Magari — Restaurant in Nîmes

If you’re like me and like to read reviews before choosing a restaurant, here’s mine - please read on.

We booked a table at Magari for a Sunday afternoon. After reading some mixed reviews online, we were admittedly cautious, but something about the passion and honesty the owner responded with to the reviews made me want to give it a try. As someone who’s half Italian (from Volterra), Italian food holds a special place in my heart, and I take it quite seriously. I'm happy to report: we were not disappointed. I honestly don’t understand the negative comments some reviewers have made. The food was fresh, flavourful, and clearly made with high-quality ingredients. I had the quadrotto calabrese, and my husband ordered the pepperoni pizza. Both were outstanding.

The capers on my pizza were REAL Italian capers - big, juicy, and perfectly pickled, likely straight from the groves of Sicily. Not the tiny, insipid ones you find in a jar at the supermarket. I’ve missed eating proper capers like these! The 'nduja sausage had a beautiful, warming heat that complemented rather than overwhelmed the dish, and it paired wonderfully with the anchovies.

Every element of both pizzas was on point: a thin, fresh-rolled base, rich tomato sauce, creamy fior di latte, and - best of all for my pizza - a stuffed crust filled with a ricotta and pecorino blend that elevated the entire dish. I haven’t had a pizza that good in quite some time.

My husband felt the same about his pepperoni pizza: perfectly balanced flavours, a hint of spice, and sweet, sun-kissed bell peppers that added just the right touch.

We were absolutely stuffed - but then our lovely waiter came by and asked if we’d like to see the dessert menu. After such a satisfying meal, it felt rude not to! We ordered the Tiramisu and the fragole al basilico. Both were delicious.

I was initially hesitant about the tiramisu, fearing it might be too heavy for a sunny 34°C day. But the mascarpone was whipped into such a light, airy texture that it was perfectly refreshing. The fragole was a delight. I’m usually cautious about rose or lavender flavours, but the meringues were exceptional - especially when dipped in a little of the basil syrup.

As I mentioned at the start, I value honest reviews. Having read some of the negative ones, I truly don’t understand how others walked away with anything but praise for Magari. The food was exceptional, the staff were warm and attentive, and we even had the chance to meet (who I believe was) the owner - a passionate, dedicated man who clearly takes pride in what he does.

We will absolutely be returning to Magari and wish them a long and successful future.

TL;DR: Don’t believe the negative reviews. If you love fresh, high-quality Italian food, Magari is a...

When passing by this restaurant, we unexpectedly came across this elegant dining establishment. Situated in the bustling atmosphere of the city center, it offered the perfect blend of urban excitement without the disturbance of noise. Although its Google rating wasn't particularly high upon checking, I sensed that some of the reviews might be unfairly critical. Therefore, we decided to boldly give this restaurant a try.

As we stepped inside, we felt a great sense of delight. We indulged in a delicious dinner where the flavors of the dishes were truly commendable. The portion sizes were just right and not as pricey as mentioned in some reviews. The staff's service was exceptionally stellar, leaving us very satisfied. In the end, we were glad that we chose to step into this restaurant, making our evening delightful...

Déçu... nous avons commandé 3 plats de carbo après un accueil chaleureux. Le plat à peine déposé sur l'assiette j'ai tout de suite eu un gros doute. Guanciale découpée façon lardons et trop cuits (pas besoin de goûter pour s'en rendre compte)... les pâtes noyées dans la sauce ne rassurant pas (les vraies carbo, c'est comme ça qu'ils les vendent, ne baignent pas, la sauce étant plutôt une pâte qu’une sauce liquide). Passons à la dégustation et là rien ne va, pâtes croquantes (je suis pourtant un adepte de la cuisson al dente) et sauce vraiment trop liquide et pas convaincante au niveau du goût. Mais le vrai problème reste la cuisson des pâtes et le fait que nos plats sont froids. Nous en parlons au patron qui plutôt que de s'excuser nous garantie que tout le monde adore leur carbo ( nous sommes 3 sur 3 à lui dire que cest mauvais mais il n'en démord pas le bougre) ! Bref je suis cuisinier, j'ai voyagé pas mal en Italie donc je maîtrise le sujet. Ils nous proposent un autre plat. Nous acceptons volontiers. Et voilà le moment de l'addition et d'une annonce plus qu'étonnante du patron en personne... "je ne vous ai pas facturé les carbo, normalement j'aurai dû".... j'ai failli éclater de rire et lui expliquer qu'il faut savoir se remettre en question dans la vie. Sa terrasse n'étant restée qu'à moitié pleine alors que tout le quartier est blindé... bref on aurait pu repartir pas heureux, n'exagérons rien, mais pas fâché, mais là je me dis qu'on a pas la même vision de l'accueil et de l'écoute client. Bref j'invite ce patron à aller faire un tour en Italie, ou bien même je l'invite à me contacter et je le convie à une dégustation de carbo faite par mes soins. Mais après avoir relu pas mal d'avis laissés sur Google je m'aperçois que les réponses du patron aux mauvais commentaires sont équivalentes aux arguments auxquels nous avons eu le droit. Le mec ne se remet jamais en question, c'est nous les chiants ou bien les incultes du goût .... c'est une blague assez amère je vous avoue... à 89e ... heureusement que "les carbo n'ont pas été facturées"... au final j'aurai préféré car pour le coup il n'aurait pas touché un centime si il avait osé ! Fuyez...