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Where to go, around the old port you'll find lots of restaurants and bars (irish pubs included), on the north bank you'll find the corsican restaurants, running alongside the town hall, there's been alot of construction on this side of the port and quite honestly it looks like someone went mad with the cement mixer and thought they'd get told off if they didn't use it all up. However the restaurants are all have tables outside and you're facing the old port, with the wonderful restaurant / boat anchored outside the town hall. I obviously haven't eaten in every restaurant so I can't tell you which one's are the best, try and avoid rude waiters, the service isn't quick here, but you don't have to get shouted at if you ask for the menu, don't be afraid to get up and leave. I've found that restaurants here (normal priced restaurants) are not very consistant with their quality, sometimes it can be excellent and the next day unedible, an important note is that in Marseille you get what you pay for, don't expect gastronomy for a 100 Francs menu. If you go to the Bistro Romain, you must know that this is in fact a chain of resaurants, not too expensive and with good quality. Don't let waiters rush you out of the restaurant after you finish your desert, french people have the table for the night once they're seated, there's no reason for you to not sit back and take a digestif.
How to Order, when you ask your waiter for the menu then ask him "la carte s'il vous plais", most restaurants offer a set menu with a choice of starter, main course and eventually a desert / cheese / coffee. You may find the same articles on the main menu (la carte) at double the price, this may just mean that the fish is bigger or you get more sauce. If you look at the menu outside the restaurant, spot the menu that you want and are not offered it in "la carte" make sure that the menu you chose is available (some of the menus are only available at lunch time "midi seulement" or only in the week). If the menu is available and the waiter didn't give it to you then just ask for "le menu s'il vous plait" and you should get it.What to Order, now there's a question, fish of course, you're in a port, Marseille is famous for it's Bouillabaisse, this is a bit like a fish soup (with whole fish). It's made from the unsold fish from the day's catch. So may vary from restaurant to restaurant. If you want a good boullabaise then you have to pay for it, so don't expect a masterpiece if you ask for boullabaise in the local chinese at 60 Francs. You can pay around 200 Francs for a good one.
Paying, all taxes are included in your bill plus the service charge, you may leave a tip if you like, it's not obligatory. If you feel that your waiter was pretty hopeless then don't leave anything. Almost all restaurants accept visa/mastercard, but have a look on the door when you go in, if you don't see the sign then ask the man who seats you, and of course they all accept cash.
