Le Mandarin — Restaurant in Nice

I am reasonably well travelled ( 80+ countries) and a foodie. I check reviews before trying a restaurant. The "kind owner" aspect stood out about the reviews for this restaurant. Went for dinner, alone, this evening around 10 past 7 pm. The restaurant had just 3 tables occupied ... but the Vietnamese owner decided to be UNKIND ... and for no earthly reason decided he is not going to give me a table. Not sure what prompted him to do that when 70% of the tables were empty with not a single "reserved" sign on any other. Has never happened to me in all my travels ... especially in an asian restaurant!!! Wondering what was the trigger ... colour of skin ... language ( I dont speak french beyond the Bon Jour etc) .. solo male traveller in black travel attire ... guess I will never know!!!

Well all the best...

This is a very pleasant and welcoming Vietnamese-Mandarin restaurant. The history of why it is a fusion restaurant is interesting, as recounted by the owners. Apparently, when they bought it years ago, there was a special city tax levied on cultural changes to restaurants. It had been a Mandarin restaurant and so, instead of simply starting a Vietnamese restaurant, which is their background, they made it Vietnamese-Mandarin to avoid the tax. No matter! The food is good if somewhat basic, and the owners, a married couple, are lovely. Be sure to try out a few language combos on the owner; she speaks many languages (including Hebrew, Korean and Arabic in addition to Vietnamese, French...

Great service and delicious food. The owner was very personable. You get free shrimp chips in the beginning, he even gave us complimentary mango juice. My husband and I ordered the crab rolls, and those were really good, you wrap them with lettuce, bean sprouts, and carrots, then deep in sweet sauce. So good! Then I ordered the Vietnamese pho, which was what my tummy needed because I’m a little under the weather today. The beef used in the pho soup were nice, thick slices of beef. Also, very delicious dish. My husband ordered the beef curry satay and vegetable pan fried noodles, he was very happy...