Hergla L'artisan — Restaurant in Maghreb

Very bad experience – absolutely not recommended.

I went to this place with my mother, thinking it was both a touristic residence and a restaurant. At first, the owner welcomed us, so we thought it would be fine. But once we sat down, the whole experience turned into one of the worst I have ever had in any restaurant.

When I politely asked for a menu, the owner told me: “We don’t have a menu.” That was already strange, but then he said: “I don’t have anything for you.” Clearly, there was food in the restaurant, but he simply refused to serve us. Instead of offering us even a single dish, he started giving us a strange lecture about how his restaurant ratings are very high and how he doesn’t want people like us to come and “lower” the rating. He even went on about how business slows down in September because there are fewer tourists.

My mother and I were shocked. We quickly realized the truth: this restaurant only wants foreign tourists. If you are Tunisian, you are not welcome. The owner literally refused to serve us food and basically kicked us out. It was humiliating and insulting.

This behavior was not just unprofessional, it was openly discriminatory. As a Tunisian, I felt treated like I didn’t belong in my own country. The arrogance, disrespect, and strange way of speaking made the whole situation even worse.

And here is something important for tourists to know: Even if you are a foreign visitor and the owner treats you “well,” you should be aware that this same place is refusing to serve locals. That means the nice image you see is fake. Behind the good ratings, there is a very ugly reality. Supporting such a business only encourages discrimination.

To summarize:

No menu was given.

Owner clearly had food but refused to serve us.

Very rude, arrogant, and disrespectful.

Refuses to serve Tunisians, only wants tourists.

Completely discriminatory behavior.

For locals: avoid this place. You will only face humiliation. For tourists: please understand the full picture. You might get served, but you are supporting a place that treats Tunisians like second-class citizens in their own country.

Definitely one of the worst experiences I have ever had. This is not real hospitality, and this business does not deserve your money. Tunisia has many better restaurants where everyone is welcomed...

My daughters and I had the pleasure of staying at L’Artisan Guesthouse in Hergla last night. Situated in the charming old part of the village, it’s just a 5-minute walk to the beautiful coastline.

We were welcomed with incredible warmth by the hosts, who treated us to freshly squeezed orange juice, a gesture that immediately made us feel at home. The room was clean and a true reflection of the local culture, decorated with pieces of Tunisian daily life and exquisite craftsmanship—almost like a living museum.

The hosts also run a family-owned restaurant, where we had the best dinner of our vacation. Every dish was thoughtfully prepared, from the homemade starters—including rich shorbat soup, a fresh salad, and flavorful pepper purée—to the main course of perfectly grilled fish, gambas, and vegetables. Each bite was an impeccable balance of taste and seasoning.

Breakfast the next morning was equally generous, including fresh pains au chocolat, crispy bread, a delicious omelette, and coffee and milk.

If you're looking for a warm, authentic experience that captures the essence of Tunisia, I highly recommend dining at their cozy restaurant and staying at their guesthouse. It’s a perfect way to experience local cuisine, culture, and hospitality...

The owner was kind and the food above average. However, the bill surprised us. There was no menu = no price transparency. Based on the very positive reviews, we decided to trust the restaurant. Look, we are always willing to pay for good food but I believe we were overcharged.

The two of us shared a mixed platter (four shrimps, two individual sized fish) + salad + some appetizers + two melon desserts + one juice + one water, and the price was almost 50USD (156TND) — which is what we paid at El Jeld in Tunis, considered one of the top restaurants in Tunisia in a five-star dar.

Had there been a menu we would have felt much more comfortable. A review a year ago mentioned 72 TND for 2 people (fish). I don’t see how the price could double in a year.

In any case, that’s our first lesson in Tunisia. Always ask for the price — it seems to be a common practice not to display price in a small number of restaurants here, and then the customer is at the mercy of the owner who can...