Fine Gueule — Restaurant in Nice

That was an unpleasant experience at Fine Gueule on my birthday.

First, service was poor. The waitress took the order of people who came after us and didn’t take ours until I finally told her that we were also ready to order. My chair had loose ends and stabbed me in my arm (photo attached). When I told the waitress about it, she clearly got pissed and said she would change it with an attitude like I was just making it up.

My boyfriend ordered the fish of the day and Pinot Noir. I ordered the risotto and Syrah wine. The food was mediocre, definitely far below the reputation and the price range of the dishes. And worse, my wine smelled terrible and tasted so bad that I genuinely thought the waitress had done something to it because I had complained about the chair. I wanted to send the wine back, but my boyfriend begged me not to. He said they were already unfriendly toward us, and if my wine hadn’t been spoiled before, it definitely would be if I sent it back. He offered to exchange the wines, but I didn’t want that. Instead, I told a different waiter (a relatively more friendly one) that I wanted a new glass because mine smelled funky. He smelled it and agreed with me.

After a couple of minutes, the angry waitress brought a new glass of wine and slammed it on the table, saying, “We opened a new bottle for you,” without even looking at me. She just dropped the wine on the table and left. I thanked her behind her back. The new wine clearly smelled and tasted better.

But the story doesn’t end there, unfortunately. As I said, it was my birthday and my boyfriend wanted to surprise me with a cake with candles. He had written in the comments section when making the reservation that he would order a dessert for me, that it was my birthday, and that he wanted the dessert served with candles. He even went to the restaurant the day before to confirm. They dismissed him and said, “If you wrote it in the comments, then we will do it.” And guess what? The dessert came without any candles. At that point he was so disappointed that he went to talk to the waiter, and only then did they bring out a candle for me. 🙂

Overall, the entire evening, from service to food quality, was deeply disappointing. The restaurant did not live up to its reputation or prices, and the staff made what should have been a special occasion feel frustrating and unpleasant. We have dined at other restaurants in the same price range, and I would recommend those in...

We took our parents to this restaurant and we had a wonderful time. The service was excellent, the food was exquisite and the precis very reasonable considering the high quality of what was offered. The food was both well cooked (both the veal and the duck were perfectly cooked) and interesting, combining tastes that I han't tried together before (like veal with a licorice sauce, smoked potatoe purée and a side of pumpkin with walnuts and crispy bacon). The lemon tart dessert was delicious and innovative with a salty caramel biscuit bottom, creamy marshmallow and shredded lime peel on top. The staff were very polite (although we arrived late) and knowledgeble, taking the time to explain the basics of biodynamic wine and black garlic. The seating may be the only negative. We had a nice table away from the other guests but by the kitchen. It was less pretty than other tables but on the other hand we were heavily waited on since every single staff member made sure we had everything we needed when they passed by. They filled up the wine glasses, got us more bread and answered our questions. Very classy and efficient service. Top notch! Tables across from the bar seemed very nice but you might be a bit bothered by guests and staff trying to pass the narrow area between the table and the bar. The inner part of the restaurant had none of the issues mentioned but they are located right by the rather undiscreet entrance to the restroom. The terrace was lovely as long as one doesn't mind other guests smoking at the next table. We will definately come back and ask for a table across the bar, hoping that people passing by isn't bothering after all. I highly recommend others to do the same since this restaurant is very much...

🚨 Warning: Avoid this restaurant at all costs! 🚨

This was by far the worst dining experience I have ever had, and it involved outright racial discrimination from the management. Even if you reserve a table online, this restaurant may still deny you entry, no matter how many empty tables you see or if you’re willing to wait. Don’t set aside time for this restaurant.

Here’s what happened: • My boyfriend and I checked the restaurant’s official website before going. It showed plenty of available tables, so we decided to walk in without a reservation. • When we arrived, we were told the restaurant was “fully booked for tonight,” despite the fact that we could clearly see many empty seats. • Suspicious, we stepped outside and checked the website again. Shockingly, it still allowed us to book a table for the same evening. So we made a reservation immediately. • When we returned with a confirmed reservation, the staff still refused to seat us. The manager dismissed us, saying, “If we say there’s no availability, then there’s no availability,” and even questioned why we had made the booking.

This behavior was unacceptable and discriminatory. It’s one thing for a restaurant to be fully booked—but it’s another to lie, refuse service despite a valid reservation, and treat guests so disrespectfully.

⚠️ Be warned: Even if you reserve a table online, this restaurant may still deny you entry, no matter how many empty tables you see or if you’re willing to wait.

Luckily, Nice has many excellent restaurants with both amazing food and professional service—such as Flaveur, Nuances, and Le Séjour + Bistro Marin—all far superior to this establishment. Do yourself a favor and spend your time and...