From our culinary correspondent
Dining out is one of the many joys to be savored in France – an absolute must for all those that enjoy their food and delight in the experience of learning about how to eat well. Good cuisine and ways with gastronomy come hand in hand with lauded French culture so, very fortunately for us, our culinary correspondent, David Rothery, has indulged his passion to sample as many restaurants and bistros as posible on his journeys around the regions of France.
David manages this from his own private luxury barge as he tours France so you may find these gastronomic delights within your neck of the woods too, as you embark on your own voyages of discovery along the waterways.
Taking time out from his gourmet galavants, David has kindly jotted down a few words to share some restaurant and bistro recommendations with you. He and his partner, Evey, from Australia and the US respectively, are very experienced travelers and know a thing or two, so you can trust their opinions implicitly.
Strasbourg
“Strasbourg as everyone knows lies along the French / German border in Alsace. That means for foodies that there’s a range of wonderful, cool-climate wines and an almost limitless choice of great places to eat at all ends of the culinary and financial spectrum. Be assured, it’s not all heavy pork meats and sauerkraut! There’s no shortage of such traditional fare to be sampled, but there’s also a wide selection of more contemporary and innovative cuisine to be had, from bistro style to Michelin stars. Spoilt for choice in Strasbourg, it’s worth spending time here and your stomachs will definitely thank you.
It’s hard to choose only five restaurants but any or all of these will surely please!
(Dollar signs below is a rating system – more means better).”
- Mademoiselle 10: $$$
10 Quai des Pecheurs, Strasbourg. +33 6 0251 0406
Michelin Plate (French, Seafood) Very Good - La Casserole: $$$ – $$$$
24 Rue de Juifs (Ex voie Roamaine Decumanus), Strasbourg. +33 3 8836 4968
Michelin Plate Excellent
- Umami: $$$$
8 Rue des Dentelles, Strasbourg. +33 3 8832 8053
1 Star Michelin Excellent - Le Bistro d’Antoine $$ – $$$
3 Rue de la Courtine, Strasbourg. +33 3 9024 9325
Michelin Bib Gourmand Very Good – A favourite - Utopie $$$
10 Petite rue des Dentelles, Strasbourg +33 3 8852 0291
Excellent
Toulouse
“No visit to the south west of France would be complete without spending some time in the ‘pink’ city of Toulouse. Located as it is alongside both the famous Canal du Midi and the Garonne river, this vibrant city boasts a vast array of restaurants to suit all budgets and tastes, as well as numerous tourist attractions and to-die-for indoor markets.”
- Le Bibent: $$ – $$$
5 Place du Capitole, Toulouse. +33 5 3430 1837
Good bistro with fab décor in the heart of the city - Le Genty Magre: $$ – $$$
3 rue Genty Magre, Toulouse. +33 5 6121 3860
Excellent bistro style
- Les Sales Gosses: $$
7 rue de l’Industrie, Toulouse, +33 5 6199 3031
Great lunch-time venue for super value and innovative dishes - Monsieur Marius: $$ – $$$
40 rue des Filatiers, Toulouse. +33 5 6125 0707
Great lunch venue and rhum babas to die for. Closed weekends - Place Mage: $$ – $$$
2 rue Tolosane, Toulouse. +33 6 3032 2559
Classy bistro with strong vegetable influences
Lyon
“What can one possibly say about Lyon that hasn’t already been said about this food capital of France, and home to one of France’s most famous chefs, the late Paul Bocuse. This city can boast around 4,000 restaurants and whilst it has a strong and passionate history favouring offal, it’s only a fraction of what’s out there to tempt the taste buds.”
- Christian Tetedoie $$$$
4 Rue du Professeur Pierre Marion, Lyon. +33 4 7829 4010
1 Star Michelin. Very Good - Saku Restaurant $$ -$$$
27 Rue Rachais, Lyon +33 4 7869 4531
Michelin Bib Gourmand. Excellent Japanese/French fusion
- Bouchon Tupin $$ – $$$
30 rue Tupin, 69002, Lyon, +33 4 78 37 45 93
Excellent all round. Booking recommended. - Café du Jura $$ – $$$
25 rue Tupin, 69002, Lyon, +33 4 78 42 20 57.
Traditional ‘bouchon Lyonnais’, great calves liver. - Arsenic $$ – $$$
132 rue Pierre Corneille, Lyon, +33 9 62 39 85 55.
Very Good
Dijon
“Dijon just has to be one of our all-time favourite dining destinations as well as a gorgeous place to visit. The range and creative culinary flair is everywhere, and visitors are simply spoiled for choice in this historic capital of the Burgundy region.”
- So $$$
15 rue Amiral Roussin, Dijon. +33 3 8030 0385
Michelin Bib Gourmand. Japanese styled French cuisine done delightfully – Excellent - La Maison Des Cariatides $$$- $$$$
28 Rue Chaudronnerie, Dijon. +33 3 8045 5925
Michelin Bib Gourmand. Very Good
- L’Asperule $$$ – $$$$
43 rue Jeanb-Jacques Rousseau, Dijon. +33 3 8019 1284
Michelin 1 Star. Excellent - L’Evidence $$$
53 Rue Jeannin, Dijon. 03 8067 6937
Michelin Bib Gourmand. Very Good - Parapluie $$-$$$
74 Rue Monge, Dijon. +33 3 8028 7994
Michelin Plate Excellent
