I've always been a fan of the L'Hermitage establishment, which is located between Eze and Monaco on the Grand Corniche. Recently, the hotel underwent a major renovation and opened a new restaurant called Le V. Beautifully located on the grounds of the hotel, le V quickly reminds its patrons why summer nights should be enjoyed outside along the Côte d'Azur.
From the beautiful light wood furnishings to the lush landscaping and linens, Le V invites you to soak in its Provençal ambience. While the interior is equally impressive, I would highly recommend enjoying your meal outside amongst the manicured gardens and pool.
We started off with a round of Aperol Spritzs - generous portions and very tasty - and the Panier de Legumes, a lovely basket of vegetables with an anchoiade (anchovy paste) and a tapenade (olive spread) . While the menu said that the Panier serves 2, four guests can easily enjoy it as an appetizer. Simply fresh and scrumptious.
I then sampled the Salade de Poulpe, the octopus salad with candied tomatoes and roquette salad. The dish was flavorful, lightly dressed, and a great entree to the main dish.
After debating on what to choose for the main dish, I ordered the Dos de Loup, the sea bass with zucchini in basil and lemon butter. While the dish was beautifully garnished and pleasing to the eye, I found the sauce to be a bit bland. The fish itself was done to perfection but lacked seasoning. Perhaps a spicier accompaniment would have enhanced the flavor of the sea bass.
For dessert, the Pavlova aux Fruits was light and fruity and deserving of a dessert wine or eau de vie.
While the meal was not perfectly executed, I found Le V to be well worth a visit and a lovely spot to enjoy cocktails and a meal in the South of France. read more