#1 in Avignon on trip advisor and for a reason. Just what you want. Husband and wife team run…read moreplace. Great food but not overpriced because of the great location. Each course was tremendous. Wonderful local wine list. Service terrific. The duck dish is the one most people post and I thought it was a delicious as the pictures appeared. The risotto was fabulous and all of the desserts were terrific.

This place is AMAZING!!! If you are in Avignon, this is a MUST TRY. It might have just become my…read morefavorite restaurant. It is a small Husband+Wife restaurant, a very talented couple. It is a prefix menu, we chose the 4-course and it was very much enough food. I do want to go back and try the 6-course meal, just out of curiosity. I love how you get a taste of each, and how Pauline asks if you have any allergies or if there's something you prefer before your meal is being made. We loved every single course -- they were all presented very artistically, and the colors and flavors made it a true experience. I strongly recommend people not to miss out!

Some of the most delicious food we've enjoyed in all of France - this tiny hidden gem is a MUST if…read moreyou are in Avignon. No-frills setting but every bite was superb and very affordable. Owner/chef speaks English and is kind and accommodating.

Our tour stopped in Avignon for two hours and we decided to have lunch during our time there…read more Thanks to the Yelp community found excellent recommendations for EAT. Per other reviewers, it is not far from the main square and in an alley off of a main commercial street. It has a modern and simple elegance and they featured a daily lunch special and regular starters, mains and desserts. It was a limited menu yet all the options were compelling it was hard to choose. My wife had the daily special of a white fish and potatoes in a bouillabaisse broth. It was amazing with notes of cinnamon and coriander. I had the chuck roast with artichokes and carrots. It was comforting and reminded me of a stew my grandmother used to make. The wine options were limited as they were all house options yet the red paired well with my entree. We did not have dessert but the options sounded delicious (chocolate mousse with caramelized peanuts, basil crème brûlée,etc.) The owner was helpful and professional. We would go back in a heartbeat and highly recommend. The meal further endeared us to the charming city of Avignon.

I cannot speak highly enough of L'Essentiel, from their food, to their service, to the beautiful…read moredecor and table settings. Service is welcoming and accommodating for my poor attempt at culinary French terms. The Chef even came out to answer questions at three occasions. First up, a trio of amuse bouches called land and sea. I don't typically like foie gras but this was incredible. I would actually order this again if ever back in Avignon. The Parmesan biscuit was technically amazing, with such subtle flavor, crispy on the outside, and soft, light and creamy inside. The mushroom "egg roll" was crispy, flaky with great umami. The Jerusalem artichoke risotto was my absolute favorite; I'll likely dream of this dish and try to replicate the recipe. It's unlike anything I've had before, so creative, unique and insanely delicious. The artichokes were cooked perfectly , tender but still firm. The risotto was actually a thick, creamy foam, packed with bold creamy flavor and truffles on top. The sea bream was glistening with the crispiest skin, along with carrots and a silky champagne sauce. The veal was so tender with the most delightful sweet onion tart. The tart was surprisingly good with the best onions I've ever had. Kudos to the chef for shopping the market everyday for the freshest and highest quality products! The scallops were sliced beautifully and were balanced so well with the acidity of raspberries and pomegranates. We started out with the strongest amuse bouches, and Chef didn't disappoint from there, maintaining and exceeding our palette's expectations. Chef Mohamad deserves a Michelin rank!!

KenScale: 8.0/10…read more It's not often a restaurant boldly comes up with a name "essential". When I was looking up different restaurant options during our stay in Avignon, I initially chuckled at the name and figured why not give a chance at the place. My wife Jun and I were coming back from a full-day wine tasting tour with a rather big lunch, so we were not completely starving when we entered L'Essentiel's lovely courtyard. Still, we ended up having a very solid meal here, as all the dishes we ordered had something nice to say about. You can go with either one of the tasting menu options or simply go a la carte at L'Essentiel. Given that we weren't terribly hungry, Jun and I opted for the latter and ordered one appetizer, two main dishes and a dessert to share together. I don't know why we saw tomato gazpacho only just now near the tail end of our two-week honeymoon/summer vacation; in any event, the one that the kitchen put together was quite refreshing, perfect for a summer appetizer with mozzarella di buffalo cheese in the middle. While cod with orange sauce infused into jasmine and creamy polenta looked pedestrian in plating, there is no denying that the fish was expertly cooked with ideal temperature and texture. I was initially worried that the fried foie gras accompanying the beef Rossini filet might simply overpower the meat with too much richness, but the server assured that won't be the case. Listening to her turned out to be a smart idea because the foie gras had a surprisingly delicate side to it that complemented the beef filet quite well. With roasted potatoes on the side, the filet was a winner dish. For dessert, a rather artful display of chocolate ganache and crispy peanut on top of chocolate dulce emulsion (with black chocolate ice cream submerged below) was as delicious as it looked. I secured a reservation at L'Essential through my credit card concierge service so I don't know how difficult it is to get a table at the restaurant; if you want to go for al fresco dining in the summer season at the courtyard that makes you feel like you're eating inside a small but lovely palace, it does seem like a good idea to book in advance. There is a multi-page wine list focusing on the wines from the region; we ordered a bottle of nice vacqueyras that worked well with the dishes we had ordered. L'Essentiel is somewhere in the middle in terms of value proposition; it is not as pricey or fancy as three Michelin-star haute cuisine establishments but it certainly is more refined than an everyday bistro, which also means it works on a more variety of different occasions. If you are staying in Avignon and feel like you want to have an elegant meal without breaking the bank, L'Essential is a good option to consider.

Cozy dinner option in Avignon! We came right at opening time on a Sunday night - best to get here…read moreearly, as the restaurant fills up fast! The workers inside speak English, and many of the other tables seemed to be filled with English-speaking tourist groups. The dinner menu consists of around 4 entree options, 7 main course options, and 4 dessert options. To start, we ordered the salmon tartare with guacamole. It comes in a jar with a side salad. The portion for this one is on the smaller end - we were fine with sharing, but I can see someone ordering this just for themselves if they're super hungry. The salmon was pretty fresh and a good pairing with the bread. For the main courses, we ordered the duck breast, truffle ravioli, and cod fillet. Service was quite fast, especially considering that the restaurant was almost full by the time we had finished our appetizer. The duck breast was very tender, and the chief sauce used was delicious! The truffle ravioli had delicious Parmesan sauce. I do wish there was a stronger hint of truffle in the sauce, but the dish was still good, as the pasta was al dente and chewy. The cod fillet had a fragrant saffron white butter sauce which complemented the tender fish well. I also really liked that it came with side vegetables, definitely a healthier dish! We ended with the cheesecake, which was smooth and creamy, with tangy raspberry sauce drizzled over. Delicious food, bustling atmosphere, and quick service! Quite satisfied with this great meal in Avignon :)

This was a meal that had its bright spots such as: delicious bread, flavorful ratatouille, and…read moretasty roasted Camembert. It also had its "just OK" elements which were the main parts of our entrees. The service was mostly good, but rushed and not attentive.

Excellent food and service…read more Great ambiance and reasonable prices No complaints at all

This was maybe our best meal here. They didn't open until 6:30 but we arrived at 6 and they let us…read moresit inside until they were ready. Great food and service. I couldn't decide on a wine so our server was very helpful in picking one for me given what we ordered and let me try 3 of them before confirming one. On food, we loved the cheeses, charcuterie, escargots (though they were smaller than we are used to), and fries. The foie gras, sea breem with mussels, and shrimp were also good. Definitely recommend!

Avenio We wanted to…read morehave a dinner outdoors but at the same time avoid the large restaurants that focus on meals designed for tourists. Our hotel recommended Avenio as a good choice for a nicer meal in Avignon. We made a reservation as the hotel's outdoor seating area is quite limited. The weather was perfect for an outdoor dinner. We decided to order main courses from the "Saison Plat" menu and deserts. My wife ordered the lamb and I ordered the fish. We shared a bottle of wine from the region. The fish was nicely prepared. It was cooked properly. My wife's lamb was also well prepared. The deserts are over the top. One of the highlights of the meal. Avenio is a nice choice for a finer dinner in Avignon.

Excellent service. Did not feel rushed. Lovely wine selection. The food was prepared with…read moredevotion, and a master of the culinary craft. I am celiaque, and the staff was knowledgeable and accommodated via modification where needed. The complexity and creativity in our meals was very appreciated. Merci!

What a fantastic way to close out our time in Avignon. The food at Pollen was magnificent and the…read morestaff was phenomenal. They spoke English very well and each course was great. Even though it is a Michelin star restaurant, the atmosphere is casual and it's not stuffy.

What can I write? The meal was incredible. It is just the kind of restaurant that we enjoy so…read moremuch! Everything is a surprise menu. You simply communicate any allergies or strong dislikes and just sit back and enjoy the evening. We agreed that there was nothing close to a miss regarding the courses. They were all excellent. Plus, we could not agree which was our overall favorite. They were all equally rated for us. I am still thinking about each of the dishes. Chef Mathieu has a great understanding of complements. I never thought I had much of a palette for truffles but his dish with the Swiss chard really brought out the earthy decadence of the black truffles. Also, he really maximized the sweetness of an onion and played it harmoniously with some bouillon. Also, the desserts even with a lactose allergy were decadent and comprehensive, which included three separate tastes - grapefruit sorbet, raspberry mousse (dairy free), and a final chocolate treat in a shell. The wines are competently paired including a couple of surprises (for me), including an chardonnay auxerrois blend from Alsace. Also, the champagne made solely with meunier grapes was a tasty surprise for me. Service was impeccable. It was friendly and well executed. As others already stated, the kitchen staff bring you your courses, including Chef Mathieu. For two people, we each had the grand menu carte blanche and two wine pairings. The total price for the two of us was 448 Euros with 30 Euros left in cash as thanks to the staff. I often don't agree with the Michelin ratings. However, in this case, I think Pollen deserves two Michelin stars, not just the one that it already has. This meal was a fantastic value. If you prize great service and quality, creative gastronomy, then this is a must have meal in Avignon. Plan accordingly and make reservations in advance.

Amazing restaurant! Fresh ingredients, tasty, and BEAUTIFULLY presented. A true delight during our…read moretrip to France (including meals in Paris and Bordeaux). Beef carpaccio, chicken skewers, pasta with burrata, and salad pictured. And the servers were very kind and professional. Highly recommend! That carpaccio was especially interesting! All wonderful dishes! Great staff!

. We finally found…read morethem open & ready; was worth a wait. No parking, excellent staff, basic selections, cave. . . . . I had brochettes du boeuf, bride had the leek-reduction pasta, both excellent. Le meilleur du vieux Avignon. Rick .