My wife and I are visitn Provence the first week in July. I know it is toruist season but I teach and that is the only time for me to go. We are making reservations for resatruants for dinner. Any comments about the following or are there any other "better" suggestions? Thanks.<BR><BR>1. Oustau de Baumaniere (Les Baux<BR>2. Laisette de Marie (St Remy)<BR>3. Restaurant at Hotel de Valruges (st Remy)<BR>4. La Gousse D'Ail (St Remy<BR>5. Restaurant at our hotel Chateau des <BR> Alpilles<BR><BR>also going to try for lunches: <BR>Maison Nani (Avignon,)<BR>Bistro des Alpilles (St Remy)<BR>Brass Nord Pinus (Arles)<BR><BR>Once again thanks for your help.

They are all excellent. You can't go wrong with any of them. Enjoy!

Oustau was wonderful, luxurious, and Marie is more fun and you can buy collectibles in the restaurant, two totally different experiences.

Living in the area, my take is probably going to be different from others, but here goes.<BR><BR>1. Oustau de la Baumaniere <BR>Not up to the excellent standards it used to have. If you must go, have lunch instead of dinner, and reserve a table on the terrace. <BR>They had a fire on New Year's Eve which destroyed their wine cave - so I don't know if they'll be back up to speed with the wine list.<BR><BR>2. l'Assiette de Marie <BR>Marie is back in Corsica and it's her sister who is running the restaurant now. It's a charming place, but personally I find it overpriced these days.<BR><BR>3. Restaurant at Hotel de Valrugues <BR>so-so<BR><BR>4. La Gousse D'Ail <BR>Tiny and charming... very good food.<BR><BR>Bistrot des Alpilles <BR>Good food - a new chef has taken over in the last month. Very reasonably priced - the service is very fast and the portions are large, especially for a French restaurant.<BR>Save room for dessert<BR><BR>Brass Nord Pinus (Arles)<BR>I haven't eaten there in awhile, but is used to be very good.<BR><BR>A few more to add to you list:<BR>in St. Remy:<BR>Jardin de Frederic<BR>small cozy restaurant - excellent seafood dishes<BR><BR>La Serre<BR>Owner/chef/maitre d' and server is the son of Gaston Lenotre. Great food, interesting experience - terrific if you enjoy a long evening at dinner...<BR><BR><BR>Grain de Sel<BR>A restaurant that's only been open about a year and half - Very good<BR><BR>La Source<BR>Very good food, lovely shaded terrace <BR><BR>in Maussane-les-Alpilles (two minutes from Les Baux)<BR>Petite France<BR>Michelin one star restaurant, just outside Maussane near Le Paradou in a renovated farmhouse. Excellent food, good service. One of the best wine lists in France (father of the chef owns the largest wine distributorship in the south of France).<BR>Personal favorites are the raviolis with green olives, sage and ricotta and the breast of duck.<BR>Dressy casual. <BR><BR>Bon Appetit !<BR><BR>PB<BR><BR>

Can anyone tell me if you have to make reservations in advance for these restaurants? We are going in July (7 of us) and plan on going to some of these places. How far in advance do I need to make reservations? Do I need to call them from the US?<BR> Beth

Beth,<BR><BR>In July, I would recommend making a reservation in advance. For the Michelin starred restaurants (like the Oustau de la Baumaniere, the Petite France , etc.) I would recommend booking a few weeks in advance. The others will only require booking a few days before or even the day before.<BR><BR>PB

PB,<BR><BR>Approximately, what price range were the restaurants that you recommended and were most of them in St. Remy.<BR><BR>Liz

I want to thank everyone for their help, especially PB. I am looking forward to our trip. However, we may make a chenge based upon recommendations. What do you know about:<BR><BR>Restaurant Prevot in Cavaillon<BR>Bistro du Paradou in Paradou<BR><BR>Again thanks for your help.

Here I am again.... sorry, I can't resist answering anything to do with food or restaurants.<BR><BR>Prevot in Cavaillon is excellent. He's famous for one entire menu dedicated to melons - everything from start to finish is made with the melons that Cavaillon is famous for.<BR><BR>Bistrot du Paradou<BR>This used to be a great place...near my house... it's been written about endlessly in magazines and guide books and has become overpriced. There is only one menu served (dinners are only served in the summer months) and it's usually lamb or chicken. You should call ahead to find out what the menu is the day you plan to go. <BR>Friday is always aioli day (Garlic mayonnaise served with hard boiled eggs, boiled carrots, salt cod, snails).<BR>The wine included in the menu is no longer as good as it used to be either.<BR><BR><BR>PB<BR>

I always am in provence in august and always lunch at noon at Paradou.<BR>I like Jean Louis and the ambiance.

Mimi,<BR><BR>I like Jean Louis too... but I liked the ambiance and the food much better before the Bistrot became such an expensive tourist destination.<BR><BR><BR>PB