We got into town a little later than we had expected and we were starving. Hoping to find a nice…read moremeal after checking in to our hotel we ran to l'atelier de jean-luc rabanel in hopes of having a lovely dinner. We entered at about 8:15 knowing that they close at 9:30. They only had a few diners and we asked for a table. The maitre d ran his eyes from my shoes to my sweater and asked if we had reservations. I replied no as I looked around the practically empty restaurant. He then told us that they were closed....huh....the hours on the door and online said 9:30 over an hour away. I guess he either didn't like our look or he wanted to get out of work early. A place with these prices should have gone the extra mile and at least offered to make reservations for us tomorrow.

This is one of Provence's most highly regarded restaurants. There is no menu - each meal is…read morewhatever the chef assembles for that day. Lunch is either 7 courses or 11. We went for the seven course lunch. It was preceded by five courses of amuses. The decor was fabulous, both the rooms and the furnishings. Very modern yet comfortable. The service for the first half hour was below horrible. Once they moved you into the second room, the dining room, they got into their stride and service was ok. I'm comfortable with paced French service. This was never paced - it was simply erratic and unprofessional. But the food was remarkable. Each dish combined way too many favors and did them to perfection. Each flavor came through yet none dominated. Serving sizes were large enough to allow one to enjoy the dish fully. Every dish was presented picture perfect, looking like a magazine cover. I've never seen seven courses so well presented. So it was a remarkable meal, one I really enjoyed, yet I have absolutely no desire to ever return.

La Chassagnette is the kind of place you can't capture on camera, and I mean that literally. The…read moregarden was absolutely stunning! Every path lined with blooms, everything grown organically, and the kind of wild beauty that your phone just flattens. You have to be there to feel it. The staff were incredibly warm and friendly. They spoke only a little English, but the kindness and care transcended any language barrier. Service felt personal and unhurried. They had a very exclusive seasonal fish dish prepared for the owner's birthday, but we opted for the seasonal meat menu instead. Every course was thoughtful, beautifully presented, and full of flavor. They also had a delicious menu for our toddler. We chose the fish with peas for her, and she devoured every bite. Seeing her clean her plate said it all. Truly, everything about the meal was fantastic. My only note for future guests: bring a natural mosquito repellent. The garden is lush and alive, which means mosquitoes are too. I left with about 17 bites and wish I'd been more prepared. Even with the bites, I'd go back in a heartbeat. La Chassagnette is a rare, soulful experience -- the kind of beauty and hospitality you remember long after the meal ends.

This a very late review. We were there in Summer 2016 touring Camargue for a day. What can I say?…read moreThe grounds were intimate, elegant and simple. Of course, we had lunch outside under a pergola. The food was cooked and presented in an Alice Water approach. Every course was simple with an accent on the ingredients - from the tomatoes in a salad, to the small leg of lamb (imagine! We asked for a doggy bag.) and the meringue with peaches (to die for). The perfection was the combination of a great chef and the quality of all ingredients growing in the vegetable garden and orchard directly adjacent to the restaurant (yes I stole a couple of tomatoes and strawberries!!!). The staff was attentive and the chef super friendly. An afternoon I will remember for years to come...

So on our last night in Arles, we headed for this part of town hoping to eat at a restaurant we'd…read morelunched at on a previous visit a few years ago. They were full, but happily Au Brin de Thym next door were able to squeeze us in. We lucked out. No matter how well remembered our lunch at their neighbour was, Au Brin de Thym was even better. A couple of days before we ate at Jean-Luc Rabanel's two-Michelin star Atelie in Arles, but the starter of crab, avocado and chili-spiced tomato I had here at Au Brin de Thym was as good as some of M Rabanel's dishes. My main of shoulder of lamb provencal was some of the best cooked lamb I've had, with an almost Indian tinge to some of the accompanying vegetables. My wife's creamy-sweet turbot also had an Indian feel and was a revelation to us both. I can't quite award five stars because the service was patchy and our order of a demi-litre mysteriously upgraded itself to a full bottle (not that we were /too/ upset!). The food though, more than made up for these minor infelicities.

We stopped for lunch and had the plat de jour, mine was the mushroom quiche with pumpkin soup and…read moreLisa had a cod disk with asparagus sauce and potato. Wonderful favors and service.

By the River so can get windy, like the day we visited it. A small parking lot nearby so you can…read moretry your luck. A great bookstore as neighbor, not bad. You can eat, drink and read. The food is middle eastern (Moroccan). Everything was delicious. The couscous was the best I have tasted. The lamb tagline fell off the bone, the vegetarian version were equally flavorful. The sauce on the side that they gave you, yum yum. Poured it on the couscous gave it the extra texture. Nuts and honey added to some tagines were wonderful. A define place to come back for lunch or dinner while in Arles.

Our first night in Arles and we loved this restaurant. The…read morewait staff was prompt, courteous and helpful in interpreting the menu for non French speaking customers. We had the lamb/vegetable and chicken/vegetables/chicken liver with lemon. We would come back here. Location was easy to find near the Rhône River.

An excellent dessert selection will top off a cool (or even slightly warm) outdoor terrace dining…read moreexperience at a place that will deliver some good food.

Thought the food here was just ok. Everything was a little over well done. The piece of froie gras…read morein the soup: over cooked. It lacked the tenderness that you would expect to get from liver. Had a pork chop entree. Also over cooked. There was no pink at all in the middle. It was tough enough that I felt like I needed a steak knife to eat it. That being said, the flavor profiles were pretty good. It would have gotten 4 stars if it wasn't for the aggressive food temperatures. Ambiance is very cute - it can get pretty windy with Le Mistral. So bring a jacket at night.