L'Oustau de la Baumaniere vs. Le Paradou
 

If one is in the Les Baux area and can take only one lunch at either of the two subject restaurants, which is the better choice for the three standard items of food, service, and ambience?

The Oustau, a two star Michelin restaurant, is completely different from the Bistrot, a small country style restaurant. Oustau has a large menu, the Bistrot has a set prix fixe menu(and Friday is always Aioli day). Oustau has a great view (if you dine on the terrace), the Bistrot has none (except of the road). Lots of servers at the Oustau, but that doesn't necessarily make the service better.<BR><BR>Both are such popular tourist destinations, especially the Bistrot in the past couple of years, that I would pick someplace else....like<BR><BR>The Bistrot d'Eygalieres (Eygalieres)<BR>La Petite France (Maussane/le Paradou)<BR>E Patati (St. Remy)<BR><BR>PB (in Maussane)<BR><BR><BR><BR>

PB, that is very helpful. <BR><BR>Is Jean-Louis Pons still the owner of Le Bistro?<BR><BR>Re Eygalieres, Rudy Maxa has promoted that establishment.<BR><BR>Now, my question, with all due respect, is: How has the popularity of these places with tourists diminished the food, service and ambience?<BR><BR>The most popular restaurants in the US country are occupied daily by tourists. How is it different in France?<BR><BR>

Yes, Jean-Louis is still the owner of the Bistrot, and his wife is still in the kitchen.<BR><BR>The Bistrot is a prime example of how popularity can change a place. It used to be (to me)charming with good food and a great ambiance. Then Gourmet wrote a short article about it in '93 or '94 (I translated it for a very excited Jean-Louis), then Patricia Wells touted it everywhere. <BR>Now the price is close to double, the food is not quite as good (the menus now vary hardly at all) and the noise <BR>level in season is now equivalent to a<BR>NY bistro (ie.loud).<BR><BR>The Oustau hasn't been the same since Thuiliers died in '93... <BR><BR>The Bistro d'Eygalieres (Chez Bru)is excellent - warm reception and excellent service. The food is wonderful. Suzy and Wout run a tight ship and the service is also excellent.<BR><BR>As you can probably tell, we don't dine in the more well-known restaurants during the season... there is enough local business, so they aren't totally dependent on the tourist trade. You'll find most of the locals at less written about restaurants during the summer months. Then in the fall and spring, we congregate at places like the Bistrot d'Eygalieres (or their small bistro "Bru"), Petite France, Apostrophe or Alain Assaud in St. Remy,<BR>etc.<BR><BR>PB

PB, that information is exactly the kind of thing I'm looking for.<BR><BR>Thanks very much.

PB, we will have four nights to dine in and around St. Remy in two weeks. Of the restaurants you mentioned, which ones should we dine at for a special dinner, Bistro Eygalieres, Petit Maison, E Patati, Apostrophe or Alain Assaud? Thanks in advance.

Opps, sorry I meant Petit France, not Maison.

&lt;&lt; Of the restaurants you mentioned, which ones should we dine at for a special dinner, Bistro Eygalieres, Petit Maison, E Patati, Apostrophe or Alain Assaud? &gt;&gt;<BR><BR>Lynne, If you don't mind driving after a great meal I'd suggest either La Petite France or Bistrot d'Eygalieres (Chez Bru)<BR><BR>If you'd rather stay put in St Remy, I'd suggest Alain Assaud or the Jardin de Frederic. I'm having dinner at E Patati in St Remy this Thursday - so I may be recommending that over Jardin de Frederic.... we'll see.<BR><BR>A few others in the vicinity that are good for more casual dining:<BR><BR>St. Remy - La Source, La Gousse d'Ail (no outdoor terrace), Grain de Sel.<BR>La Serre, Apostrophe<BR><BR>Maussane - Le Fournil, Chez Gabrielle,<BR>Le Margaux<BR><BR>Eygalieres - Petit Bru<BR><BR>Patricia

Thanks Patrica, I have collected so many restaurant reviews from the boards that I was confused. At the rate I was going, we would be driving around looking at menus during the day instead of seeing the sites (food is very important, you know). You've helped me out considerable. La Petite France was my first choice from all of the raves I have read. I will ask our hotel, Domaine de Valouriane, to see if they can make a reservations for us. Thank you so much.<BR>PS - let us know about your dinner on Thursday!