Anyone recently return from Avignon?
 

I'm looking for restaurant suggestions for our 3 nights in Avignon. Would prefer inexpensive places (say up to $50 for 2 for complete meal and maybe wine). My cousin and I fly out to Paris next Wednesday and will be in Provence the following week (Saint Remy for 4 nights, then Avignon). Thanks! Monica

Bizarrely today's Independent has an article about Avignon. You can find it at http://travel.independent.co.uk/euro...p?story=290736 <BR><BR>It includes the following recommendations for restaurants in the city. I have no personal knowledge of any of these but was there 18 months ago and found no shortage of great places to eat. However I'm not observant enough to note down or remember the names. You'll trip over great cafe's and restaurants in any French City!<BR> <BR>"Must eat<BR><BR>Chez Etienne (00 33 04 90 86 16 50) is home to the Avignon-born celebrity chef and "Ma&icirc;tre Cuisinier de France", Christian Etienne, serving traditional Proven&ccedil;al gastronomy with a superb range of vegetarian dishes and a dessert menu to weep over. Fixed menus from ?28 (&pound;18) to ?85 (&pound;53).<BR><BR>Le Vernet (00 33 04 90 86 64 53) has shady summer seating in its spacious courtyard and serves plenty of fresh seafood, with two courses plus coffee from ?28 (&pound;18).<BR><BR>L'Epicerie (00 33 04 90 82 74 22) is a brasserie on the Place St-Pierre that's perfect for an alfresco lunch. One course with a kir and coffee for around ?18 (&pound;11)."<BR><BR>where ever you eat... have a great time whilst you're there!<BR><BR>Dominic

Ah.. re reading the above I note the Euro symbol has inextricably become a question mark! (Suggest Fodors update this site asap to support this ubiquitous little sign.)

We can only hope the question mark is inexplicable ("incapable of being explained, interpreted, or accounted for") rather than inextricable ("incapable of being disentangled or untied")<BR>Your Friend, <BR>Dictionary Debbie

that made me smile... very drole (sp? please Debbie put me right).

droll <BR><BR>DROLL:having a humorous, whimsical, or odd quality<BR>Pronunciation: 'drOl<BR>Etymology: French dr&ocirc;le, from dr&ocirc;le scamp, from Middle French drolle, from Middle Dutch, imp<BR>Date: 1623<BR>---Dictionary Debbie<BR>

For starters avoid all the little restaurants with open seating on the Horlogue (sp)square. They are average at best and are basically tourist ripoffs. <BR><BR>Ate at Chez Etienne and it was wonderful. A great "splurge" to remember Avignon.

Thanks Dominic for the suggestions. Same to you Uncle Sam! What's your definite of a splurge at that place?<BR><BR>Also, is the Horlogue square at least good enough for afternoon drinks?

The Place de l'Horloge is a good place for drinks and people watching...especially during the theater festival in the city.<BR><BR>PB

Dominic:<BR>Thanks for the link to the Independent<BR>travel section - it's full of info. on<BR>Europe!<BR><BR>I couldn't access with your url but just<BR>googled 'independent newspaper, London<BR>and got there!

Monica, my fave in Avignon is L'Epicerie, as someone else posted. Very fresh, filling but won't stuff you. At the time I was there, the chefs were kinda cute, too!!

Thanks PB and Melissa!