OK, so I'm an american. No pretense, but I have expectations. I live in a " foodie" city. Lots of…read moretrendy stuff there that doesn't stand the test of time. I' ve been here 3 times in the past 2 years and I have never been disappointed. I have read the french languge reviews that are disappointing, but I disagree. The food is always well prepared by a chef who cares about what he's putting out. The servings are NOT small, but they are not supersized either. I really don't undetstand the complaint about too much salad. Yes, the wine selection is limited, but well priced. That being said, it's a small bistro, not a wine bar. Charming atmosphere, great dependable cuisine, fait maison, with freindly service, and a family freindly atmosphere. Formule du jour with entree, plat principal and dessert from 19€95 + wine. Tres chic, tres sympa, tres bon. Don't miss it.

From the owner: Dans le centre historique Situé en plein cœur du quartier Saint-Roch, le restaurant Thym et Romarin…read morepropose, comme son nom l'indique, une cuisine savoureuse largement inspirée des parfums et saveurs du Sud. Déco bistrot, ambiance conviviale et détente sur la terrasse dès l'arrivée des beaux jours sont au programme.

Superb food in a great location…read more Eating outdoors in the square on a warm summer evening with a great bottle of Rose was just the thing. Service was also excellent and English speaking If you like your fish or meat not raw then ask for well done.

This place was filled with locals, and the seating was outside in the square under cover. The menu…read moreis simple but excellent, with a few vegan options as well. Service was friendly and we were seated quickly on a Friday evening in August. This is the perfect spot to enjoy a leisurely meal without the carnival atmosphere of the more popular town square near the market.

Our last meal in Avignon before heading home was this seafood feast, featuring mussels, clams,…read moreoysters, shrimp, etc. Sit outdoors, order some wine, and enjoy your meal.

My husband and I had an absolute perfect dinner. We had the sea food plate for two. Oh my, it was…read morehuge! My husband asked the waiter if they had emptied the ocean. The seafood was so incredibly fresh and delicious, it is the absolute best seafood we have ever eaten. And we are hard core "foodies". Our waiter was the most charming young man, he spoke excellent English and was very well educated in wines. We got a wonderful bottle of wine to go with our meal. We sat in the patio and had the most romantic evening, warm breeze, not crowded, good music playlist and just amazing food. We will remember L'Enclos de Saveurs Salines as one of our best dinners abroad. Merci c'était super.

We got into town a little later than we had expected and we were starving. Hoping to find a nice…read moremeal after checking in to our hotel we ran to l'atelier de jean-luc rabanel in hopes of having a lovely dinner. We entered at about 8:15 knowing that they close at 9:30. They only had a few diners and we asked for a table. The maitre d ran his eyes from my shoes to my sweater and asked if we had reservations. I replied no as I looked around the practically empty restaurant. He then told us that they were closed....huh....the hours on the door and online said 9:30 over an hour away. I guess he either didn't like our look or he wanted to get out of work early. A place with these prices should have gone the extra mile and at least offered to make reservations for us tomorrow.

This is one of Provence's most highly regarded restaurants. There is no menu - each meal is…read morewhatever the chef assembles for that day. Lunch is either 7 courses or 11. We went for the seven course lunch. It was preceded by five courses of amuses. The decor was fabulous, both the rooms and the furnishings. Very modern yet comfortable. The service for the first half hour was below horrible. Once they moved you into the second room, the dining room, they got into their stride and service was ok. I'm comfortable with paced French service. This was never paced - it was simply erratic and unprofessional. But the food was remarkable. Each dish combined way too many favors and did them to perfection. Each flavor came through yet none dominated. Serving sizes were large enough to allow one to enjoy the dish fully. Every dish was presented picture perfect, looking like a magazine cover. I've never seen seven courses so well presented. So it was a remarkable meal, one I really enjoyed, yet I have absolutely no desire to ever return.

You know how have some meals that you will remember for the rest of your life, this was one of…read morethem. We decided to order the chef tasting, prix fixe menu. It was expensive but worth the once in a lifetime cost. The scallop course was the best scallop dish I have had in life. They were seared to perfection and the meat was so tender and sweet it was incredible. I also loved the pork and ravioli dish and the artichoke dish. We dined in the off season and it was cold and drizzly outside. They had a nice fire going in the fireplace for us. The dining room wasn't very busy. We were the first diner to arrive and our first coursed arrived very quickly. Once others started to arrive it slowed down quite a bit. At the end when were starting to tire, it slowed to a snails pace. (Speaking of which I also loved the escargot dish. I have never had them prepared this way and loved every bite!) That would be our only complaint. Otherwise a perfect evening.

Freaking awesome! Pricey but hey it's a two star Michellan Star restaurant so it is to be…read moreexpected. This time of the year they seat everybody outside which is perfect. Okay now to the review. My wife and I did the smaller of the two tasting menus which was still plenty of food. First dish was the Large Dublin Bay Prawn with a sheet of pasta on it. I did not know prawns could be so tender. I now know I have been eating prawns over cooked my entire life. Second was the squid small and big. Perfect! The croutons filled with soup was a nice touch not to mention I could eat a bowl of them like cereal. Third was The pigeon costieres. Fantastic with summer spinach. Cheese trolley came after and I don't think I have ever had unpasteurized cheese before. We just asked for an assortment and the selections they choose from us was thee goat and three cows milk. The desert was light cream with vanilla ice cream. Extremely light with the millefeuille. A nice touch and perfect close to a wonderful meal.

We kind of stumbled on À Côté by accident. It was our last day in Arles, and we wanted to go out on…read morea truly memorable meal, but the few restaurants on our list of contenders were closed that day. We knew about Michelin-star chef Jean-Luc Rabanel's famous Atelier, but weren't aware of his casual establishment next door, À Côté, until we ambled by the place in a growing hunger haze. Since the menu out front looked promising and there were several free tables on the terrace, we dove in. Starters were promising, though the wife's was better. She ordered what turned out to be one of the best caesar salads she's ever had. The presentation was elegant, the anchovies were potently flavorful, and it came with a side of clearly homemade mayonnaise, which was truly evil but amazingly tasty. I ordered pumpkin soup with croutons, mushrooms, and chestnuts. This was a little under seasoned, but the croutons (or crouton - it was one long, thin piece of crouton) were infused with thyme, and whenever I had a bite of the soup with a piece of crouton, the thyme really brought the flavors to life. The main dishes, however, were wildly delicious. My wife ordered the mussels, which were prepared with the most stunningly creative and potent array of herbs/seasoning either of us have ever encountered with a dish like this. You had all these complex layers and notes, and the overall effect was powerfully aromatic. The fresh flavor of the mussels came through nice and strong - they tasted like the morning's catch. But on top of that you had these beautiful strata of flavors and accents - some delicate, some a bit more bold, but all working together to create this rich harmony of flavor. My wife (who is a chef by profession) says the seasoning seemed to consist of ground almonds, parsley, garlic, parmesan, tiny bits of sausage, a hint of saffron, and probably lots of butter. This was exactly the kind of dish she was hoping to find in Provence, and each bite had us groaning in ecstasy. I ordered the braised lamb shank, which was even a cut above one I had at Le Comptoir du Relais in Paris. The whole dish, sides and all, was beautifully conceived. The shank came in a beautifully savory sauce that was generously infused with garlic and herbs, with slightly crispy wedges of potatoes (with pesto dabbed on them) swimming around in it. The shank itself was cooked to absolute perfection: super delicate and juicy, and packed with that rich, deep, lamb-y flavor. One of those "savor every bite" kind of dishes. Both of our dishes were perfectly seasoned, too! The lunch 'menu' came with a dessert, and I was less enamored with their selections. My wife had this wonderful apple and almond tart thing with some exquisite homemade vanilla ice cream. I had the crepes suzette, which came with a scoop of lemon sorbet, but had this orange liqueur flavored syrup that I found a bit cloying. Five stars may seem a bit generous given that there were a couple of minor flaws, but I'm giving this score largely on the sheer strength of those two mains, which were so damn good they made us want to jump up and down and run around the block three times out of excitement.

Got a chance to experience Chef Jean-Luc Rabanel ham it up with the locals at a large family table…read moreout on the patio this summer. I love Provence. There is a relaxed sentiment that swells in the air over there. Strangers are friends, friends are family, waiters are efficient gourmet delivery machines. Ahhh, Arles! The dishes were influenced by Chef Rabanel's world travels, with particular focus on South East Asian flavors. We relied heavily on the recommendations of our servers and were not disappointed: Appetizers: - Ajo Blanco: Spanish-style cold soup with a coconut and citrus twist. Yes, the roasted peanuts on the side are to be mixed into the soup and not snacked on. - Foie Gras Cuit Piment d'Espeltte: A pad of fresh, fatty, French foie gras. A must. Les Plats: - Fish: Seasonal dish I believe. 2 piece of crispy fried fish. Skin on. Need I say more? Le Dessert: - Basil panna cotta: Smooth and creamy, this dessert is less sweet and more savory than anything. Paired with fresh straberries, it is the perfect refresher after a day in the Provencal sun. And to up the cuteness factor, this minty green colored concoction is served in a ceramic dish that mimics a plastic yogurt cup! The wait staff all speak excellent English, are incredibly patient and are happy to answer any questions that you have. One of them was even nice enough to bring me Chef Rabanel's book to gloss over during dinner (which is where I draw most of my knowledge about him from). Top notch service from a top notch bistro. If you are a foodie in Provence, grab a glass of house rose, sit back and relax.

Found this through La Caves in C-D-Papes. Beautifully decorated and rustic feel. Server was…read morefriendly and made you feel like you were provincial. Both indoor and outdoor seating off the beaten path. We loved the gazpacho which was very fresh with a focus exclusively on Tomato. The amuse Bouche was chilled cucumber and mint soup which I will now learn how to make. Lastly we had the pasta with shrimp and it had the taste of the sea through out. I will go back

New friends we met in France suggested this place. Really good suggestion. A cozy, homey and cute…read morelittle bistro a short walk from Avignon's main street, Rue de la Republique. We had no reservations but managed to get some prime seats, about 30 minutes later the place was packed. After an amuse bouche, I started with the grilled asperagus salad. Tender pieces in a light dressing, perfect. Grilled regional fish was next. The delicate white fish was a bit bland for me but none the less it was well prepared. I finished with a sorbet trio, nice way to cap my meal. It seemed foolish to order anything else but a Cote du Rhone, although we drank lots of regional rose's. Rhone wine are perhaps one of the best values going. Our example was no exception. Food, service, value and ambiance all excellent here.

Somehow this review I wrote back in 2014 didn't get finished. I post it here now and apologize for…read moreit's being so late!! Go for the food - find a little magic. Alice and her husband chef Bernard have created an oasis just outside Saint Remy. It's a totally beautiful place - garden, art gallery, restaurant, with touches of great detail and care. Nothing has been overlooked, all blend into a perfect evening of dining. On arrival you are shown to either the lower patio or garden for aperitifs. You'll already feel relaxed and happy. Alice brings out her menu book - she has lovingly hand-written every menu for each day - and describes each dish. The menu is short - as it should be - and includes local ingredients, including things from their garden. Their wine expert helps you plan your evening wines. Again, a short list of terrific wines, most available by the glass. We had 3 or 4 flights, beginning with Champagne and ending with a Cote de Beaune with the cheese course. By the way, Alice and the waitstaff all speak perfect English, except for one young lady, who was so sweet you were almost glad she didn't. Delicious and interesting amuses were brought out with out Champagne, and your contentment level goes up another notch. For dinner you move to the upper patio or garden, just outside the gallery room. It's truly lovely - the art gallery begins to glow around sunset. Everything is of a piece - the teardrop (or artist's palette) shaped tables, the china, the candelabras, the table hangers for the ladies' handbags. We were dressed up a bit, but the locals were very casual. Food was uniformly delicious, langoustine entree, tuna and John Dory mains, dessert and cheese course. The tuna was impeccable - beautiful presentation, accompanied by local garden ingredients like baby wild asparagus and baby radishes, perfectly cooked. Service was gracious yet casual. I hope Alice and Bernard are still providing a beautiful experience. It was for us.

We were sent here by our boutique hotel proprietors Nick and Andrea from La Maison du Paradou, who…read moreare fantastic and have not steered us wrong in 2 separate visits. The husband and wife proprietors of Mas l'amarine were surprisingly young and yet executed flawlessly! She was the front person and just delightful. He was the chef and was concerned and accommodating to our individual dietary needs. The decor is very modern in an chateau setting, which for us and our friends was a fun departure from the usual Provençal experience. The kitchen was apparently open by European standards but not at all by American standards...in fact couldn't see it from the dining room. I mention only because apparently some old school patrons have been put off by the decor and close kitchen arrangements. In my opinion you would be missing out on an exceptional meal by judging by those narrow standards. The presentation of the food was beautiful and our table ordered each entree option. The lamb with smokey herbs was truly memorable. The venison was amazing and both the sea bass and red snapper were exceptional. The fresh seasonal mushroom starter was exceptional as well. The desserts didn't disappoint either!! Can you tell that we were delighted by everything?? Anyhow, point is, if you are in the area, it is a MUST visit if you want a great foodie experience. Again, it is NOT quintessential Provençal food or interior design...but that should be a draw not a distraction!! Enjoy!!!

Kobushi is a cute little sushi restaurant with a French twist. When I say little, I mean two…read moretables that seat between 3 and 4 people, and 2 seats at the bar (although there are some items on the bar that make it seem as though people don't generally dine there). The restaurant is owned and seemed to be completely run by a very nice woman named Najette (I may have spelled that incorrect). She was born in Avignon, but learned to make sushi in Marseille. She mentioned she will be traveling to Japan in October to learn even more (not sure if that will impact the restaurant being open). While we were there, she took the orders, made the food, and did the dishes - all with a smile and warmness about her! To start, we had a lovely rose wine (for just 16 euro) and miso soup. The miso was a very generous portion. We were brought a sample of torched salmon nigiri which was quite tasty. For dinner, my husband and I ordered Plateau France - Japon. This came with 5 different rolls, most with a French twist, such as foie gras! This combo also came with a traditional California roll for the less adventurous foodie. While I wouldn't say this was the best sushi I've ever tasted, I certainly appreciated the creativity behind the menu. The ambiance in Kobushi is very hip and modern, as well as romantic. There is some cool track lighting, and soft music playing as well. If you are looking to venture off the standard French menus, and a fan of sushi I would definitely recommend Kobushi. Since it is so small I would definitely call ahead for a reservation.

Yep I had high hopes for this place. The sauce was very good and they did fuss over my food…read moreallergy which is appreciated. The lamb was a bit overdone. The salad was fresh. The fries were , frankly, average. Prices are fair for a touristy area.

Worst meal I have had in France. The "prime rib" was tough and tasteless. The lamb was more like…read moremutton. My wife and I left most of the meal as it was inedible. Excellent meals can be had at the same price many other places.