Le Rimbaud - Valenciennes

Veriaty of dirnks. Snacks mosly but there are meat meals also. Evenings and weekends may be very crowded.

Eaten here several times, lunch time, early evening, and sometimes just a quick coffee, bière and a snack. Slightly dearer than nearby Café de Paris, but when it's good it's good, and sometimes worth the extra. As title says bit like Russian roulette - service can be patchy, despite when you do get their attention, they will take time to explain dishes to customers, hard to attract attention of staff on busy days. Food can be good, or be under or overcooked, especially if ordering for a couple or group eating different types of dishes, quite often. Plat du jour if to your liking often best bet, though only cooked in limited numbers, so if arrive later on can be disappointed it's finished already by the early birds. Beers reasonably well kept, and reasonable choice of other spirits and soft drinks. Eating area on first floor, and great view over the Place d'Armes, Hotel de Ville, and the world rushing by. However steep winding stairs, not easy for this old fart on a cane, and no lift. Not recommended if got several kids or a pram, or other people with walking problems. Staff can be friendly depending on mood, if talked to politely, but bit prickly if criticised or corrected. Getting the best window seats dependent on how busy they are, and if they are expecting the best tippers, who regularly get the best seats. Have had good days and bad days here, but decided to move on to another resto/bar for more consistency. Small terrace out front where you can smoke while eating or drinking outside, but a charge of around 5,% not clearly advertised for this (and not strictly legal.) Try it, maybe you'll get a good day, and staff on good form. Maybe just try a quick drink then decide.

This is not my first Au bureau. But this is marginally worse than the rest. The rest are average in my experience.However this restaurant is in a great location, opposite the Marie. And for the most part they do create a good atmosphere. It astounds me that such a big franchise haven't figured out that successful restaurants must provide good food. If it wasn't for the location you wouldn't even bother. The food is average at best. The hamburger meat was like eating sawdust it was so finely ground and tasteless. A steak knife was needed to cut the pizza the crust was so hard. And the omelette was so thin you could see through it. I'd like to offer some positive aspects but even the service was slow and we felt at times the waiters didn't enjoy doing their jobs at all. There are many better restaurants in the area, skip this one.

Staff are friendly and portions are reasonably sized. Chips are well done and crunchy, sauces are tasty and cocktails are well worth having! Slightly dated ambience but convenient and reasonably priced (E74 for two cocktails, two steaks with chips and salad, an extra salad to share and a litre of wine.) A plus is that they serve all day if you don't want to wait for a late dinner.

Have said it really in the title. Atmosphere good, staff good but food pretty average and frankly disappointing. Not particularly cheap either. A burger, tasteless spag bol, chicken and also a cheesy thing with 2 beers and a G