Le Criquet — Restaurant in Arles

We had the special of the day - vongole pasta with clams - but the clams were sandy and gritty as they were not purged properly. I pointed this out quietly to the waitress using my phone and asked her to let the chef know. Instead of apologizing, she said “No, this is not possible. You don’t know French food.”

Yes I am not French, but I know my seafood and know that you’re supposed to soak clams before cooking them for at least 2-3 hours to get rid of the salt and sand.

It was actually my Mom’s 70th bday dinner and service was inappropriately rushed. I let the waitress know it was her bday, but we were in / out in an hour for dinner as we were the first customers and there before opening without a reservation to get a table. What a terrible way to celebrate her milestone birthday.

We also asked for share plates (we ordered one starter and two main dishes) amongst 3 of us. When traveling, my family and I like to share dishes because we are foodies, and our trip usually revolves around meals of local cuisine. Also in MY culture, we do often times share food at the table and eat “family style.” She refused to give us any share plates and said “In France, we don’t share food at the table. It’s one dish per person. We are very busy and we don’t have any extra plates.”

Honestly, I think this place is a tourist trap full of foreigners. I didn’t see a single French speaking person in the whole restaurant that evening for dinner service. It’s mentioned in Rikk Steve’s France guidebook, which is why they have any business.

Please skip this one — it was probably the worst meal I had during my 2 week trip to Provence. The food was bad, but the service was...

During our journey through Provence, we stumbled upon Le Criquet by pure chance – and it turned out to be a culinary experience of the highest order. Though unplanned, this visit became one of the absolute highlights of our trip – the food is on par with the world’s finest restaurants. We were served by the wonderful Lili, whose warm and passionate presentation of each dish made the experience even more unforgettable. Her vivid and poetic descriptions brought the menu to life, turning our meal into a true celebration of taste and storytelling. We enjoyed seafood, both as starters and main courses – and every bite was a masterpiece. Fresh, perfectly prepared, beautifully presented – simply exceptional in every way. We wholeheartedly recommend Le Criquet to anyone visiting this beautiful city. If you’re looking for a place that combines flavor, art, and heartfelt hospitality,...

What a lovely little restaurant situated near the amphitheater in Arles. A beautiful stone interior and the terrace is also a delightful view so either place to sit is such a joy! The service was very quick (lunch time) the menu is small however the food is absolutely stunning. Their fish dishes were so good, tasty and fresh! I hardly ever order fish but wow, am so glad I did! There isn't a children's menu so my kids jist ate from our plates but they actually enjoyed the 'adult' meals so could have ordered their own meals in the end! Toilets are located upstairs and were clean. Lovely staff who spoke English and were very welcoming! highly recommend...