Auberge de la Tour

The room was plain enough, but the lighting was much too harsh. The evening itself was a three-hour ordeal, and we were relieved when it finally ended. We went with my wife last night after we couldn't get a reservation at L'Artichaut - Carouge, and we really wish we could forget the experience. We chose this place because of the reviews, so I wanted to give others a more balanced picture. I wish someone had shared this with us beforehand. The waiting between courses was unprecedented, even though only five tables were being served. That was especially odd since the food seemed to have been prepared in advance. The whole meal felt as if it were following an artificially imposed rhythm. Service was painfully slow, with just one person, possibly the owner, seating guests, taking orders, hosting, serving, and making drinks. The air around them suggested they were accountable to no one. We nearly left halfway through, but thought we'd come this far and hoped the next course might be better. It wasn't. Every dish, from starter to dessert, seemed to be a mousse. The menu framed on the table described the crab starter beautifully, and we chose it with high hopes. It turned out to be nothing but crab from a can, or at least it looked and tasted that way. Other ingredients seemed added to make it photograph well, but they did little for the flavor. The beef fillet was dry, probably because it too had been made ahead. The food was far below what you'd expect from a Michelin-rated place. Auberge de la Tour completely underdelivered. We paid far too much for such poor food, and I've never felt so disappointed by a meal. I've often spent a lot somewhere and thought it was worth every bit, and that I'd gladly return. I wouldn't come back here. Places like this make you less inclined to eat out anywhere nearby, which can affect the surrounding businesses. Owner, I'm sorry if this is hard to hear. I hope you can use the time I've spent writing an honest review to make improvements for future customers. I've also given you actual suggestions for free, in the hope that they're useful.

The weekday lunch menu is handy and good value for the quality. We also love the à la carte food, and the terrace is a lovely spot to enjoy it. This is my favourite place for lunch, and I'll keep coming back.

We spent over three hours waiting through dinner, and the food had no flavor. Every course, starter through dessert, was basically a mousse. Such a disappointing waste of our time.

The welcome was friendly, and I really liked the rooms. Breakfast was fine, though some fresh fruit and better coffee would improve it. For the price, I'd certainly recommend staying here.