Mallebar Brasserie — Restaurant in Plymouth

My husband and I had our Valentine’s dinner here yesterday evening. I have food allergies and my server had little interest in helping me find something safe to eat. She only suggested a burger seasoned with salt/pepper or fries. She barely tolerated my questions regarding ingredients in the dishes. It was very obvious that our server was not happy.

I was quite literally in tears from frustration so I asked for the check after our first course. The server couldn’t have cared less. Never spoke a word, simply dropped the check, processed my card and moved on. I stopped her before she walked away and requested to speak to a manager. She looked shocked.

The manager seemed irritated that I asked her to our table. As I explained my frustrations, she immediately demeaned me by reminding me she was the one who got me a reservation that night. She then advised me on how to better handle my food allergies in the future and ask if I’d dined there before. When I told her I had she said, “if you’ve eaten here before then why don’t you know what to order for yourself?” I said we hadn’t been there for over two years because the restaurant had been closed and she started making me feel that I was the problem with my dining experience. It was unreal.

She accidentally said, in her servers defense, that the she may not have wanted to make substitutions to the dishes because the chef was too busy or she was too AFRAID to discuss the menu with him. I almost fell out of my chair. Everything about our experience was surreal and certainly not to the standards of a fine dining restaurant, one that we frequented in prior years.

To be clear, I’ve dealt with my food allergies for over 25 years, and I wasn’t asking for special treatment. I know my food may be very simple and likely deconstructed to meet my needs. Having said that, I’m always insanely grateful to a chef who takes the time to make me a custom allergy safe meal so that I have an exceptional night out. However, I would NEVER ask or expect that. That evening I was simply asking for suggestions and for help navigating the menu and it was obvious that the bare minimum was too...

This place is somewhat of a hidden gem in downtown Plymouth. It’s got the look and feel of an upscale restaurant but has a more relaxed vibe. The staff are a small but mighty team who deliver an exceptional experience. I’ve been here 3 times and each time our server was Ryan, who has always done an excellent job making people feel welcomed with his hospitable attitude. He handles a lot of tables all while being personable and making great recommendations. The folks here are all passionate about the food and the dining experience and it shows.

The food itself is prepared with a lot of thought and love. Every choice about each recipe feels deliberate and well-thought. On this particular trip we enjoyed several items for a Valentine’s Day dinner. It’s a nice touch that they serve bread with a honey butter that they make. It’s dangerous to fill up on this, but it’s too good to skip.

Caesar Frites - Essentially a Caesar salad with topped with perfectly cooked fries.

Mixed Board - A combination cheese and charcuterie board packed with unique spreads such as a garlic honey crunch and a house made mortadella. This is the 2nd time we’ve ordered this and it was fairly different from the last time and in my opinion, even better than the last.

Grilled Steak Burger - One of the best burgers in town. It includes a melted raclette cheese which elevates the flavor substantially. The aioli was a great compliment to the burger as well as the fries. Every element worked in perfect harmony and makes this a staple as far as I’m concerned.

Pork Schnitzel - This fried pork cutlet pairs wonderfully with the lemon caper butter sauce to create a refreshing and intriguing combination of flavors. The potato purée was incredibly smooth and comforting. The brussel sprouts were roasted in a garlic herb butter that gave them a satisfying crunch to perfectly compliment the dish. I enjoyed this one a lot and appreciated the well thought arrangement of flavors. I’d definitely order this one again if I’m not intrigued by anything else that’s new...

So...it helps to know what a "brasserie" is supposed to be before dining here.

Regarding food, this is not the haute cuisine you might expect at a higher-end French restaurant in a bigger U.S. city -- but it also isn't Provençal either. It's kind of it's own thing -- hearty but still complex fare. Everything is solid -- the ingredients, presentation, combinations, flavors, textures, etc. -- but also...well the best word phrase I can come up with is "tasty but loud." And by "loud" I mean there is nothing subtle about anything we ordered -- not the sauces, or how the meat was prepared and seasoned, or the choices for garnishes or sides. Everything was distinct, intense, and bold in a Wolfgang Puck sort of way. And although this aligns with the idea what a brasserie would serve, but IMO the food at Mallebar is a lot more interesting and complex.

We enjoyed our meal a lot -- and the entrees in particular (my wife and I had the grilled sirloin and duck breast). Our server Ryan was very attentive and friendly, and our drinks went perfectly with our meal.

Regarding atmosphere, the food did pair well with the feel of this space, which sports a bar along one wall which was, when we arrived at 6 pm, packed with happy customers already deep in their cups. The bartender also seemed to be enjoying herself, matching the volume of the patron revelry with a resonant voice and an even bigger laugh. They all seemed to be having a lot of fun! Again, this is what a brasserie is often like -- a loud and boisterous place to have a good meal with drinks. And if you know that before going here, it helps. This is just not the right place for a quiet, intimate dinner.

Like anything, it's all about expectations. We found the food and service here to be really good. The drink selection was also above-average. And we felt the prices were very reasonable as well. All-in-all, this was a fun highlight of our stay...