Mickaël Féval - Aix-en-Provence

We had lunch during our week-long visit to mostly the northern area of Provence. It was easily the best meal of the trip, and we dined at other Michelin 1-star restaurants. My husband and I had 6 different items, purposefully ordering different starters, mains and desserts, in order to try as much as possible of the lunch menu. Every single item we ordered was excellent, the most outstanding of which was the sweetbreads. This was the best sweet bread preparation we've ever had. Service was very good and the lunchtime ambiance was very nice. Highly recommended.

We were very excited to dine at Mickael Feval. We did a wine pairing and 5 course meal. In Provence, it is understood that service is leisurely. However, the service was beyond leisurely. The service was very uneven. We waited easily 20 minutes before getting menus. Even though we had a reservation, other walk-ins who came later were served first. The maitre de apologized. However, the service continued to be longer than even what would be expected for Aix. 5 course meal was over 3 hours. Also, the bill was inaccurate. When we mentioned it, the maitre de said she wrote it down so it must be right. After we pushed back, they pulled it off the bill. However, it left a sour ending to the meal. The food was actually very good. The service was less than what we expected of a Michelin star restaurant.

To celebrate our last evening in Aix en Provence we decided to try a Michelin rated restaurant - the Michael Faval restaurant. We both tried the four course dinner. I had the La Sardine, La Langoustine (prawns), Le Filet de Boeuf (filet mignon), Le Fromage (assortment of four cheeses), and finally the desert. Dishes were very well presented, and most importantly the combination of various ingredients / flavors made the experience very special. Service was attentive. Staff is well trained: our waitress was very informative and knowledgeable. A very special, good experience. Prices are or low.

Enter a world of subtle tender textures and elegant flavors when you dine at Mickaël Feval's restaurant. We believe it should earn a second Michelin star very soon. On our second visit in two weeks M. Feval designed a menu just for us every bit as mesmerizing as the first. We relished fresh ingredients of the season brought together with creativity and passion. Would that we were staying longer in Aix so that we could visit again. The interiors are a mix of arches and modern touches beautifully married. The service was attentive but relaxed. We lingered enjoying every moment of this exquisite repast. Even though the staff speaks English, they waited patiently while I tried to speak French.

The hotel we were staying in booked us a table in this new restaurant. Decor is simple but it works. The "Sardine" sas incredible as well as the 5 other dishes. Presentation is a must !Price is ok. The only little thing would be the to hours that seemed very long for a dinner