Nice Restaurant Tips by Elainehead

Restaurant Name: L'Aparté

This restaurant is my favorite one for lunch at the moment! Not only for the cozy look, but mostly for its simple dishes and delicious desserts.

If you're staying near Nice Etoile mall/Place Massena (or not -- hey, it's really worth the visit!), you should try having lunch and/or dinner* at L'Aparté (reservation recommended). It's a charming and tiny restaurant on 30, Rue Alberti. If you are looking for good and simple homemade food with reasonable prices, this is the place for you.

First experience: My husband ordered an appetizer, which was some sort of eggplant terrine served with mesclun salad. Just a main dish and dessert for me. We both ordered the goat cheese lasagna (also served with mesclun salad). It was good but I thought it was a bit dry for my taste. Now the dessert... it took me a while just to choose one. I was craving a cake, so I chose the brownie. They served me 2 slices (not sure if it's the usual thing or because they thought we would share it or because it's almost the closing time), which is served with chocolate sauce and whipped cream. I could hardly finish one and my husband was more than eager to finish it. The only down side was the whipped cream, I think it was a bit sour. Next time I will certainly try their lemon cheesecake. Oh, forgot to mention that the service was quick, except when when we were waiting for paying the bill.

P.S: WC (unisex) is the white door on the right of the kitchen. Once inside, don't forget to lock the door or you and the customers (the one opening the door and those sitting in front of that door) will have a very nasty surprise (LOL!!)... The sink is tiny, so don't open too much the faucet, otherwise, water will splash on the floor (by the end of the service, you will notice the mess)... There is no paper towel, only real tiny towels. Once your hands are dried, put the used towel inside the transparent box.

Second time: I found my fave dish!!! And it's the "gratin dauphinois, Serrano ham and mesclun salad"! It was well presented and just like I like it! I had a dilemma with the desserts (not sure if I should choose "cake aux carottes" or "lemon cheesecake" and I followed the waitress' advice of choosing the rare item, which was "cake aux carottes" (carrot cake), since they usually have the cheesecake on their menu. Wow! The dessert was delicious and generous!!!

Third time: I ordered my fave dish again and this time I could finally taste their cheesecake. Their cheesecake was served with rasberry sauce (the sauce is on a side-dish). I'm not a big fan of rasberries, but in this case, it was a happy combination. It was D-I-V-I-N-E!!!

Menu vary daily, so if you like something you ate a week before, you may or may not find it on your next visit.

Open Hours

Tuesday to Friday from midday to 2 PM.

Friday and Saturday from midday to 2 PM and 8 PM to 9h30 PM (last order).

This restaurant is not suitable for big groups and small children.

Favorite Dish: Gratin dauphinous, Serrano ham and mesclun salad.

Their desserts!!! *drools*

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Theme: Local
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 04 93 76 84 97
Address: 30 rue Alberti - 06000 NICE
Directions: Almost on the corner of Boulevard Dubouchage and Rue Alberti.

If you're coming from Gambetta, take Bus n° 7 (Riquier direction): I believe the first stop on Rue Pastorelli is the closest one.
Website: http://www.laparte.fr/
Other Contact: lapartecafe@tiscali.fr

Restaurant Name: Kamogawa

This restaurant is really run by Japanese, which is very rare around here. Once you get inside, it's like you've just got in Japan. The zen decoration and the Japanese staff make it more believable.

We were the first customers of that Saturday evening (we made no reservation). I ordered "shake-teriyaki" (grilled salmon fillet with teriyaki sauce) and my husband went for the "sukiyaki-teishoku". My dish only comes with a tiny salad, so I also ordered a bowl of rice as well. Even though the sukiyaki is said to be for one person, it's actually enough for two. Both dishes were good. We didn't order any drinks (very expensive) and just asked for a "carafe d'eau" (free!).

I came back again for dinner (Sunday night and it was packed!) and this time I ordered the set menu "Fuji-Teisyoku". Thankfully my husband helped me finish it.

It's true this restaurant isn't cheap, but for more reasonable priced dishes, you'd better come for lunch.

Menu and prices online (in French and Japanese)

Take-away also available.

Open Hours:

Tuesdays to Sundays

Lunch: Noon - 2 PM

Dinner: 7 PM - 10 PM

Closed on Mondays


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Theme: Japanese/Sushi
Comparison: more expensive than average

Phone: 04.93.88.75.88
Address: 18 rue de la Buffa - 06000 Nice - FRANCE
Website: http://pagesperso-orange.fr/kamogawa/

Restaurant Name: Quintessence

If it weren't for the menu board outside or the sight of people having some tea inside, I don't think most people would realize there's a café inside this home deco shop.

It wasn't in our plans to come here, but since another café nearby was full, we decided to give this shop a try. Glad we did! Not only we were well received, but also the food was great! The café is at the back of the shop among shelves selling bijoux, vases, etc.

We both ordered a Croque Monsieur (5€50), but there was only one left. My husband accepted their suggestion and had a cheese quiche (same price as the croque monsieur) instead. Both dishes came with a generous portion of salad (lettuce with gratted carots).

They also have a good selection of tea and other drinks. I haven't tried but they also serve some desserts. An old lady sitting nearby ordered a macarron and she was surprised by its size! She said she wouldn't have dinner that night... LOL!!!

Opening hours
Tuesday to Saturdays from 10 AM to 7 PM
Monday from 10 AM to 12h30 PM and from 14h30 PM to 7 PM (no catering)


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Theme: Other
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: 04 93 81 91 03
Address: 52, rue Gioffredo - 06000 Nice
Directions: On the corner of rue Alberti.
Website: http://www.deco-quintessence.com/
Other Contact: accueil@deco-quintessence.com

Restaurant Name: La Maïoun

If you are young and looking for some simple local cuisine dish, La Maïoun is the right place for you.

This new restaurant in Vieux-Nice, just behind the Cours Saleya, offers a tiny selection from the niçois cuisine. I had first ordered one Salade de Pouples (octopus salad = don't remember the price), but they didn't have it, so I decided to go for a pissaladière. While waiting for our dishes, we were served black olives in olive oil with herbs and spices and tiny slices of pissaladière. Yummy!

Not sure if it's always like that, but their clientèle seem a lot younger and loud. Also loud was the music coming from the restaurant's speakers (disco!!!!). Despite that, the food was actually good and the portions were generous. We only ordered first courses dishes:

1 Slice of pissaladière (onion pie = 5 Euros)
Poivrons à l'huile (bell peppers in olive oil = don't remember the price)
Petits Farcis (13 Euros)

This restaurant isn't disability friendly since there are a few stairs at the entrance and also to the WC.

Favorite Dish: I can highly recommend their generous portion of "petits farcis" (13 Euros).

Price range from 5 to 20 Euros.

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Theme: Local
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Phone: 04.93.04.18.53
Address: 12, Rue Saint-Gaëtan

Restaurant Name: Lou Nissart

I don't know why, but the restaurant looks like a place where a mafia meeting would take place... LOL! The service is good, but the food is not exceptional.

Just because the dish is in the menu it doesn't necessarily mean they will have it. Just in case, always have a second dish in mind while placing your order.

We ended up ordering "Gnocchi Niçois" (with Daube sauce) and "Sardines farcies". The gnocchi portion was generous. I don't remember the prices, but it was less than 12 Euros (I think!).


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Theme: Local
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 04 93 85 34 49
Address: 1, rue de l'Opéra - Vieux Nice - Nice 06300
Directions: In the old town (vieux-nice), closer to Place Massena.

Restaurant Name: L'ybane

Hubby was hungry and wanted to go to his fave restaurant, but as we passed by L'ybane, we couldn't help but notice the food this couple was eating at the time. It looked delicious! We decided to take a look at the restaurant's menu and decided to give it a try. We asked the server what place would be better for non-smokers and he advised eating outside. The weather was nice, so no problem, however due the tramworks on Avenue Jean Medecin and the bus corridor on this street, Rue de la Liberté gets really busy with pedestrians and cars....so it was noisy sitting outside.

Now back to the food, we chose one of the "formules midi" (lunch only) called "L'ybane du Chef" (11 Euros), which was a set-meal with taboulé, kibbe, homos, falafel, cheese and meat fatayere, Kibbé and meat, served with Lebanese bread. It was divine! We will definitely come back!

Tap water (carafe d'eau): free
Coca-cola (30 cl): 3.80 Euros

They have also another address in Vieux-Nice (address: 9 Rue de la préfecture 06300 Nice).

Picture will be added later


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Theme: Middle Eastern
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 04 93 16 26 26
Address: 1 Rue de la Liberté 06000 Nice
Website: http://www.lybane.com/

Restaurant Name: La Maison de Marie

Open hours

Monday to Sundays

Lunch: 12:00 - 14:00

Dinner: 20:00 - 23:00

Important: Dinner reservation highly recommended if you are coming after 8h30 PM. I think there's only one waiter who can speak some English. You have to wait to be seated, so when the restaurant is busy, be patient.

*****

I always wanted to come here but never found the place... I guess I was a bit blind. It's true the restaurant is a bit hidden in Zone Pi?tonne (pedestrian zone). The entrance is on the left side of the PARASHOP. You will see a sort of red-wall tunnel with "flags" with the name of the restaurant. That's the restaurant entrance!

On sunny days, you can bet that almost all the patio's tables will probably be already taken. It's a very pleasant place to have lunch because we are somehow away from the noisy Zone Pi?tonne (Pedestrian Zone) and we are surrounded by plants, flowers and a couple of sparrows. The service is usually long when the restaurant is full, so if you are not a patient person, don't even try eating here.

Lunch menu: 19 Euros, only served until 1h45 PM. They also provide kid's menu, as far as I remember I think it was meat with fries.

In winter (and maybe during rainy days as well), meals are only served inside the restaurant, so if you come by, the restaurant may look closed as you see no people or tables outside. Walk across the patio and go to the main door.

Favorite Dish: Their specialty is the Mediterranean cuisine.

Our first time, we had the 19 Euros Menu which consisted of a first course (salad ni?oise or fish soup, we both chose salad), main course (ravioli with daube or filets de daurade au pesto) and the dessert (Pineapple - sliced like Carpaccio, fruit salad or Nougat (torrone) ice-cream). Come with an empty stomach or you won't even succeed to finish your salad. The salad portion is huge (at least for me and my hubby). The ravioli needed parmesan cheese, which you can ask the waiter to bring some. The Nougat ice-cream was good and very well presented.

Menu may vary from time to time.

The dishes I love:
Petits farcies (stuffed vegetables - I think they were 13 Euros) and salade gourmande (14 Euros, I believe)

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Theme: Local
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Phone: 04 93 80 67 69
Address: 5, Rue Masséna
Directions: In Zone Piétonne (pedestrian zone) in the direction of Avenue Jean Médecin. The restaurant is across ice-cream parlor Pinocchio.
Website: http://www.lamaisondemarie.com (in French)
Other Contact: Email: info@lamaisondemarie.com

Restaurant Name: La Cigale

Never tried their restaurant, but we have been here many times just to buy a kebab or something from their delicatessen, such as Fatayer (spinach parcels), Samboussek (meat), Djadjiki (yogurt cucumber sauce), Tabboull? and rice (I couldn't tell what was inside but it was good).

Kebab sandwiches (chicken or lamb)*: price range from 4 to 6 Euros.

*Depending on the person behind the counter, they will ask what do you like inside (tomatoes, bell pepper, onion, white sauce, lettuce). If you would like it without the white sauce ask for "nature".

Open everyday from 11 AM to midnight.

Menu in French

Favorite Dish: Everything was really good, but I really liked the Samboussek (meat).

Fatayer and Samboussek are 1 Euro each.

The rest was per kilo.

Djadjiki = 18,50 Euros / kg

Tabboull? = 18, 50 / kg

Rice (always different) = 15, 50 Euros / kg

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Theme: Middle Eastern

Phone: 04 93 88 60 20
Address: 7 avenue de Suede - 06000 Nice (Pedestrian Zone)
Directions: On the corner of the Pedestrian Zone (Zone Pietonne - Rue Halevy / Rue de France / Rue Massena)
Website: http://www.la-cigale-orientale.com

Restaurant Name: Canet

...then I'm going to hell or I'll probably just become poorer buying desserts here!

Canet is a "patisserie" and "chocolaterie" that makes divine desserts. Not long ago, this shop used to be called "Chéreau", also a "patisserie" and "chocolaterie", very well known for its desserts and high prices. I think the tradition is well kept.

Some desserts in "Canet" are like art masterpieces. They are so beautiful that we almost do not want to eat it and ruin it! There is a huge choice of desserts, so you will probably drool a lot before making your final choice.

I tasted "Fraisier" (Strawberry butter cream cake) and "Tarte Normande" (Normandy Apple Tart). After eating those desserts I wanted to go back right away to the shop and buy some more... Too bad it is so
expensive!!!! The average price for one small dessert is 3,80 Euros. Bite-sized ones are 1 Euro each.


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Theme: Dessert
Comparison: more expensive than average

Phone: 04 93 96 46 06
Address: 25 Boulevard Gambetta
Directions: Across the big supermarket called Casino, almost on the corner of Boulevard Gambetta and Rue Dante.

On the right side of the International school "Le Pain d'Epice".

2 blocks from Promenade des Anglais.

Restaurant Name: My Sushi

I have never noticed but there is a Japanese restaurant at Cours Saleya. Never been there myself but I have tried their delivery service.
I tried the "Delicious" menu (18 Euros) which consists of a tiny salad and a sushi (8) & maki (6) combo. I was just a bit disappointed with the size of the salad because on the menu picture it looked bigger and completely different. Delivery time: 30 min.
They also deliver sashimis, California rolls yakitori, dessert, sake (6 Euros) and Japanese beer (Asahi - Kirin 4 Euros).

Tip: 20% off from all the menu only at lunch.

Open hours: 11h30 AM to 2 PM & 6h30 PM to 11 PM


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Theme: Japanese/Sushi
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 04 93 62 16 32
Address: 18, Cours Saleya