Provence Restaurants
 

We have rented a house in Saignon (just slightly SW of Apt)from June 14-28. Any restaurant suggestions? I did a search but the posts are 2-3 years old. Thanks in advance.

There are many wonderful restaurants--One of my favorites is La Beaugraviere on Rt N-7 in Mondragon near Orange. The owner is Guy Jullien and he does wonderful things with truffles and has one of the best rhone wine lists in the region.
If you visit Avignon two of my favorites are Le Grand Cafe on La Manutention, Cour Maria Casares (behind the palace) and L'Epicerie at place St. Pierre.

That is one of my favorite villages. there is a nice restaurant next to the village fountain and ancient washhouse,
at the Auberge du Presbytere. Nearby in Silvergue, you can book dinner at a goat farm where we also stayed the "Castelas"You will also be close another favorite village Bonnieux. We like to eat at Le Fournil but I have heard Cesar is good too. There's a lovely little shop, Lábeille where they make and monogram linens. I had her make me a linen shoulder bag that folds flat in my bag for dining to I dont have to use my large carry all. Cadenet had a good restaurant but I forget it's name.

Great, thanks. A good start. Cigalechanta...how did you know how much I LOVE linens. What a nice tip. Thank you.

Anyone else?

We made the pilgrimage to the very Auberge de la Loube that Peter Mayle went to for his ?50th birthday in 'A Year in Provence'.
We drove for a very long time to Boux- (which is a tiny hamlet basically), then stepped over cow pats and past tractors only to read a menu in French above my school-girl linguistic level. Nobody spoke English so we just ordered and hoped for the best.
Ah hour later this place was thumping- not with tourists but I guess locals (I hadn't realised there were any!)
We got; a carafe of Rose; a tray the size of the table with Provencale orderves to die for; followed by cheese; and that was it. My husband was puzzled... I have endeavoured to brush up my French for next time because the dishes coming to the local tables looked and smelled amazing!
And the people couldn't have been nicer.. the owner/ waitress didn't bat an eye-lid at the weird Aussies' dining preferences! Worthwhile experience!!! Take a dictionary!

Mas de la Cure Bourse, just outside Isle sur la Sorgue, is an excellent restaurant. Patricia Donzi, the chef, wears a sprig of fresh parsley in her toque and walks round to greet the guests sometime during the meal.

LOL, grandmere. I think we posted this before. But yes I agree with this place. I spent a week there but she wore a petit artichoke pinned to her cloque during my stay. I picked so many figs during our stay there and one morning a lizard joined us for breakfast on our balcony.

Hi Gayle, We love Saignon, rented a cottage there in 2001 and returning again in a few weeks, infact June 21-28! We second Auberge du Presbytere in Saignon, wonderful. There are also one or two very good restaurants in Apt itself, sorry can't remember their names. You have picked a very good time to be in the area as the lavender fields will be in flower. Have a great trip.

Le Prévoté in Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, a Michelin one-star restaurant. We had a wonderful lunch there that was not expensive. Dinner may be expensive. Le Jules César in Arles. Le Clos de la Violette in Aix-en-Provence. It is a Michelin two-star, I believe. It was very good, but the other two were as good for a lesser price.

Yes, Mimi, we have done this before--and probably will again next time someone asks! At least we're consistent!

Sue

SUE!!!! I wondered what hapened to you! So happy to see you and wishing you a happy mother's day if we dont meet before Sunday!

A nice day trip would be to go east into the Alpes de Haute Provence to Moustiers Ste. Marie, a little perched village full of charm and lovely handmade faience; have lunch or dinner at Restaurant les Santons.

Thank you, and to you the same, Mimi!

S.

I'll second the Santons and if you want to book dinner at the Bastide de Moustiers. Wonderful setting.

I was disappointed with the lunch we had at the Bastide de Moustiers and have heard similar comments from others.

Ron, I agree that the food was disapponting for us who expected better things from a kitchen of Ducasse. Actually My letter about that was in France today that year, that trip, but it is a nice experience for those of us who don't see that luxury every day. Their bath products are fabulous and I am not sorry we spent a nite there.

So many great suggestions. Thanks to all. Patricia, perhaps our paths will cross. Maybe you recognize our house?
http://www.holiday-rentals.co.uk/ind...perty/3129.cfm

Gayle, I certainly recognise the house you are renting. There are 5 houses on the property and we are renting the one nearest to you infact about 50 yds away! Ours is only a small cottage but we had two wonderful weeks there in June 2001 so decided we just had to go back. The owners, Lizzie and Andrew are gems, the lavender fields right outside your windows are magic and your house has its own private garden and pool. We leave NZ in 2 days, touring Europe for 8 weeks so see you in Saignon....

That is so wonderful.
Gayle and Patricia, have a wonderful trip. Think of me when you have a drink across from the lavoir. I'll be there in September.

Patricia,
I am not sure if you'll see this before you leave for your travels, but OH MY GOD!!! I can't believe this coincidence. We MUST meet! We arrive on June 14 for two weeks so come on by once you're settled and we'll toast each other and the strange synchronicity! If I've missed you, we'll come and introduce ourselves to you! Safe travels. Gayle.