Grand Café Malarte - Restaurant Arles — Restaurant in Arles

Lunch at le Grand Café Malarte in Arles, France was good but slightly disappointing. First of all, it took the restaurant staff some time to recognize and seat us even though we had made reservations at this restaurant before we even came to France. It took about ten minutes before we were properly seated. The drinks service was good but ordering the main lunchtime meals did take some time. My wife ordered the Salad Nicoise which she said was good but was mostly greens. My daughter ordered the salmon tartar, but the fish had a great deal of lemon juice squeezed over it even though the menu description only calls for avocado and dill as ingredients. The most disappointing meal was my daughter’s partner, whose steak was served well-done even though he had ordered it rare. Our server specifically asked how he wanted it cooked and it was clear it was overcooked. Rather than complaining, he ate the steal anyway – in retrospect, it should have been returned to the kitchen. I ordered the Thai style sea bream fillet which was very tasty as were the accompanying noodles. All in all, the food was acceptable, but not good enough to make me...

Beer was cold and my meal was ok. But what stands out was the pissy attitude of our server at 1400 hrs. 5/13. I ordered something off the board at entrance. She said non, no idea why. She gave us the day menu list. My wife ordered the tuna. Non we are out. Would have been nice to tell us what not available at the time she gave us the menu. My wife's last moment pizza was not cooked in middle but we did not want to incur any more of her wrath. At time to pay I had to go inside and find her. She shook her head and pointed me back outside and then another colleague processed us. She made our day trip to Arles very memorable! Maybe she should work bar prep area and less with the people who pay. Been in Provence for 16 days and yet to meet someone like this. If you have a bad day, work another area...

Went to have Sunday breakfast here at 10. Was seated quickly but waited ten minutes for server to take my order. Place is big but only about twenty people seated. Ordered scrambled eggs and toast. After ten minutes the server brings me a plate of scrambled eggs with side salad. I explained (poorly, as my French is poor) that I ordered toast. He cut a couple of slices off a baguette and walked with them in his hands into the kitchen to toast. Another ten minutes wait. By this time my eggs were like warm. Server never apologised, just placed toast on the table. Considering the place was not busy, I can not understand the poor service unless, of course it’s due to the usual Gallic attitude to anyone who can’t speak their language. In an international town like Arles it’s not a great example to...