restaurant recos - provence
 

hi fodorites,

we're heading to provence for a week in october ... we're staying in a gite just outside of carpentras.

i'm looking for restaurant recommendations (dinner) for the following towns:

- avignon
- gordes
- pernes les fontaines
- carpentras
- mazan
- st. remy
- st. didier
- venasque

i'm not particular re: outside dining (although, at that time of year, i don't even think it's a possibility). ideally, i'd be looking to spend 40E per person (maximum) - we're non-drinkers which means we can spend more on food! i'm open to all types of food/restaurants. and DH would prefer NOT to have to wear a jacket/tie.

thanks!!

Just below Gordes you will find the small inn La Ferme de la Huppe. Its restaurant is excellent and moderately priced.

In St. Remy we ate at Le Jardin de Frederic and it was very good. I had a smoked salmon starter that was excellant and my husband had a foie gras that was the best of our trip.

We also ate at La Gousse d'Ail, which was good but not quite as good as Le Jardin. The couple next to us had a bouillabaisse that I would try if I was to return. Both restaurants are on the ring road.

We also ate at the La Gousse d'Ail and the food was ok..it did not compare to Jardin de Frederic. Wednesday is Jazz night so it was rather fun as it was nice enough to sit in their covered outdoor patio. I'm not sure I could give it a full recommendation based on our meal though.

Avignon has so many good restos.'Heily Lucculus, Christian Etienne, Le Bain-Marie, Le café des Artistes.
Just outside Gordes, the Mas Tourteron,

Pernes, on th roure de Capentras is Le Palepoli, Italian but excellent,
Capentras, Le Vert Gallant,
St remy, other choices I like La Maison Jaune, XA, Bistro des Alpilles,
Venesque, Auberge de la Fontaine.
Never been to St Didier and Mazan, so nothing to add there.

We rented a house in Venasque in October 2001 and thoroughly enjoyed an elegant dinner at Les Remparts (did not require jacket/tie). Recent reviews indicate it is still highly regarded. We also loved another more casual place in the village but I have been unable to find the name...however I think there were only 2-3 restaurants in all of Venasque and all were good. You never know about the weather in October - you may luck out and have warmth and sunshine the whole week! It's a great time of year to enjoy Provence.

wonderful suggestions! thank you so much! keep 'em coming!! :)

Cafe Vernet in Avignon, round the corner from Hotel d'Europe has a great outdoor courtyard with nice shade trees.
The menu is simple, Provencal food that is neither terribly expensive nor terribly complicated.

It is NOT 5* dining, if that's what you're looking for, but for a pleasant meal in a great location in a GREAT city -
I'd go there again in a heartbeat.

Have fun!
Dave

hi dave,

thanks for the reco ... we're definitely NOT looking for 5* dining! :)