Rank some Provence restaurants, please?
 

Hi, in your opinion, how would you describe and rank the following restaurants? I am probably looking to visit 3 of these:

Le Fournil (Bonnieux)
Le Mas de Tourteron (Gordes)
Mas Cure Bourse (where I'm staying Isle s/ Sorgue)
l'Oustalet (Gigondas)
Bernard Mathys (Apt)
L'Isle Sonnante (Avignon)
Bartavelle (is this in Goult or Vaison?)

Thanks!

We had a fine dinner at Le Mas de Cure Bourse, but since then the owners and chef have changed. But it's a very pleasant place to dine and I'd recommend it just for that.

1. Bernard Mathys - Food A-, Ambience A- we've dined there about 5 times.

2. l'Oustalet - B+, B dined twice

3. Mas Toureron - B, A- dined there twice, but not in last 6 years

4. Mas Cure Bourse - B, B once

5. Bartavelle (Goult) B, B Three times

6. Le Fornil C+, B+ if outside once

Have not dined at L'Isle Sonnante

Stu Dudley

Bernard Mathays IS NOT in Apt even though it is listed in the Red Guide under Apt. It is in Le Chene and it was lucky that we stopped into the TI in Apt in the afternoon and asked where it was because the Michelin internet directions under the restaurant discription we had printed are wrong. The Red Guide doesn't show it on the Apt map. If you look at Apt on the Michelin 332 Drome, Vaucluse map and follow the N100 to the west or left of Apt, you will see in tiny print le Chene on the south side of the road - it is on the north side of the road where the red dot is. From the bridge at the TI office in Apt it is after the 3rd roundabout on the right or north side of the road. There is a big sign which you can hardly miss and you immediately take a very small road to the right. The mansion is lovely.

We ate at Bernard Mathays for our anniversary on Stu's recommendation and it was wonderful. There were two menus that night - a 30 euro and a 60 euro. We had determined that we would go for the 30 euro until we heard it was lapin. So went for the 60 euro. The wine special that night was 33 euros. If you would like some photos of the dinner let me know. It was very delicious - lobster, duck, 5 desserts. My only wish is that there were more veggies and salad. We were there on a Monday night.

Here are the '06 Gault Millau ratings:

Bernard Mathys - 16

Le Fournil - 12

Mas Tourteron - 14

Stu Dudley