not have incredible meals here, but to top it off, we feel that service was absolutely sub-standard and at times, unprofessional. I had wanted to like this place, but unfortunately, it simply did not deliver. One of the friends who had planned to throw a private party here decided to seek for alternate restaurant after this unpleasant experience. Tue Dec 11 17:36:34 -0800 2007 108016 theskyflyer 1 3199981 This is horrible. I've had many a lunch at Tocqueville and never encountered anything like this. You should phone Jo-ann Makovitsky, the wife of the chef and the co-owner and tell her. (I know her name because she is listed in the Top Hosts list in the latest Zagat. She is unfailingly courteous.) Tue Dec 11 17:44:02 -0800 2007 3199953 11362 Brian S 2 3200040 I too have lunched there several times The food is usually very good and the service has always been courteous and professional. I do agree that the entire place could benefit from some "spiffing up" You should have requested a different table. Once you saw your dining experience was going downhill, you should have asked to speak with the Mgr. The fiasco in the Coat Room was inexcusable. Tue Dec 11 18:07:31 -0800 2007 3199981 20921 Tay