Fodor's Expert Review Le Saint Estève
A short drive from Aix over scenic Route Cézanne, this elegant restaurant on the grounds of Les Lodges hotel is well worth the trip. Michelin-starred chef Mathias Dandine's spiffed up menu shows a new inspiration—and who wouldn't be inspired with these breathtaking views of Cézanne's beloved mountain? Dandine doesn't have far to look for the locally sourced products he favors, either: wild mushrooms for a luscious vélouté de cèpes (wild mushroom soup) with ham and spicy Provençal olive oil, or sea bass with chanterelles and Szechuan pepper. Heads turn as virtuosic dishes, one more beautiful than the next, are flourished at the table. Finish with tender fraises des bois (wild strawberries) in warm strawberry consomé with a dollop of fromage frais ice cream paired with a sweet local wine. With a shady outdoor terrace overlooking olive groves and woods—well, what's not to love?
Quick Facts
2500 rte. Cézanne
Le Tholonet,
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
13100,
France
-04–42–27–10–14
