I was at the Blue Elephant in Paris and the place was just how you described it. Absolutely exquisite. When I entered I noticed the Thai staff were speaking French and I cannot speak any French (apart from what I learned on Sesame Street) but I can speak basic Thai.
Anyways, when the waiter approached I said (in Thai) "I am sorry but I cannot speak French, I can only speak a bit of Thai". The waiter waved his hands and said "so sorry" while he ran to his female boss.
The boss came over and I said the same spiel "I am sorry but I cannot speak French, I can only speak a bit of Thai"
She asked "Can you speak English?" to which I agreed. She said "Good, because the waiter is Filipino". Lol, too funny!