Hotel Restaurant Le Bellevue

I left feeling stupid for paying the bill, and I can't remember ever feeling that way after a meal. When I read the reviews later, I laughed out loud at how arrogant the service was. There was a long black hair in my lamb shank. I found it as I was turning the meat over to eat the other side and told the waiter straight away. She took the plate away, came back, and apologized several times. Then she asked if I wanted dessert, so I ordered one to share with my wife, thinking the issue was settled. When the bill came, she wanted full payment. I pointed out that she had charged the full amount, and she said, "I DID NOT OFFER FREE DESSERT." I asked, "WHAT! do I have to pay for HAIR IN THE FOOD?" She replied, "it can happen," then added that it wasn't the worst thing that could happen in the kitchen. I contacted the manager, who said I'd eaten too much of the lamb shank and still wanted full payment despite the hair in the food. The lesson seems to be that if a restaurant doesn't need customers to return, it can treat them scandalously. It leaves me wondering what worse things could happen in that kitchen.

We had a delicious lunch here, with lovely presentation and fast service. It was low season, so the restaurant wasn't too busy, and we found the service fine. The views are nice from inside and out on the terrace. I've also been here in summer for a cool drink and ice cream. It's packed then and can be hard to find a seat. Service is more rushed at that time, and the servers can seem grumpy.

The location is beautiful, and we slept at the Hotel. The rooms were OK, though ours had a strange smell, a bit like damp. The servers in the Hotel restaurant were grumpy and rude, which is sad because it spoils such a beautiful place.

Room 5 was a lovely surprise: a comfy double bed, a fold-out sofa, a little balcony with a great view, and a clean bathroom with the basics. We also had two towels each, plus a kettle, tea and coffee, and a TV. I was a bit wary after reading the reviews, but for a two-star hotel this really exceeded expectations. The parking is roughly 180 metres away, according to Google, and Bormes’ pedestrian area is just around the corner. A great option for a quick, budget-conscious stay with a wonderful view. We stayed one night.