I'd take issue with Kerouac and alihutch in just three cases:

- serious Michelin 2/3* places, or their Gault-Millau equivalent
- fashionable joints in very touristy areas during the summer peak - or some other similar situations, like almost anywhere in Paris on New Years Eve
- parties over 4 or so

In 50 years' travelling through France, I've never reserved a table in an ordinary restaurant while on the road - or been turned away. I've never tried eating out anywhere speakable around St Tropez in August without booking ahead.

Reservations are necessary if you want to eat in a particular restaurant which might be very popular. Example Chez Fonfon in Marseille, very famous for bouillabaise. We were turned away for dinner (actually I called and they were full for that evening and could only accommodate later in the week which was too late). This was early June.

Similarly we were turned away in Bormes les Mimosas, restaurant said the kitchen had already closed and it was still early evening. First time we ate there we were walk-ins and got a table without a problem.

Other restaurants are closed on a Monday.

Another restaurant required a reservation because they were so small, in Tourtour called La Table. They could accommodate following evening, just not walk-ins.

Mostly though we don't have specific plans and just turn up at restaurants that we like the look of and it is normally OK.

In many places I travel to, a certain restaurant is part of my travel plans! I research ahead and always have a list of places I want to try. Most times, just having your hotel call and make the booking for you the same day is completely acceptable. But why risk not being able to eat a place you really want to try over something as simple as a reservation?

It depends how bad you want to eat at a specific restaurant. I've never made reservations myself. but then I'm not a big foodie and rather choose restaurants based on where I am when I get hungry. I do keep my eyes open during the day, and read posted menus, for places that look iteresting that are convenient for me to return to in the evening (say near my hotel or whatever).

Our personal favorites:

In Cannes, and Nice as well, La Pizza. The restaurant in Cannes is down at the end of the Croisette by the marina. Wonderful pizza, but many other dishes as well. The branch in Nice is in the pedestrian zone on the rue Masséna.

The restaurants we like in Nice besides La Pizza:

La Voglia, excellent Italian food in a modern restaurant right on the corner of the Cours Saléya;

L'Ecurie, good Niçois specialties and other French/Italian food; it's at 4, rue du Marché.

O'Palermo, on the rue Masséna close to La Pizza.