Sherry

My two sisters and I just returned from two weeks in the Riviera and Provence. We had a really bad experience at a restaurant in Aix-en-Provence on the Cours Mirabeau called Les Deux Garcons. From the moment we arrived, we were greeted by a rude Maitre'd and this behavior continued throughout dinner. Our dinner salads were brought with our entrees and after waiting for 1-1/2 hours, we were never offered additional drinks, dessert or coffee. After two hours of just sitting there while everyone around us received impeccable service, we were literally ignored -- we had to ask repeatedly for our bill from several people and it took almost another hour to receive that. I've never encountered such rude behavior and I was wondering if maybe we were discriminated against because we were three females traveling alone. Anyone else have any similar experiences?

difficult

I doubt that it would be because you were three women. Was it the way you were dressed? Did you just order salad and entrees and not a main course? Did you try to speak French?<BR>

difficult

I doubt that it would be because you were three women. Was it the way you were dressed? Did you just order salad and entrees and not a main course? Did you try to speak French?<BR>

Sherry

We do speak French, and we wanted to have a full meal -- we started with an appertif, ordered an entree and a main course, but were not offered a wine list, dessert menu or coffee. We were also dressed nicely. I've traveled in France before and have never encountered this type of service before.

Christina

I've encountered service like that several times in France in various cities. It happens, probably a combination of being American (I'm guessing, you don't say), or at least foreigner, and females. The salad with entree was probably just because you were American, although they should ask when you want it; if you're not American, it's just laziness. This can happen especially in tourist cities/restaurants, which is where you were. Those waiters often get tired of serving tourists or often just don't care about being polite to tourists. I had one in Arles just rip me off (never returned with the change, after 1/2 hr I gave up and left, so he got himself a tip I would not have given him). And I've been ignored as you were, also.<BR><BR>So, I'd chalk it up to experience, that kind of thing will happen occasionally anywhere, foreign countries or at home. And it will happen more in popular tourist restaurants, I'd say. That isn't the greatest place to eat IMO, they are sort of full of themselves, it seems to me (I've eaten there several times, it's nothing great, just popular). I'm sure I get somewhat bad service at least once on every trip, but I don't dwell on it nor consider it so unusual I'd write about it, myself.<BR><BR>It had nothing to do with the way you were dressed or speaking French, believe me. I always speak French, fairly well if I do say so myself, and it still happens occasionally. Luckily, it is rare, however. If you've never had this happen before, that's pretty good.