"We had a rather mixed experience at Maison Francois, starting slow and ending poorly.
**BAR:** The decor is lovely, but since we arrived early (around 5 PM), the bar was not fully staffed, and we had to flag down a server to place our order. The cocktails were decent but nothing noteworthy, and there were no bar snacks available. We felt somewhat overlooked.
**FOOD:** The brasserie cuisine was truly outstanding. The chops were especially delicious, seasoned perfectly and sliced off the bone. The retro dessert trolley from the 1980s added a fun touch, and overall, the food was excellent.
**WINE:** The sommelier was charming, attentive, and offered a fantastic recommendation for a white wine that surprised us in a good way.
**STAFF:** There were plenty of staff members, but they seemed disorganized. While they were friendly, it was clear they prioritized regulars and celebrities, which made us feel like second-class guests. We didn’t feel like we were the staff's main focus.
**DOG POLICY:** Although there was no mention of a dog policy on the website, a medium/large poodle at a nearby table barked incessantly, causing quite a disturbance throughout the dining room. Unfortunately, neither the owner nor the staff took action to address the issue, ruining our dessert experience for nearly 30 minutes. We raised the concern with the manager, who promised to look into the policy but did not take immediate action. As much as we love animals, they don’t belong in a restaurant where we spent nearly £300 on dinner! This would have been unacceptable prior to COVID.
**RECOMMENDATION:** I cannot recommend this restaurant unless you are a dog lover, a regular patron, or a celebrity."
