Petite Chou

To celebrate 11 years of marriage, FLOE was determined to make it to a nice brunch on a rare Saturday morning off together.  Planning some time at Holliday Park afterwards, we settled on Petit Chou in Broadripple.  Our enthusiasm was so great that we made it there just after 8am. One to avoid a wait later, and two to get an early start on a day that promised to be uncomfortably humid after midday.  (As it was very early, and neither of us was quite awake, no pics were taken...sorry, we spaced it.)

Upon arrival we made a mistake of picking a table towards the rear of the restaurant.  After we were seated, we were informed that we should get our own coffee up front.  Fred hopped up, avoiding 2 supporting beams on the way, to get some for us.  While we enjoyed the 4 coffee options, we were very much annoyed at the extra-small cups.  Several times we had to interrupt not only our meal but other diners' by navigating our way to the front of the restaurant coming uncomfortably close to their tables due to the columns in the walkway.  Due to the tight quarters you feel other guests sway sideways in their seats as you go around the columns.  We kind of enjoy being served at a sit-down restaurant.  It's fine to be able to get your own, but being expected to is another thing altogether.  The server made it abundantly clear that she was above getting you coffee.  Most of this could be avoided simply by providing decent sized coffee cups!!  

Service was slow, even though there was plenty of waitstaff and open tables available.  Highchairs and boosters were available and we saw that they allowed pets outside (even providing water for a thirsty canine diner).


Libby ordered the The Overachiever -- a specialty omelet with bacon, cheddar, sour cream and horseradish with side of roasted potatoes and two large slices of brioche.  She also order a glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice, which never came but was on the bill.  When we asked to have it removed, the waitress claimed it was in Ozzy's water container, which we assured her was not the case.  Lovely.  Thankfully Libby's food was good.  The omelet was well cooked, with a nice balance of ingredients.  Even kind of fluffy.  The roasted potatoes were crispy, but unseasoned so she resorted to table salt.  The toasted brioche was excellent, especially covered in the sweat cream butter.

Fred ordered the broken yolk sandwich with bacon and fresh fruit on the side.  Although the menu stated that the eggs would be served runny unless otherwise requested, his were way overcooked.  Instead of a yummy yolk running out the sides, he had a very hard yolk and crisped edges on the whites.  This meal was what we would expect at Denny's.  As a matter of fact, a Moon Over My Hammy's is better.

Ozzy requested a toasted bagel with butter which he enjoyed.


http://www.cafepatachou.com/ (Petite Chou is part of the Cafe Patachou chain of local eateries.)

Wrap Up
Price-$$$-$$$$, Very expensive for breakfast or dinner, but lunch prices seem reasonable.
Atmosphere-*, Did we mention the columns?
Service-*, If I want a sh!tty attitude from my waitress, I'll go to Ed Debevic's.  Also, Zest does the get-your-own coffee thing right.  While you wait you can get your own, but once seated, they refill your (nicely sized!) mug...

Overall

Fred - D-, This should have been so good.  I really wanted to love this place and was excited to come back for dinner sometime to try the duck fat frittes.  But I don't think I want to give them any more of my money.

Libby - C, My food was admittedly much better than Fred's.  But the experience as a whole was tainted by the poor service.  A successful dining experience takes more than decent food.  I will not return to a place that does not want my business.
Ozzy-B+, Enjoyed his bagel and had many other food options.
Estelle-B+, High-chairs were available and she wasn't out of place.