A scratching experience is all I can say about this so called restaurant! Located on one of the dirtiest cities I've ever experienced in France, La Mule Blanche is a bistro where you will definitely be sharing your dinner with millions of insects that will crawl all over you while you try to eat your plate.
We arrived at 9pm to find a single waiter serving, answering the phone, cleaning tables and handling the drinks. Asking for our reservation, she looked shocked and mentioned that no one had told her about any reservations. We found out later that the owner forgot to write it down: A perfect first impression! Let us start with the minimal things that must be done right: Drinking tap water was served in an old wine bottle with stickers still on it. More so it was Luke-warm. Even worse...sitting on a parking spot, directly on the gravel, it took the waiter more than 15 minutes to come take our order.
The place's details are awful:
- A cheap plastic menu
- Expired salt and pepper shakers: Yes, expired six months ago
- Chairs which are not relaxing
- More insects than a garbage bin filled with rotten food
The menu:
- Salads
- The bistro's plates
- Fish
- Meat
- Desserts
- Wines
On a cheap menu wrapped in nylon is a couple of mediocre choices. A bad choice which won't even trigger your appetite. Twenty minutes later we received our order:
- First thing's first, the bread is chewy, old and not tasty
- Pave D'espadon au Gingembre et Citron Vert: The sword fish portion in minuscule: it tasted bitter. A horrible plate where ginger is non existing and the fish is dried from the inside
- One of the two steak plates came without potatoes: the waiter's answer was "the chef forgot" and no action was taken
- The rice is over oily and heated in the microwave
- The sautéed vegetables, served cold, are swimming in oil: Unpleasant to eat
- Even the meat is oily
- Entrecote aux Herbes de Provence: The quality of the meat is the cheapest France has to offer
I have eaten better at my school cafeteria.
The few pluses:
- Interesting food related citations written on the paper place-mats
- Inside is a nice, cozy and colorful: An old shop transformed into a restaurant. I imagine winter nights are interesting around here
Before leaving, we informed the waitress that the meat served was over cooked and that its quality was very bad. Even though the plate was untouched, we paid for everything.
We paid 85€ for four persons, one plate each, no desserts and no wine. Expensive and unjustified, this restaurant is a no no. A definite no. If you happen to pass by Arles, avoid La Mule Blanche at all costs.
