Brasserie le Grand Cafe Francais sur Pontarlier

A quaint brasserie with a very inviting terrace and facade; we decide to go in for lunch after a quick glance at the menu. We head to the counter to get a table. We wait 30 seconds: the girl (apprentice?) at the counter sees me, greets me, and immediately greets me back, but doesn't tell me to wait for a colleague or give me any directions. No one arrives, so we decide to go it alone. We barely have time to take a few steps before a waitress stops us: "Wait there, we'll get to you as soon as we can." Finally, a waitress shows us to our table, but briskly. I'd already noticed some rushing between the tables, but I thought it was just the typical lunch rush. We sit down and consult the menu. We wait at least five minutes just to order drinks, but nothing. The same young waitress is bustling around, very agitated: clearly, she's overworked. A distinguished gentleman in his seventies arrives at the next table with his wife. They're about to sit down and are rudely rebuked by another experienced waitress: they have to be escorted! They comply, only to be seated... at exactly the same table as before. The gentleman, with good-natured irony, comments: "Oh well, we were already here...", only to be rudely silenced with a curt: "That's how it works here." After 20 minutes, the young waitress takes their order, including drinks, which arrive another twenty minutes later along with the dishes. My beer, however, is missing; I point it out (and in the meantime, I've started to feel dizzy). My fellow diners begin to eat. Meanwhile, the gentleman next to me DARES to call the waitress to order a drink and is again reprimanded: "Wait, we have to serve the others." At that point, the man gets up and leaves the place with his wife. ('nnamo bbene). My beer finally arrives. The dishes are good and well-prepared. In the end, the lunch concluded without further incident, but the feeling remained that we'd been swept away in the wrong movie: a nice, clean place, two young waiters running around like clockwork, and the owners (or veterans) decidedly more reserved and calm, except for sudden flashes of misplaced incandescence. A mixed experience.

Cool and cozy atmosphere, comfortable for enjoying a coffee, hot chocolate, beer, etc... Still going strong after many years

We stopped briefly for a Viennese hot chocolate, tea, and a waffle while it was pouring rain in the streets of Pontarlier. The waiter who served us was very welcoming and professional.

Excellent brasserie, warm welcome, superb food of high quality and flavor. We had a lovely time.

A lovely brewery that's been around for a very long time but hasn't lost its charm. Very friendly staff and great beers 👍 Super!

A Pontarlier institution. The food is excellent. The interior is pleasant; a true traditional brasserie. The service is quick. Takeout is also available.

The service was excellent, and the forest-style andouillettes were superb!

Fantastic food, amazing staff, and a very friendly atmosphere! Everything was perfect from start to finish. I highly recommend it!