France Restaurant Tips by F_Meignant

Paul Bocuse: Again three stars in the Michelin...

Probably the most famous French cook...!
Of course expensive, but Bocuse has several restaurants around and in Lyon. Some are less expensive.

Favorite Dish: According to your budget...!

Address: Au Pont de Collonges 69660 Collonges-au-Mont-D'or.

Comparison: most expensive

Directions: Nearest city: Lyon.

Other Contact: (0033)4 72 27 85 87

Phone: (0033)4 72 42 90 90

Price: US$41 and up

Rating: 5

Theme: French

La Cognette: Old times...

Nice decoration in the style of the end of XIXth century.
Also hotel.

Favorite Dish: A good place for rather traditional food.

Address: 2, Boulevard de Stalingrad 36100 Issoudun

Comparison: more expensive than average

Directions: A small city between Bourges and Chateauroux.

Other Contact: fax: (0033)2 54 03 13 03

Phone: (0033)2 54 21 21 83

Price: US$31-40

Rating: 4

Theme: French

Michel Bras: Three stars... But don't miss this one!

The hotel/restaurant is a very modern building with an original architecture. It's built on the side of the Causse (Désert d'Aubrac).

Among all the French "3 stars", it's the one I prefer.
And another advantage: the restaurant is the less expensive of the "3 stars", especially if you come for lunch during the week.

Favorite Dish: Michel Bras is an original cook: he goes on the Causse and collect herbs that he uses in his dishes...
Very sophisticated...!
They have Armagnac with fabulous dates (begining of XXth century!).

Address: Le Puech de Suquet, 12210 Laguiole

Comparison: more expensive than average

Directions: Just above the small city of Laguiole which is famous because of the traditional knives that are made here.
50 km North of Rodez.
Region Auvergne.

Other Contact: Fax: (033)5 65 48 47 02

Phone: (0033)5 65 51 18 20

Price: US$41 and up

Rating: 5

Theme: French

Chez Juju: Seafood and only seafood...

Again, the region (Camargue) is full of tourists in summertime. The prices increase with the number of tourists while the quality goes down... Hard to find good places on the Mediterranean Coast...!

Chez Juju is a good place with good quality and reasonable prices. Very crowded.

Strange site, on the beach. Invaded by cats...!

Favorite Dish: Fish and Seafood. Nothing else. Great !

Address: Plage de Beauduc, 13129 Salin-de-Giraud

Comparison: less expensive than average

Directions: Not easy to find, on a beach at the end of an earth road.
Nearest cities: Arles, Istres.

Phone: (0033)4 42 86 83 86

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 4

Theme: Seafood

La Bégude Saint Pierre: Close to the Pont du Gard...

Very nice hotel/restaurant.
Swimming pool.
Beautiful bedrooms.

Quite expensive: this region is one of the most tourist place in France. Prices always above average...and the quality is not always good. La Bégude offers a very good quality in comparison with the regional standards.

Favorite Dish: Lot of local cooking from Languedoc.

Address: D981, Les Coudoulières 30210 Vers-Pont-du-Gard

Comparison: more expensive than average

Directions: Region: Languedoc-Roussillon.
The village is near from the famous Pont du Gard.
Nearest cities: Uzès, Avignon.

Other Contact: fax: (0033)4 66 22 73 73

Phone: (0033)4 66 63 63 63

Price: US$31-40

Rating: 4

Theme: French

Website: http://www.hotel-saintpierre.fr/

L'Espérance (Marc Meneau): In view of the Roman Basilica...

Another great restaurant. Beautiful reniewed old house.

Favorite Dish: Great food and a fabulous cellar of Burgundy wines...!

Address: 89450 Saint-Père-Lès-Vézelay

Comparison: most expensive

Directions: Region Bourgogne. 60 km West of Dijon.

The village is just under the "holy" hill of Vézelay, where is the famous roman Basilica.

Other Contact: fax: (0033)3 86 33 26 15

Phone: (0033)3 86 33 39 10

Price: US$41 and up

Rating: 5

Theme: French

Website: http://www.marc-meneau-esperance.com/

Chez Fages: Out of the beaten paths...

Absolutely local...!
Beautiful old small restaurant in a beautiful old small village on the Causse Méjan (probably my prefered French region). Warm atmosphere. Simple but very friendly place.
In one single word: pleasure...
Book in advance!

Favorite Dish: Typical food from Auvergne: tripoux, Cantal cheese, sausages, potées...
Almost everything is home made by Mrs. Fages.
A small place... a great address for budget and culinary travels !

Address: 48210 Mas-Saint-Chely

Comparison: less expensive than average

Directions: The village of Mas-Saint-Chely is in the Causse Méjan, just above the famous "Gorges du Tarn".
Nearest city: Mende

Phone: (0033)4 66 48 52 02

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 5

Theme: Local

Chez Troisgros: Guess how many stars...? Three.

Another famous family of French cooks... with a fated name: Troisgros means "Three Big" !

Again an expensive place but... If you come during the week for lunch and take the "Menu du jour" (menu of the day), you will not pay that much. Choose your date... and book in advance!

Also have a look at:
Relais et Chateaux

Favorite Dish: Everything...

Address: Place de la Gare, 42300 Roanne

Comparison: most expensive

Directions: Easy to find: it's just in front of the train station.

Other Contact: fax: (0033)4 77 70 39 77

Phone: (0033)4 77 71 66 97

Price: US$41 and up

Rating: 5

Theme: French

Website: http://www.troisgros.fr/

Georges Blanc: Another three stars in the Michelin...

Three stars, it means luxury and very sophisticated food... and high prices of course.
Absolutely book in advance!

Favorite Dish: Region of "la Bresse" is famous for hens and chickens.
Again, do according to your budget.

Address: 01540 Vonnas

Comparison: most expensive

Directions: In the region of "la Bresse".
Nearest cities: M?con and Bourg-en-Bresse.

Other Contact: fax: (0033)4 74 50 08 80

Phone: (0033)4 74 50 90 90

Price: US$41 and up

Rating: 5

Theme: French

Website: http://www.georgesblanc.com/

Auberge des Buissonnets: Up in the Vosges...

Simple but very friendly place. Warm atmosphere.
Marvellous scenary in a remote place.
Also small bedrooms.
Perfect for hickers and budget travel.
Book in advance!

Favorite Dish: Alsatian specialities: Baeckahoffa...

Address: 68290 Bourbach le Haut

Comparison: less expensive than average

Directions: In a "cul-de-sac" up the mountain above the village...
Region Alsace.
Nearest city: Mulhouse.

Phone: (0033)3 89 38 85 87

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 4

Theme: Local