VirtualTourist

Restaurant Name: Chez Juliette

Chez Juliette wasn’t hidden away – it’s out there amongst all the tourist restaurants in the heart of the Old Town. There are reasons though why I have ignored it over the last few years and why it is suddenly flavour of the month. First of all it is a bit dearer than the usual run of places I go for, however, now that I have mastered the art of eating and cooking cheaply and easily in my studio (thanks to the wonderful supermarket Picard and a George Foreman grill on the balcony) we are more likely to spend a few more euros when we DO go out – Chez Juliette’s set menu is 17,50 euros for three courses. Unless it’s something special like Le Tire Bouchon for 28 euros or an anniversary or birthday, we usually eat out for about 12 euros. Also, we have sneaked to Nice a couple of times by ourselves when the daughter has been on school trips – Chez Juliette is not really suitable for children, definitely a romantic sort of a place, especially inside, in the winter.

Until you examine the menu and decide to spend the extra couple of euros per head it is hard to see why you would choose here over somewhere else, the decor outside in the summer is a bit on the naff side - lots of unnecessary artificial plants about, try and ignore this. Inside, in the winter, the style is faultless, Matisse-esque paintings by the owner’s father cover the walls and all is red velvet and stylish chandeliers. The bill is presented in a kitsch hatbox.

Favorite Dish: Anyway, the menu is far more tempting to adults than children, another reason we have walked by with our young daughter in the past, there is no pizza or much pasta here. All the dishes are quite sophisticated and arrive elegantly presented. It is a real change to see something different on a menu. The last time we came here, we ate from the a la carte menu – I had a crab and avocado salad followed by tender lean round slices of duck with courgettes, then pears in chocolate – it was all wonderful. I even eat all the bread here – thin slices of wholemeal-y looking stuff.

I would still be walking by this place turning my nose up at the plastic flowers if it wasn’t for the helpful tip-off by our ATS driver, Bernard. He HATES the restaurants in Nice but when pushed for just one recommendation, he said Chez Juliette would be his choice because the food is top quality, the meat in particular is of the best quality and it is the only place he would eat in Nice. So, we tried it and loved it. So now you can try.

If you are a couple in Nice looking for really lovely and romantic places to eat, but not wanting anywhere too pricey or stuffy then Chez Juliettte may be the one for you, perhaps combined with the dearer Le Tire Bouchon on another evening. La Becasse (now closed 2006) is still a favourite for tighter budgets and you will get peace from the wandering buskers here. Chez Juliette’s popular location near Place Rossetti attracted three sets of musicians (and I use that term loosely) last time.

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Theme: Eclectic/International
Comparison: about average

Phone: 04 93 92 68 47
Address: Chez Juliette, 1 rue Rossetti, Old Nice
Directions: corner of rue Rossetti and Benoit Bunico, Old Nice. From Place Rossetti turn your back to St Reparate Cathedral and walk away with Fennochios on your left and La Claire Fontaine on your right. Chez Juliette is on the right hand corner of the next block.
Website: http://www.fra.cityvox.com/restaurants_nice/chez-juliette_47163/Profil-Lieu
Other Contact: open from 7pm, closed Tuesdays