Bistro La Provence — Restaurant in Melbourne

As an Asian, I strongly advise you not to go to this restaurant. Because this is a restaurant that’s both snobbish and racist.

We walked into this restaurant, the owner gave us a table, but after we sat down, we waited for more than five minutes without anyone bringing us a menu. I just sat there doing absolutely nothing but waiting for someone to hand us a menu that was literally right next to the waiter. I looked at him several times, trying to catch his attention, but he avoided eye contact every single time and just kept serving other tables.

I really don’t understand—was it so hard to just pass us a menu? It was right there. When I finally asked for one, he still told us to wait. A few minutes later, he finally brought it over with no greeting, no apology—just pure indifference.

We finished reading the menu and were ready to order, but then we had to wait again. Another ten minutes. Still nothing. He didn’t even look at us. It honestly felt like we didn’t exist. At that point, I was already very angry. The way we were ignored was just unacceptable.

I noticed we were the only ones who looked Asian. Maybe it’s a coincidence, maybe not. But it really felt like we were being treated differently. If your restaurant thinks it’s okay to ignore certain customers just because you’re busy or because you think you can get away with it, then I have no respect for that kind of attitude.

Don’t make excuses. If you’re short-staffed, fine—but at least say something. Instead, we sat there wasting our time, completely invisible, for nearly 20 minutes. And honestly, I started to wonder if we’d be ignored even after ordering.

We love food from all cultures. We respect every kind of cuisine. But this experience made me feel unwelcome, disrespected, and completely fed up—before I even got to try anything.

I will not teach my child to stay silent when she is mistreated or faces racism. When someone treats you unfairly, you do not owe them...

Valentines Day Dinner.

Dinner booked for 6pm; reconfirmation phone call included invitation to arrive early if we wanted the extra time to have a pre-dinner drink, which we accepted. 5.40pm: Arrived 5.43pm: F&B server asks for our food order. Very disappointed when we only order drinks. 5.47pm: A different F&B server asks for our food order. We explain we haven't looked at the menu. 5.49pm: A different F&B server (I'm guessing FOH supervisor/manager) asks for our food order. I explain that as invited, we are having a pre-dinner drink, and have yet to make decisions about our food order. 5.49pm: Response: "Well, I'm going to need you to make up your mind very soon".

Have never been spoken to in such a demeaning tone anywhere, let alone in a restaurant on a special occasion.

To the restaurant's credit, there was an apology when we left 5 minutes later and no charge for the pre-dinner drinks.

Won't...

I don’t understand the great reviews. Having been to many French restaurants in Melbourne and in France itself, this doesn’t pass muster.

The service was slow, we were not asked if we wanted a pre dinner drink, other than water. They were seriously understaffed and what I presume was the maître d’ was only ever seen running between the kitchen and station, with little effect.

The menu wasn’t explained eg none the wiser as to what the fish of the day was. The confit de carnard was over cooked and stringy and the orange sauce bitter from being burnt.

We were told that there was a 2nd sitting, when booking, but I don’t see how that could have worked given by the time we finished main course and entrees, it was past our time.

The best part was the snails which were excellent and I could not flaw. Same with the spinach, but then it is only spinach.

Certainly not worth the price tag or reviews...