My partner and I will be in Nice exactly one night, next Wednesday, Sept. 9, and we crave ... no, we NEED a good French meal before heading into the wilds of Italy.

(Yes, I know, they have good food in Italy but French food is just better.)

You wouldn't believe how hard it has been to find a place. We want a French meal, ideally, not Italian (thick on the ground in Nice), and not Niçois, ideally.

I dined at Luc Salsedo last year and was not overwhelmed. I wanted to reserve at Stephane Viano, but he won't answer my emails and it appears he's only open for lunch anyway.

We would like a bistro type place, chef-owned would be nice, with good quality and reasonable prices. We're not looking for a Dining Experience so have avoided the Michelin-starred choices (Negresco and such).

Who can point us to a resto in central Nice (no hinterlands, please) that would be the Nice equivalent of a Reminet, Pamphlet or Maupertu in Paris?

La Merenda, 4 rue de la Terrasse.
This bistro is VERY tiny but you will love it.
Be sure to try the Socca at a cafe or off a street stall.
Socca is to Nice as olives are to Nyons. It's a sort of crepe made of chickpea flour. The other dish that is Nice is Pissaladiere, a Nicois pizza.

I just found a review that is right on.


http://www.foodtourist.com/ftguide/Content/I431.htm

Thanks for the recommendation of le Merenda, but that is not what I am looking for. I have done the socca-pissaladière thing and I'd like something just a bit higher on the food chain. La Merenda is a classic Niçois restaurant and I am really looking for FRENCH.

I think L'Ane Rouge is what you're looking for.

I have not eaten there, however. The place I enjoyed most was Restaurant Lou Nissart, which does French and Nissart food.

http://www.allaboutnice.com/restaurants_in_Nice.html

It shows many Niçois restaurats bu you just might find something to your taste.

http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguid...chon_le_nice-i

Le Tire Bouchon was wonderful a few years ago. Lots of locals. In old part of Nice I think.

La Petite Maison, 11 rue St François de Paule

Many thanks for these suggestions. I am checking out the top recommendations. I especially liked cigalechanta's suggestion of

http://www.foodtourist.com/ftguide/Content/I431.htm

as there is a lot of fine information there.