Plage Belles Rives — Restaurant in Grasse

A Tale of Two Restaurants

I first visited the Belles Rives in 1957 with my father. We had lunch on the beach, and it was a memorable experience. Since then, I have returned to the hotel each year, both staying and dining there.

This year, my wife and I dined at La Passagère, where we enjoyed an excellent tasting menu, fine wines, and exceptional service—friendly and attentive without being overbearing. All of this was served on what must surely be one of the most spectacular terraces in the South of France, overlooking the Bay of Juan. The cost was in line with other restaurants of this calibre, and the overall experience was superb.

By contrast, the following Sunday we returned with our family for a pre-booked lunch on the beach. Our daughters were eager to relive the times they had spent there as children, when Jean-Jacques Gonzales ran the beach to perfection and Marco Grilli’s ski school was thriving. In those days, the food and service on the beach matched the high standards of the hotel as a whole.

Our party of eight arrived at the appointed time and were shown to a table at the far end of the open-air restaurant. My wife immediately remarked that they might forget about us there. The Maître d’ reassured us that this would not be the case.

After ten minutes a rather harassed waiter appeared to take our drinks order. Fifteen minutes later he returned for our food order. We then waited… and waited. Eventually, after prompting, our drinks arrived—forty-five minutes after ordering. The meals followed shortly, and with them we requested an extra plate of frites. The food itself was acceptable, though far from exceptional.

When desserts were finally offered, we ordered them—and ten minutes later they arrived, accompanied by the long-forgotten plate of frites. The waiter, clearly overstretched and preoccupied with a difficult table nearby, offered no apology for the delays, the mix-ups, or the misplaced timing.

Seeking redress, we approached the Maître d’, but regrettably she responded with a dismissive air, leaving us with the impression that she cared little whether we returned to the Beach Restaurant again. In that respect, she will not be disappointed.

Having patronised the Belles Rives for the last sixty-eight years, I could not help but feel that the firm management once embodied by Marianne Estène-Chauvin, which for so long ensured exceptional standards, has slipped to a level less than satisfactory for a hotel aspiring to be at the very top.

Happily, La Passagère has maintained its excellence, and we will certainly return next year. As for the Beach Restaurant, perhaps it is best remembered as it once was—and...

If I had based my decision to go to this restaurant off the previous comments, I probably would not have gone. However, I visited Belles Rives 3 years ago and had an amazing time, so this time, with my husband, we decided to go for dinner. From the moment we arrived, we were cared for attentively by all the staff members. The food was absolutely delicious. We shared the truffle burrata, which was a huge portion, and my husband also ordered the lobster risotto. He said it was the best risotto he's had in his life! The atmosphere was quiet and romantic, just what we were looking for. I would definitely recommend this restaurant! The views are spectacular and the hotel itself is...

Lieu magnifique qui mérite vraiment mieux. Je vois que le compte Google a été rebooté. Celà se comprend... Aucun effort de la part du service pour faire plaisir à sa clientèle. Dommage pour un restaurant appartenant à ce bel Hôtel 5 étoiles... Nourriture Basique pour le prix. Nous demandons une Viande Saignante, celle-ci arrive cuite à point, voir bien cuite. Nous le faisons stipuler au Serveur qui prend la viande et reviens avec la même viande en nous affirmant que "le chef" a dit que c'était saignant... Bref obligé d'appeler le manager pour qu'il nous l'a remplace... La nouvelle viande quand à elle arrive presque Bleue et remplie de nerf... Finalitée, déjà génés par le premier épisode. Nous décidons de la conserver et de la manger. Aucune envie de prendre un dessert, on demande l'addition. À notre départ personne ne nous dit au revoir. Nous avons la sensation de partir tel des voleurs. Aucune aide proposée pour remonter ces longues marches dangereuses avec notre poussette ; ce qui je site nous a bien été proposé à l'arrivée pour descendre. Je ne...