Pepper_von_snoot

Le Merenda Nice

Geppettto Nice


Thin🐩

maitaitom

If you're near Bonnieux, we loved L’Arôme. In our Europe Top Ten.

Judy

Mirazur is currently listed as the #3 or 4 restaurant in the world......can't remember who rated it though (maybe Pellegrino)! It was truly one of the best meals we've ever had but definitely a splurge!

Judy

If in Orange, you wouldn't be too far from Gigondas. We love l'Oustalet there.

gooster

In Nice, consider
Le Bar des Oiseux (pan-Med)
La Merenda (Nicois)
Le Cafe Sejour (French)
Beach Lunch: le Galet or le Plongoir
Just a note, the Old Town and Pedestrian zone are flooded with some marginal choices. The above require reservations due to their popularity, and are moderate in price (except the lunch spots).
Splurge: le Flaveur (**) or Jan (*)

The ravioli mentioned above are possibly the ones that are stuff with boeuf en daube -- very good and typical

ekscrunchy

The chef from Mirazur opened a restaurant in Palm Beach Florida a few months back, FLORIE....must give it a try based on all the comments.

kja

Again, what a wonderfully informative and helpful set of responses -- thanks so much!

@ Michael: Thanks for the menu and the inspiration -- oddly, it never occurred to me to photograph my menus.

@ mms: Thank you -- I will look into both of these places!

@ ekscrunchy: I love Patricia Wells! Her menu reader / glossary is, IMO, an essential resource when traveling in France. I appreciate your recommendations on search strategies -- I know you know how to find the best! BTW, I didn't mention a price range because I'm not seeking recommendations at any particular price point. Across my month of travel, I expect to eat everything from simple, inexpensive dishes at local eateries through a meal or two in my splurge range -- and pretty much anything over 100 euros is, to me, a splurge. And I'm not seeking restaurant recommendations only -- I'm happy to learn about memorable dishes or ingredients or cheeses or wines or whatever!

@ Pepper_von_snoot: La Merenda was already on my short list, so I'm glad to note your endorsement. I will look into Geppettto, too. Thanks!

@ maitaitom: Had I known of L’Arôme, and your evaluation of it, when I planned my trip, I might have planned a bit differently! But I'll keep it in mind if I end up in Bonnieux. Thanks for chiming in!

@ Judy: I'm glad to hear you enjoyed Mirazur! I've been to 2 of the supposedly top 10 restaurants in the world, and one of them -- Central in Lima -- was among my least favorite dining experiences ever, so the ratings don't count for much in my book. That's one of the reasons I look to Fodorites for their personal recommendations. BTW, I had originally planned to dine at l'Oustalet, which several Fodorites favor, but alas, it will be closed when I would be in the area.

@ gooster: Its so nice to hear recommendations from someone who lives in the area -- thanks! That's a second thumbs-up for La Merenda, and also a nod to Le Flaveur, which had come up in my research and peaked my interest. I'm not sure if the ravioli rialtogrl mentioned are the ones stuffed with boeuf en daube, but OMG, those sound wonderful! I've seen La Maison de Marie mentioned as a good place for that dish -- do you know it? Do you recommend it? It's hard to know if its one of those marginal restaurants in prime tourist areas.


Fodorites ROCK!

Michael

I do not photograph all menus. BTW, we had lunch at Mirazur to lessen the expense.

kja

@ Michael: Given the sky, I had thought it might have been lunch when you were at Mirazur. And I thought I might make an exception and opt for lunch rather than dinner, but Mirazur is booked for the time I'll be in the area. I'll check now and again, but it seems I don't have to struggle with the question of whether to splurge there or not.

burta

We enjoyed the Michelin starred restaurant Une Table au Sud in the port area of Marseille.

We had an exceptional lunch (if you could eat that early) and fabulous view from Chateau Eza in Eze.

ahbonvraiment

kja

@ burta: Thanks -- I'll look into both of your recommendations!

@ ahbonvraiment: Many thanks for these suggestions! Le Micocoulier isn't too far from where I'll be staying, and might just work! I think you mentioned it before, along with some other wonderful ideas for places to visit that helped me shape my plans.


Keep these great ideas coming!

zebec

KJA, je propose:
Avignon: 'Le Lapin Blanc' (VG value food; all female staff) & 'Edgar' on the main drag: perhaps the best 'fast food' in town.
Nice: 'L'Escalinada': very good food in excellent outdoor setting (bit of attitude from some arty 'boho-er than thou' staff); tasty 'Fenochio gelato'; 'Cafe de Nice'=quieter than most due to location just off main drag, surprisingly good food.
Menton: super-cheap 'C'Bon Saladerie/sandwiches' (very friendly staff); cliche 'Negresco' weekend morn buffet---gotta' do it once, VG quality; excellent Asian restaurant 'Chez Mme Phok' (see t-shirt 'WE'VE BEEN PHOKED!')---kidding.
Uzes:outliers who are not part of the market: ‘Gaiffier’, a moderately-sized but VG quality supermarket; ‘Deschamps’ pastries & chocolates; pricey butcher ‘Boucherie d’Uzes’; a pair of good pizza places, popular ‘Pizza de Duches’ and also lesser-known ‘L’Ecrin de Saveurs’; a pair of appealing cafes, ‘Terroirs’ (packed and popular in Pl. des Herbes) plus more removed ‘Suisse d’Alger’, just off the square.
Lyon: world-class outdoor marche @ quai St. Antoine: excellent variety of excellent foods & drinks in excellent setting with excellent freshness! Best on weekends; for us, most bouchons there were just OK; 'Chez Jules' boulangerie=justly popular with all ages, various offerings for most normal travellers.
Aix: '29 Miolis' has a fun, youthful setting on a quieter peripheral square; 'Chez Charlotte' has one of the best outdoor patios (currently celebrating their 40th Anniversary); 'Weibel' tradional cafe offers peerless people-watching right by the Pl. Richelme market and finally, the 'Caumont Centre' offers truly excellent dishes (oh their fishes!!) throughout their 4 dining salons--surely one of the best value splurges in Provence, a must.
Donc, il a pris de la brioche!
I am done. The carpal tunnel.

StCirq

Arles: Atelier de Joël Robuchon

gooster

@kja -- I've walked by the Maison de la Mairie all the time but have not dined there. I'll tell you if I get a chance before you go. The ravioli are often called ravioli nicois and sometimes contain chard as well, and served with the braising liquid and sometimes more meat on top like a ragu. La Merenge will usually have a daube dish (they are known for it), but I don't know if they have the ravioli, just the daube with panisse (polenta frites). I liked the ones at Bistro Dalpozzo and La Griglia but am always trying a different take.

kja

@ zebec: Wow, what a treasure trove of information! I look forward to learning more about each of these options and thank you very much for responding!

@ StCirq: I am so torn about the Atelier de Joël Robuchon! I know you recommend it- - that counts for a LOT in my book!-- and I thank you for mentioning it on this thread. Still, I've seen some very critical reviews in recent years, and because it would be, for me, a decided splurge, I'm wavering. If you can offer any specific comments to help me sort the wheat from the chaff, I'd be most appreciative. I know that might not be possible.

@ gooster: Thanks so much for this additional information! You and rialtogrl are giving me the sense that I could experience a life worth living by spending the rest of my days savoring the varieties of niçoise raviolis. "Just" the daube at La Merenda sounds heavenly -- if I can get a reservation. (In person only, if I understand, and I'm certainly willing to make the effort! I have made it my #1 priority for dining in Nice.) I'm adding Bistro Dalpozzo and La Griglia to my list of options. If I might impose a bit further: Is there any place in particular that you recommend for salade niçoise?


Again, my thanks to each and all who are participating in this wonderful thread! I suspect (hope) it will prove useful to others, too.

StCirq

kja, it has been a good 4 years since I've been to Joël's atelier, so really, don't count on me to offer recent information. I just know when I've eaten there in the past,and when he was outside Arles in the Camargue countryside, I was pretty wowed by the experience. That's the best I can do, but here's another thought:

Restaurant La Telline : spécialité produits Camargue

ahbonvraiment

kja

@ StCirq: Thanks for clarifying! La Telline is firmly on my wish list, particularly after you mentioned (on a different thread) the dog that once helped with the service there -- what a charming story!

@ ahbonvraiment: Wow, that place sounds wonderful -- thanks for telling me about it!

gooster

@kja, I don't have a specific recommendation for salade nicoise,as there are so many variants (and sadly, some bad variants). An easy to find one is at Cafe Safari right at the Cours Saleya market -- a people watching bonanza on the terrace. They have ravioli nicoise as well, but I have not had their version. I'd drop Griglia off the list unless lost -- it was good but the other food not so much. I'd try to focus on the others (or see what they have in the revolving menu at Bistrot d'Antoine or Comptoir du Marche)