L'Espadon Bleu - Merged Topics

[menton1]

On a recent trip to Paris, we decided to go for a better restaurant. We had heard wonderful things about Jacques Cagna. On a stroll on the rue Grands Augustins, we passed a restaurant that had his name on the facade. We made a reservation for the following evening.

When we arrived, we were puzzled to note that the place only had 5 tables occupied. The staff was rather standoffish, and we ordered seafood, which were the specialties. The scallops were tough and overdone, the cod stew was overly salty and almost inedible. After a 45 minute wait for dessert, we asked for the check and the desserts immediately arrived. We said we did not want them and the waiter went ballistic. I have since realized that this was not Cagna's original restaurant, but a place he owns called L'Espadon Bleu across the street!! But Cagna puts his name very large on the facade and we mixed it up.

I have read that many celebrities go to Cagna's restaurant, but this was one of the worst restaurant experiences we have ever had in France; Is this typical for a chef that has overexpanded and can't keep an eye on all his restaurants? In spite of the acclaim, I will never go to a Cagna-owned restaurant again.

[robert brown]

Jacques Cagna has been around for years and I don't think he was, after perhaps for a period at the begining, a top priority of knowledgeable foodies. I also think he has had a bit of a shady reputation if memory serves me correctly. I want to check a 2001 Gault-Millau which I think withheld a rating of his restaurant, which is often the sign of a problem.

[cabrales]

Jacques Cagna appears to offer a chicken dish that sounds interesting (to me, at least): "La poularde de Houdan, 44 euros: En 2 actes : l’aile pochée , sauce crèmée aux truffes, jeunes légumes / la cuisse : rôtie dans son jus, champignons sauvages" (Chicken from Houdan. In two services: Poached breast portion with a truffled cream sauce, young vegetables; the thigh roasted in its own jus with wild mushrooms). This dish is mentioned in Michelin 2001. Have members sampled it?

http://www.jacques-cagna.com/menujc.htm

[marcus]

Neither Jacques Cagna nor Espadon Bleu appears to be on the Gault Millau website which has the 2002 guide online. Rotisserie d'en Face, his bistro is listed with a rating of 12. Jacques Cagna still gets 1 star from Michelin, down from 2 stars once upon a time.

[chefzadi]

Has anyone eaten there recently? Heard anything about the restaurant? Reviews? News?

I tried googling but couldn't find much.

[menton1]

Had a very poor dining experience at a Cagna-owned restaurant a couple of years ago, and many Eg-ers at the time said that they also have doubts about spending a lot of money at a Cagna restaurant. Read about it Here: Egullet Thread about Jacques Cagna's L'Espadon Bleu

[chefzadi]

Had a very poor dining experience at a Cagna-owned restaurant a couple of years ago, and many Eg-ers at the time said that they also have doubts about spending a lot of money at a Cagna restaurant.  Read about it Here:  Egullet Thread about Jacques Cagna's L'Espadon Bleu

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Thanks for the thread.

I thought he had 3 stars at one point? Now he's down to 1?