La Bistrote — Restaurant in Montpellier

Absolutely love this gem, tucked away on a street just near the beautiful Ste. Anne. Lovely terrace to sit out at during the summer evenings and a very cozy interior for a more intimate meal with friends. Each time we eat there we’ve had a fabulous experience. Recently, however, they amazed us even more. We had vegan friends in town and wanted to take them out for a meal in Montpellier where we could eat all together (as we are not vegan). I called ahead and they told us it would be no problem at all - they would make a vegan plate special for them. Our vegan friends were so pleased, their meal looked incredible, I even thought I’d love to give their meal a try...

To us, Le Bistrote is the ideal French cafe. The food is both traditional and innovative; the staff is extremely kind, efficient, and accommodating; and the shady patio below the eaves of St. Anne’s church on a winding alley just off the main tourist streets makes us feel we’ve discovered a hidden treasure every time we go. Today was our sixth lunch (they don’t serve dinner). The menu changes daily and we have yet to be disappointed. Every dish has been wonderful and prices are more than reasonable. I am loathe to post this as tables are difficult to come by as it is. You can call them or message them on FB for a reservation if your French is...

We tried to ask for a table, the lady asked if I spoke French and I said no (I can understand it, in part) but we could communicate in Italian, English or Spanish and she said something like "shame, but we are in France" and the other people there laughed at her mean joke. We left as it made us feel so unwelcomed. Definitely not the way to deal with tourists who are willing to pay for your food and services....