La Ferme Gourmande restaurant attached to La Ben Assise

This restaurant is in the grounds of the La Ben Assise campsite in Guines near Calais.This site is used by several holiday companies and is useful as an overnight stop.

We have stayed at the site previously and had a several superb meals.Going on a day trip we decide to go to the restaurant again.Previously we had a great welcome from the French and English owners,a friendly mature couple.

This time when we arrived we were met with indifference by the management and staff who apart from one person appeared to have changed.The menu had also changed.

The decor had changed from a pleasant country rural rustic interior to a city bitro layout which spoilt the character of the restaurant.We were a party of five.Two people had the traditional pancake which they ate,nothing special was the comment.One had the roll mops,which when she found them amongst the lettuce was edible.I had what appeared to be vegetable soup with cheese and croutons.I was unable to work out what sort of vegetable it was made from.

The other person had a rough type pate which had an unpleasant after taste.Two people had steak which was so tough and tasteless to be inedible.My wife and I had the ham in some sort of sauce which was hard to define.The ham was so salty that it was not edible.

One person had the salmon which was baked in foil which he enjoyed.The waitress collected the four barely touched dinners and we asked for the bill.The bill came for the full cost which we complained about and the manager came out.With difficulty our French speakers explained the problem with the meal.

The manager then tore up the bill and we left without paying anything but upset and hungry about our meal and most of all our previousl happy memories shattered.

|||

Firstly, so sorry to hear of your disappointing meal. We often ate there when staying at La Bien Assise, and always enjoyed the meals greatly. What a pity it%26#39;s changed so much; the rustic look was good.

I suppose it was the owner who served the wine; a man with a large embonpoint, who removed the cork then always turned away to sniff it, then turned back to pour it - quite theatrical! No chance of a bad bottle with him!

Don%26#39;t let this episode spoil all your lovely memories,

Jo

|||

Thank you, Jo for your kind words.The gentleman you describe was nowhere to be seen.The couple may have retired.They were the perfect hosts.