Mayssa Beach — Restaurant in Nice

My husband booked a dinner here as our last night in the French Riviera. We were tourists from the United States staying in Villefranche. We looked forward to a romantic seaside setting overlooking the bay. The pictures online looked very inviting. However, after walking a couple flights of stairs to the actual entry of the restaurant, we could not help but notice an angry couple leaving the restaurant. The gentlemen of that couple was in a very heated argument in Italian with one of the staff. Not speaking their language, I don't know the details of the argument, but this banter continued back and forth in several awkward minutes with us just standing there waiting to be seated. This was our first impression of the restaurant. Eventually the angry gentleman customer left, and we were finally set at our table with no apology or explanation of what we just had witnessed. In any regard, the table setting was very beautiful overlooking the bay-I was excited for a romantic evening and immediately ordered a glass of wine. However, after perusing the menu, I was unable to find anything of real interest-just the traditional fare of what everyone else is serving in the area.

The final straw, came within a few minutes of being sat. A family of four with two young children under the age of 5 were inserted at a table within a few inches beside our quiet table for two. This family came in like a bull in a china shop. They were sat right in the center balcony of the place, where everyone else was forced to listen to them. Why? Why not in a corner somewhere where some of their commotion could be minimized? I heard every comment made by the mother, father, and children. From the mother announcing the daughter's fifth birthday, to the father wanting to sit with the better view than the child, to the child wanting a "big girl seat" and the mother arguing with the waitress over a high chair, etc. My plans for a quiet, intimate, last night dinner with my husband were now completely blown.

Disturbed by our inability to have any private conversation with each other and feeling like this family had just been inserted into our intimate, evening experience, we were thankful that the drinks took so long to be served, that we did not have to wait for a check, and were able make a quick get-away. My husband and I left five minutes after being seated with not one staff member questioning our abrupt exit. They just watched us march out; as this is a common, usual experience. In retrospect, I wonder if the angry Italian gentleman before us had a similar issue?

Bottom line--be careful coming here if you want an intimate, unique cuisine experience. The menu is nothing special, and the there is no consideration in seating - families with young children practically sitting...

Hello We were a party of 8 adults celebrating my 80th birthday. We booked with you because of your perfect location and the flexibility offered between outside terraces and inside plus your claims for excellent service and cuisine. We were not really given a choice whether to eat out or in as we were told it would rain later. It did not rain. We asked to change our table to one on the other side of the restaurant as the windows were clearer. Our request was refused. Despite the restaurant having many more empty tables than full ones and there being a good number of servers about, the service was poor. We had to ask for menus and a wine list and for some bread after waiting for some time. Our waiter poured wine as if it were of no value or importance to him or to us. It was important to us! His attentiveness was lacking to the point where we served ourselves to wine on a number of occasions. The food was very good but overpriced. I feel that the quality of my special occasion was diminished by your staff lack of interest and any sense of being there for us rather than the other way around. My wife and I come often to Villefranche but next times we will give Mayssa Beach a miss and I will tell the Welcome Hotel management of our experience. I am...

It was a scorching day as we sat overlooking the beautiful Villesfranche Bay. It really is an amazing setting. I’ll be honest…it’s not cheap. Our starter was very nice, salmon with ginger, and strangely…the portion was too big. Not often you hear that. Our second main was chicken in a mushroom sauce. The chicken was a little dry, I suspect from being on the pass a little too long. The sauce was nice and would have been enhanced with some cream. The dish lacks some vegetable. You might wonder why I give this a four star review…in fact I’d like to give it a four and a half star review. The reason? The scallops on a bed of leeks with chiffoned chorizo and creamy, buttery mash was outstanding. Incredibly so. I struggle to see how they could improve it. 4 plump, fresh, fabulous scallops. Gorgeous leeks and a perfect amount of thinly chopped chorizo and beautiful mash. Seriously good food. My advice. Go for sure, order anything you fancy but do not, I repeat, do not leave without ordering the main course of scallops....