Cordon Bleu Cafe & Catering

I went here the other day for a friend’s birthday dinner. He had been here many times, and is quite a fan of this place.
It’s a cute small location in a light industrial area in North Van — the kind of place where you do expect to find little unknown gems — so I was expecting something likewise.
My wife had already told me some of the reviews on other sites mentioned a certain amount of ‘french rudeness’, so we came prepared with some expectations. (And being European I’m definitely used to some of the less customer focused treatments at restaurants).
After I had already ordered a «Salad with melted brie» as an appetizer I glazed at an adjacent table where I saw a small plate with some lettuce, tomato, and a stick of something deep-​fried — I sincerely hoped that was just some side greens and not the appetizer I had just ordered. Low and behold, it was indeed what I ordered.
After cutting it up and mixing it thoroughly it tasted ok. Nothing special. I just don’t expect a reasonably priced appetizer salad to look like it was just cut off of a piece of lettuce.
Next, the first incidence of rudeness. Being with 9 people at a table, we had 2 baskets of French bread. One basket — on our side of the table — was empty, so we asked: «Can we have some more bread please?», waiter: «There is more bread in that other basket.». Great! We laugh it off, finish the other basket, and get more bread. we knew to expect something like this.
Second incidence of rudeness: The main dishes are coming out. The waiter puts down a dish on the table and in doing so knocks over a glass of water which spills on the table and one of the women at out table. The waiter does not even acknowledge what just happened, not a word, not a gesture, nor an offer for some napkins! He just continues serving the other dishes while we gather some napkins between the 9 of us. Ehmm. yah. that’s rude!
The main dish: pepper corn top sirloin, medium rare @ about $ 25: I would give the dish itself a B-​. It was ok, but definitely not ‘great’ or ‘outstanding’.
Rude moment nr 3, while collecting the plates the waiter bumps into my wife and drops a dirty knife off of one of the plates onto her arm. Great!
Dessert, we brought cake which was served from by them. They were thankful enough to put candles on them, light them, and bring out the cake. The cake we brought tasted great! (Thanks Sweet Obsessions!)
So yeah, the (beyond) rude service, combined with the quality of the food would make this a 2 out of 5 stars. Sorry Cordon Bleu — it’s gonna take a long time for me to give it another try.

As someone who loves french cuisine and treasures small places with a family feel; Cordon Bleu is right up my alley. It is my premier «I’m in the mood for french» place. In this it has displaced other french restaurants downtown and in West Van.
The menu is not innovative, and that is part of the charm here. Come for traditional french fare done to a high standard.