"Things started very well: the beer, rose and starters came out fine, all most enjoyable. However, things took a severe turn for the worse when the main course arrived. My girlfriend is Brazilian and likes her meat well-cooked. Her lamb was certainly slightly better done than is usual in France, but it also contained a nasty surprise, camouflaged in the dark sauce: a well-smoked cigarette butt, complete with cardboard roach/ filter. My girlfriend initially kept quiet, but when my brother noticed our disgust, marched into the kitchen with the plate demanding an explanation. The chef claimed it was "impossible" and suggested that the butt had been placed there by one of us. He offered us another plate of lamb which we accepted. The replacement was brought to the table by the manager (rather than the chef) who repeated indignantly that it was impossible that anyone had deliberately placed the butt there and that the reputation of the restaurant was beyond reproach. After the set menu desserts had been served, she reappeared to serve us all with free digestifs, mentioning that she now suspected someone on the staff. All in all, a real shame this. Not only because the food generally was good, but also because it tarnished the end of an otherwise great family holiday. I believe the butt was left there as an 'educational' message to those who don't like their lamb 'saignant.' I certainly hope such misplaced snobbery loses them custom."
