L'Arcelle sur Lanslevillard

We had our eye on this restaurant for several years, thanks to excellent reviews and a full reservation more than a month in advance. So we went there for Christmas Eve with high expectations… but the experience was quite disappointing. First of all, despite the Christmas Eve theme, nothing evoked the festive atmosphere: no little touches, not even an amuse-bouche. Instead, just dry biscuits, which is a real shame for an evening that was supposed to be special. The tartiflettes were clearly lacking in flavor: you could barely taste the potato, and the accompaniments were very minimal (two gherkins and two slices of cured ham, which didn't seem to be country ham). The fondue was decent but nothing special. I ordered a tartine with potatoes and melted cheese, but the bread was stale: even toasted, the crust shouldn't be that hard. For dessert, we opted for ice cream rather than the desserts advertised as homemade, as the rest of the meal didn't inspire us to continue. So, a mixed experience, especially considering the restaurant's reputation and the Christmas Eve setting. There are clearly better options. And apparently, the owner is acting in bad faith, as he doesn't accept criticism. I should mention that I didn't initially point out the pizza, which was aesthetically disgusting, and not even the one I ordered… In short, a series of horrors; I absolutely do not recommend it. We've been coming here for five years, and we'd never been to this restaurant before, and we were right not to! When I mentioned it to the locals, they indeed advised me against going because the ingredients aren't good. As for the Génépi, wow, what an achievement! Every time we pay the bill somewhere, we get a free drink… As for malice, there isn't any; criticism is constructive, and some people are better at it than others.

I highly recommend it. Excellent food, both quantity and quality. Very friendly and professional staff. Go there with your eyes closed.

A lovely village restaurant with attentive staff and homemade dishes that showcase local cuisine. A perfect place to rest your legs after a day in the mountains!

Great food and lovely staff. The perfect end to a great hiking day!