Between pedagogy and PV, controls are intensifying in restaurants that open illegally

The fed up with restaurant owners is growing a little more each day.

At the call of the manager of La Source Bleue (Doubs), many establishments have announced that they will set their tables and serve customers on Monday, February 1, already taking reservations, in defiance of the ban linked to the epidemic of Covid-19.

But in the meantime, it is in all discretion that dozens of restaurants in Ile-de-France still secretly welcome gangsters from the fork every noon, in their back room.

So in recent days, controls have intensified.

This Thursday, in several Parisian districts, a restaurant tour was undertaken by the police.

With relatively few results.

"We asked to demonstrate pedagogy, we are not the Vichy police," indicates an officer.

The instruction is to show that we are there, not to verbalize all the time.

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"We are full every noon": immersion in the restaurants which open illegally

"We received a visit from the police," we recognize at the restaurant Le Piaf (Paris, 8th), owned by the king of Parisian nights, Laurent de Gourcuff.

At noon, a dozen or so guests were seated.

Others were just coming out of this "rascal" restaurant, as the website of this chic establishment announces.

“We continue to open but for our employees, it acts as a canteen, there is no cash payment and we serve a single dish.

We do not play with fire ”, assures Laurent de Gourcuff's group, Paris Society, after this check.

No procedure has been initiated by the police headquarters.

Le Piaf (Paris, 8th), a chic restaurant belonging to Laurent de Gourcuff, received a visit from the police on Thursday.

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Other restaurateurs have had less luck and received fines.

They are now waiting to know what will be the legal consequences against them.

A few days ago, the Comptoir du marché (Paris, 10th) was "victim of a denunciation" believe the staff members.

In its mezzanine, invisible from the street, many people were having an aperitif at the time of the intervention of the police who were able to draw up a report in flagrante delicto.

“People enter through the back room because a door opens onto the covered market, once inside, they go directly upstairs,” says a regular customer.

This restaurateur, who took over the business almost two years ago, does not only have friends in his neighborhood.

"It smacks of backlash, because he himself has already been a little cavalier with other traders," says a resident of the street.

The establishment which offers take-out pizzas in particular has not closed and is waiting to know the consequences of this control.

"When you see the dealers who are located right next door and who are never dislodged, it annoys a little to be the target of the police, there is still more serious", blows a member of staff.

The risk of having government aid withdrawn

In the suburbs, too, vigilance has increased around illegal restaurants.

And, around 10 p.m. Wednesday evening, in Poissy (Yvelines), alerted by the exit of customers, the agents visited the O'Wok sign.

Inside, two people were doing the service while four guests were dining.

The latter were fined for non-compliance with the curfew.

Proceedings were initiated against the manager for concealed work and the opening of an establishment open to the public despite the ban.

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Beyond a fine, the restaurant owners in violation risk an administrative closure and have all government aid withdrawn.