Provence Restaurant Suggestions
May 27th, 2015, 06:32 AM
#1
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Provence Restaurant Suggestions
My husband and I will be traveling to Provence in late July and staying in Avignon. I'm looking for some restaurant suggestions in the general area. We'd be willing to drive up to 1 hour in any direction. We love provencal cuisine--any kind of grilled fish or shellfish. Not too picky just not looking for anyplace that would require a jacket or tie for men. WAY too hot for that in July!
I know it's a general question so in case it's of any help, 2 restaurants we intend to go back to are: Le Jardin du Quai in Isle Sur La Sorgue and Le Fournil in Bonnieux.
Any suggestions would be appreciated!
I know it's a general question so in case it's of any help, 2 restaurants we intend to go back to are: Le Jardin du Quai in Isle Sur La Sorgue and Le Fournil in Bonnieux.
Any suggestions would be appreciated!
May 27th, 2015, 08:27 AM
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This may be too far for you, but probably not if you'll go to Bonnieux from Avignon (it's closer). It's a place I like a lot as I tend to stay in the area so eat there at least once when I do. It's Dame l'Oie in Pernes-les-Fontaines. It's just up the road from Isle-sur-la-Sorgue as you may know.
http://www.dameloie.fr/
I've never noticed shellfish as being that common on the menu in that area (i've seen it more on the coast, like Nice), although often there is a fish dish.
http://www.dameloie.fr/
I've never noticed shellfish as being that common on the menu in that area (i've seen it more on the coast, like Nice), although often there is a fish dish.
May 27th, 2015, 08:41 AM
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I just looked and it's only about 1/2 hour away from Avignon, so definitely doable. Thanks, Christina!
I mentioned shellfish because I've always wanted to have bouillabaisse in Marseille.
I should also mention that al fresco dining and/or dining with a view would be a huge plus.
Merci beaucoup
I mentioned shellfish because I've always wanted to have bouillabaisse in Marseille.
I should also mention that al fresco dining and/or dining with a view would be a huge plus.
Merci beaucoup
May 27th, 2015, 09:02 AM
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We loved <b>La Fourchette</b> in Avignon. We walked past one afternoon and made a reservation for the next evening. It was delightful. One thing I really liked was we had no specific time for our reservation. They said, "come when you are ready, we will have your table". No rush to turn tables over. Only one seating each night per table.
http://www.la-fourchette.net/index_uk.html
We also loved roaming <b>the halles and the market</b>; picking lovely things for lunches or cocktails on our own.
http://www.avignon-tourisme.com/hall...fres-11-2.html
http://www.la-fourchette.net/index_uk.html
We also loved roaming <b>the halles and the market</b>; picking lovely things for lunches or cocktails on our own.
http://www.avignon-tourisme.com/hall...fres-11-2.html
May 27th, 2015, 09:54 AM
#5
A magical dining experience is at Cassagnette just outside of Arles in the Camague. They have an organic farm and you sit outside by the herb garden watching the butterflies
dancing over the herbs. In Arles, The Atelier of Jean Rabunal.
dancing over the herbs. In Arles, The Atelier of Jean Rabunal.
May 27th, 2015, 11:09 AM
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Here are my choices for the Luberon. They are from my 31 page Provence/Cote d'Azur itinerary.
In '14 we decided to "experience" Michelin starred restaurants. We dined at five such restaurants - 3 of which were in large/fancy 5 star resorts/spas. Of the five, the "un-assuming" (looks like an office in a strip mall from the road) le Vivier* just north of l'Isle sur la Sorgue had the best food. I would return to Xavier Mathieu* in Joucas at the Hostelliere le Plebus. I would only return to the other "resort" restaurants in the Luberon if a view and "see & be seen" were my objectives.
Stu Dudley
In '14 we decided to "experience" Michelin starred restaurants. We dined at five such restaurants - 3 of which were in large/fancy 5 star resorts/spas. Of the five, the "un-assuming" (looks like an office in a strip mall from the road) le Vivier* just north of l'Isle sur la Sorgue had the best food. I would return to Xavier Mathieu* in Joucas at the Hostelliere le Plebus. I would only return to the other "resort" restaurants in the Luberon if a view and "see & be seen" were my objectives.
Stu Dudley
May 27th, 2015, 12:51 PM
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Thanks to all for the recommendations. I'll definitely check them out!
Stu, I have your Provence itinerary and in fact I was reading it last night. Kind of disappointing that there aren't an abundance of great restaurants in such a beautiful area.
Stu, I have your Provence itinerary and in fact I was reading it last night. Kind of disappointing that there aren't an abundance of great restaurants in such a beautiful area.
May 27th, 2015, 03:46 PM
#10
How could I have forgotton , The Paroudou.
Jean-Louis and Mirielle have retired and younger members of the Pon family are now at the helm. The Lovely dog who always greeted me has died. I miss that place I miss Provence.
Jean-Louis and Mirielle have retired and younger members of the Pon family are now at the helm. The Lovely dog who always greeted me has died. I miss that place I miss Provence.
May 28th, 2015, 11:44 AM
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How could I have forgotten Le Bistrot du Paradou? I've read A Year in Provence at least 4 times! Thanks very much for the reminder. I've heard that it's wonderful so we'll definitely try.
May 28th, 2015, 02:07 PM
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Is Peter Mayle a gourmet/foodie???
We dined at Le Bistrot du Paradou with high expectations - and thought it was pretty bad. We dined there in 1999. At the time, there was a thread on another travel forum that discussed the restaurant. As I recall, people on the thread pointed out that there was only one menu - and that it "rotated around" between roast chicken, leg of lamb, and perhaps one other "main". We had the leg of lamb, and it was cooked medium-well (I ordered it medium-rare) and was quite dry. No sauce. Perhaps there wasn't really a choice of "doneness". When I cook leg of lamb at home on the charcoal Bar-B-Que, I'll coat it with Dijon mustard & herbs de Provence. I'll toss in some rosemary on top of the coals so it will smoke the leg a bit. I baste it with beef stock to keep it moist. When done, I'll cut it diagonal to the bone so that each piece has the Dijon/Herb crust at one end, then a section that is cooked medium, then more pink close to where the bone was. I'll serve it with some mint hollandaise or a lamb stock/wine/raisin reduction. IMO, the leg of lamb at the Bistrot was "rubber chicken" quality. The ambiance was quite nice, however. We dined there our first week in Provence, and we've been back for 19 more weeks & have never returned to this restaurant.
We also dined at the restaurant Peter Mayle liked in Buoux - and thought it was OK, but nothing we would return to - and we haven't.
Stu Dudley
We dined at Le Bistrot du Paradou with high expectations - and thought it was pretty bad. We dined there in 1999. At the time, there was a thread on another travel forum that discussed the restaurant. As I recall, people on the thread pointed out that there was only one menu - and that it "rotated around" between roast chicken, leg of lamb, and perhaps one other "main". We had the leg of lamb, and it was cooked medium-well (I ordered it medium-rare) and was quite dry. No sauce. Perhaps there wasn't really a choice of "doneness". When I cook leg of lamb at home on the charcoal Bar-B-Que, I'll coat it with Dijon mustard & herbs de Provence. I'll toss in some rosemary on top of the coals so it will smoke the leg a bit. I baste it with beef stock to keep it moist. When done, I'll cut it diagonal to the bone so that each piece has the Dijon/Herb crust at one end, then a section that is cooked medium, then more pink close to where the bone was. I'll serve it with some mint hollandaise or a lamb stock/wine/raisin reduction. IMO, the leg of lamb at the Bistrot was "rubber chicken" quality. The ambiance was quite nice, however. We dined there our first week in Provence, and we've been back for 19 more weeks & have never returned to this restaurant.
We also dined at the restaurant Peter Mayle liked in Buoux - and thought it was OK, but nothing we would return to - and we haven't.
Stu Dudley
