So looking at the other reviews, I had a very different experience. We just got drinks, not food…read morealthough they didn't have either of what we were looking for (dad: cognac; me the Americano they had on the menu--they were out of Campari.) That said, it was a perfectly pleasant tourist experience, which is what we were expecting at a place like this.
Some context: It wasn't food, just afternoon cocktails because vacation. I speak almost no French, but try, and had some phrases down. I deeply, deeply love Van Gogh (I was an art minor and painted a bunch of works in his style for class studies, read Letters to Theo, and other non-fiction works on my own time). Went with my dad on our own after a morning guided tour of the city.
We came up on this place on a weekday and learned that France shuts down in the afternoon. Looking back, I realize I'd kind of heard this but work and life got crazy, so I didn't do my usual level of travel due diligence. That also means I cut places a lot of slack because I don't know local customs, schedules, norms, or (much) language.
The entire place was dead, but the sign said clearly open, and there was a lady in the doorway, watching. She saw us look and welcomed us, gave us menus, and in our poor French and her poor English, we eventually figured things out, totally good-naturedly on both sides.
I learned a martini in France is not the gin-or-vodka + dry vermouth you might expect in the US, but instead, was (I think) sweet vermouth and lemon. Wasn't what I was expecting, but hey: the price was reasonable, it was fine, and a new experience--and isn't that why you travel? My dad asked for cognac--they didn't have that but had armagnac. I have no idea as to this particular label's quality, but Dad enjoyed it.
They definitely play up and have decorated to match Van Gogh's painting. It's clearly catering to tourists--this place was dead at 2pm, but the coffee place across the alley was hopping. (Sometimes, you gotta tourist, you know? Just really know why you want to be there so you can enjoy it for what it really is.) It was nice just to sit for a bit, enjoy where we were, watch the foot traffic, and be together.
I have some unabashedly bucket-list things, and seeing some of Van Gogh's Arles was one of mine for France. We didn't order food although they brought potato chips/crisps out with our drink order, gratis. Can't speak to quality, but the menu prices looked very reasonable to me, though.
