France 2012 Guidebook
Best and worst restaurants:
Best: Bistto de l'Oulette
Why: Great food and wine in a cozy dining room on an out of the way street. Very friendly, patient staff with American tourists when all the other diners were clearly French. Best meal we had in France.
Jeff Evans in Springfield, IL USA 01/13/2012
Best: Elevation 1904
Why: It's a restaurant/bar located right across the street from the Chamonix-Mt. Blanc station on the corner. It offers sandwiches and pastas, but not at extraordinary prices. It's where the locals hang out, so the atmosphere is good and friendly. Good soup!
Kay Ishii in Renton, WA USA 10/30/2011
Best: Cafe Constant in Paris
Why: Delicious!
Patricia in Chico, CA USA 10/26/2011
Best: Le Bouilland Normand, Honfleur, 2011 book, p. 273
Why: Fresh, delicious food and intimate service. A little hard to find, but worth it! The desserts are also delicious!
Maureen in Tempe, AZ USA 10/22/2011
Best: Les Terrasses du Bassin in Isle-sur-la-Sorgue
Why: Excellent food in a very comfortable setting above the river
Marilyn Hawkins in Ashland, OR USA 10/12/2011
Best: So many!
Why: I put L'As de Falafel at the top of my list. GReat great food, and a fun hectic experience. Cafe Delmas on Place de la Contrescarpe very fun for people- watching. Very basic dinner in the historic Polidor. I was told that part of Midnight in Paris was filmed there.
Worst: Le Petit Cler
Why: I walked in at lunch time, and even though there were obviously many empty places inside and out, I was refused a seat. I was told they were all reserved---which I somehow doubt. I was eating alone, and I wondered if they just didn't want to waste a table on a single customer. I then walked down the street to Cafe le Roussillon, and was promptly given a table and good service.
Kate in Sonoma, CA USA 09/16/2011
Best: Hon Fleur - Norman Cafe?
Why: Delicious and not ridiculously expensive
Please check out: The Restaurant, La Ferme, near St. San Michel. Expensive but wonderful.
Donna Fraser in Orlando, Fl USA 09/10/2011
Best: It's a tie! Hotel du Grand st Michel Chambord and Petit St Leon in St Leon Dordogne
Why: Had an excellent lunch at St Michel even though we were inside rather than the terrace; St Leon is a teeny town on the cave route D706 in the Dordogne, excellent lunch outside under the apple trees; runner up was Le Bouilland Normand in Honfleur-excellent mussels and super nice staff
A Forster in Miami, FL USA 08/21/2011
Best: Cave de Bourgogne (Paris)
Why: Wonderful outdoor dining option. Great fresh food, ambiance superb, mostly locals enjoying their Monday night at 10PM (how do they get up for work the next day?!) Recommended by out hotelier...we later found out it was a Rick Steves' recommended restaurant.
Maureen in Grayslake, il USA 07/18/2011
Best: La Tortue, Honfleur
Why: Delicious, and good value
Gail Stewart in Issaquah, WA USA 06/20/2011
Best: Creperie Lou Planet-St Remy
Why: This was a really good break from eating four and five course meals. The crepes were just great and salads fantastic. I had the spinach/fromage crepe which actually is a gallette. Salad had lots of heirloom tomatoes. Inexpensive house wine was fine.
Susan Jenningsa in Atlanta, Ge USA 06/20/2011
Best: La Ciboulette-Beaune
Why: We had excellent dinners at this restaurant-great food and atmosphere. Reservations are a must and it is closed on Sunday.
Susan Jennings in Atlanta, Ge USA 06/15/2011
Best: tie Winstub Schwendi & Chez le Gaulois
Why: In Colmar,Winstub Schwendi.I really love those shredded potato,cooked in cast iron, dishes with differant meats on top.I'm not really a beer drinker,but the beer here was exceptional. I do love jazz though,and Chez le Gaulois in Sarlat,was also a highlite.Again, hearty mountain food.But this time instead of the "oomp pah" feeling in Colmar,it was jazz.On the 2nd night I ate there I brought in a cd by the jazz band"Steps Ahead".Oliver had never heard them.The waitress was joking that I'd be lucky to get it back.After I paid and was ready to leave Oliver brought the cd back to me.I told him he could keep it.He tried to give me some nice sausages he'd made but I had no way to store them.Of course like every trip,the highlites are the people contacts.
Brad in Santa Rosa, Ca USA 06/10/2011
Best: Hotel dAlibert in Caunes Minervois and Le Bistro de l'Octroi in Sarlat
Why: As the book describes, the food at Hotel d'Alibert is excellent. And Frederic made excellent recommendations on local wines and kept the group entertained. My stay and meals there were memorable. The l'Octroi had very well prepared and reasonably priced menus. The place was conforable and the waiter spoke good English. The wine selection was good and well priced. One of the best meals I had (actually 2 dinners) was at a b&b near St. Emilion called Chateau de Crecy. The meals are only for guests of the b&b and they were 4 courses with wine from the Chateau. I would highly recommend the b&b and the food there.
Jim Perschbacher in Atlanta, GA USA 06/04/2011
Worst: L'assiette Normand
Why: We also had a terrible experience here in May 2011. The quality of the food was so bad we felt insulted. This is a true tourist trap--stay away.
Scot in Seattle, wa USA 06/03/2011
Worst: L'Assiette Normand, Bayeux
Why: Absolutely the worst restaurant we've ever been in --- from service to food quality! Not one thing to recommend it other than the nice interior and great location. Food poisoning, to boot. Awful, awful, awful. Our hotel host was horrified to learn we had dined there. Over 30+ years of international travel, honestly, this was the worst seen to date.
Robbie in Grady, NH USA 05/08/2011
Best: Les Bonnes Soeurs, edge of Places des Vosges
Why: Good food, friendly service, decent prices, great location adjacent to the beautiful square.
Mark Adams in Gig Harbor, WA USA 05/06/2011
Best: Cafe Constant near Eiffel Tower
Why: Good lunch and very fun, friendly, English-speaking wait staff. We did not have to wait in line to eat.
G Sellers in Melbourne , FL USA 04/14/2011
Best: La Maison Du Jardin
Why: Simply put the food was incredible. We ate a lot of good food on our trip but this was insanely good! If this is not in your guidebook, it should be.
Emma Alvarez in Redmond, WA USA 02/07/2011
Best: Leo le Lion/ Paris
Why: A delightful and delicious untouristy restaurant in the heart of the Rue Cler neighborhood. Felt like a step back in time.
Worst: Abbaye de Maizieres/ Beaune
Why: On a cold March 2010 evening with a reservation, we were one of 3 tables. After waiting for 25 minutes at our table, ignored by the waiter who was busy visiting with a French speaking couple at the next table, we put our coats on and left. Upon leaving, the waiter told us in flawless English that he'd been very busy. Lovely atmosphere with absolutely the worst service we've ever had in decades of travel.
Cheryl Rollin in Seattle , WA USA 01/14/2011
Best: Hotel Lion d'Or, Bayeux.
Why: Elegant dining room, impeccable service, informal dress o.k. Really helpful waiters who remembered our name and gave us complimentary champagne. Excellent food and reasonably priced wine.
Worst: Brasserie le Sud in Lyon
Why: If you want your French mocked and wish to be seated in the worst table in the house under dripping raincoats when the place is almost empty this is the place for you. The food was not of the best and overpriced. A much better bet in Lyon is the Bistrot de Lyon. Try their oysters on the half shell and their salmon: wonderful.
Jack and Sulie in Olympia, WA USA 11/20/2010
Best: L'Impossible Chamonix
Why: New owners since early 2010, the food is absolutely fantastic. Cooking with exceptional sense for the balance of flavor, freshness,and visual sensibilities. Every bite deserves to be lingered over and savored. The chef and his family are immensely warm and welcoming. You'll want to come back again and again.
Kate in Foresthill, CA USA 11/06/2010
Best: Cafe la Roussillon
Why: Personnel, service and food
Albert & Dianna Wildeman in Unity, SK Canada 10/31/2010
Best: La Roseraie in Chenonceaux
Why: Delicious meal in a very nice restaurant for only 30 euros each + wine. Service was very friendly.
Marcia in Spokane, WA USA 10/23/2010
Best: Restaurant L'Impossible, Chamonix
Why: Wonderful food, emphasizing fresh local, organic ingredients,romantic ambience, presided over by an extremely warm, friendly family. Rick needs to go back and check this out-- the guidebook's description does not do it justice!!!!
Stuart Kirsh in Foresthill , CA USA 10/20/2010
Best: Moulin de la Galette
Why: Lovely ambiance, excellent food with beautiful presentation, friendly waiter and reasonable prices.
Lyn Taylor in Brooksville, FL USA 10/12/2010
Best: Le Petite Cler
Why: We had dinner there 3 nights in a row. Great service and atmosphere, all meals were appetizing and bargain priced.
Linda Monahan in Tigard, OR USA 10/01/2010
Best: Hotel Du Casino Vierville
Why: Best meal, everything was top of the line, fresh and delicious, jaw-dropping, the mussels and seafood combo was delicious, great selection, wonderful dessert and wine, fabulous meal. Second best was Le Presidial in Sarlat
Chris Mayes in Carson City, NV USA 09/19/2010
Best: Alliance in Amboise
Why: Great food, friendly, if erratic service; nice atmosphere and no routine food
Dan Mulcahy in Washington, DC USA 09/10/2010
Best: Etape Gourmande at Domaine de la Giraudiere
Why: Fabulous food at reasonable prices. Both inside and outside seating options are lovely.
Diana Lucio in Alexandria, VA USA 08/16/2010
Best: Hotel la Roseraie
Why: it made me wish i had bigger stomach so i could have eaten more..the dining room was beautiful, laurant gave my daughter and I the best table in the restaurant!
Worst: none
Why: everywhere we ate was wonderful ..from the nice restaurant to the small crepere
Mary Greene in St. Simons Island, GA USA 08/13/2010
Best: Laduree in Paris
Why: This meal was sublime from beginning to end. Though the host at the reception desk was a little snooty (literally the only snooty individual we met during our two weeks in France), the waiters were delightful, and the food was out of this world. Expensive, but worth every Euro.
Linda in Garden City, NY USA 08/05/2010
Worst: La Brasserie de I'lle St. Louis
Why: Service and food. All-male staff were extremely rude, impatient and were observed discussing the patrons (mostly tourists) in a disparaging way. Behaved like childish school boys at recess. Give this a pass!
Deborah Slater in North Vancouver, BC Canada 07/26/2010
Best: le pic-nic
Why: Buying food at Cora and Carrefours saved us a ton of money. If we selected carefully, all three of us could eat for under 10 euros. Drinks and pastries at cafes, and restaurant meals about every three or four days.
Candy Marang in Norton, Oh USA 07/02/2010
Best: La Fringale
Why: Excellent menu since prices allow you to try things you aren't sure of. People we very helpful and the food was very good.
Marilyn in Cypress, TX USA 06/27/2010
Best: Les Agapes-Vence
Why: The Les Agapes restaurant in Vence, called by another name in the 2008 book we were using was the best restaurant we encountered. It is located on the Place Clemenceau at #4. In the book we carried it was know as Le P'tit Provencal. The food was excellent, it was presented beautifully, the prices were reasonable, the service was very good and we had a choice of indoor or outdoor seating.
Larry in Florence, KY USA 06/07/2010
Best: Cafe du Marche
Why: For all the reasons given in your book
Judith Beck in Perkasie, PA USA 05/29/2010
Worst: l'Ovale Brasserie, Nice
Why: Poor service discrimination between locals and visitors. Poor quality meat dishes. (though prices were low!)
Tony Green in Sidmouth, UK 05/26/2010
Best: Terrasse du 7eme
Why: Great French onion soup and great people watching location.
Joy Lambert in Vero Beach, FL USA 05/21/2010
Best: La Varangue
Why: the food was wonderful a great value. Philippe was very friendly
Alan Kopplinger in Auburn, WA USA 04/18/2010
Best: L'Epicerie, Amboise
Why: The best dinner we had in this 2-week trip from Nice to Parice.
Worst: l'Alliance, Amboise
Why: The main course was not impressive. My wife and I were both dispointed.
Genhone in Toronto, ON Canada 03/07/2010
Best: Cafe/Bar Alpilles St. Remy de Provence
Why: Great daily lunch and dinner specials. Frequented by British, American, South African expatriots now living there.
Ed & Rita Reed in Port Aransas, TX USA 01/19/2010
Best: Rapiere Restaurant, Sarlat
Why: Sorry, forgot to include the location to the pevious posting.
George FL USA 11/03/2009
Best: Rapiere
Why: Family run. Chef and wife have run this place in the heart of the old town for 30 years. Great food. English speaking staff.
George FL USA 11/02/2009
Worst: La Mirandol Restaurant, Sarlat
Why: Attentive service. Bargain menu with lots of courses. The catch is that every course was inedible. The only time I had to salt my food in France. Large groups eating banquet food. If you like The Olive Garden you'll love this place.
George FL USA 11/02/2009
Best: Hotel La Roseraie in Chenonceaux
Why: Eat there all four nights of my stay. It was that good.
Richard Perkins in Pleasant Hill, CA USA 10/29/2009
Worst: Madame Mere Poulliard's on Mont St. Michel
Why: We ignored Rick's advice on this skippable omelet place and regretted it. It was ridiculously overpriced with arrogant and unattentive staff. The puffy omelets were not even mediocre--not your typical omelet at all--just a puffy mass of eggs and it is difficult to find food cheaper than eggs. Husband had a fish entree, we both had wilted salads, and a carafe of mediocre wine (??? this is France??) The bread never arrived. Our bill was over 100 euros--definitely not worth it. Avoid the place.
Susan Jennings in Atlanta, USA 10/28/2009
Best: La Ciderie Honfleur
Why: Good food, a little pricey but the town is so over-run with tourists it's not a surprise. Also liked Bouillon Chartier in Paris
Debra in Delta, BC Canada 10/20/2009
Best: La Machonnerie in Lyon
Why: tasty food, exceptional service
Worst: Le 16, Arles
Why: The food was good, but the main dishes a little small. They opened at 7:30 p.m. and within an hour refused to take any more customers. On a Saturday night, no less.
John Vogt in Ft. Collins, CO USA 10/19/2009
Best: Le Freti in Annecy
Why: The book's description was apt, and we ate dinner at Le Freti both evenings we were there. The wine is indeed cheap, and good, and the two different fondues we had were excellent. A fun place, with reasonable prices and great food.
Ron in DeWitt, MI USA 10/14/2009
Best: Le Presidial, in Sarlat
Why: we thought it was far better than described in the book. In addition to its beautiful garden setting, which was praised in the book, the food was exceptional--one of our best meals in France.
Adrienne in Vienna, Va USA 10/14/2009
Best: Chez le Gaulois, Sarlat
Why: Great food, service. Our waitress was from Belgium and spoke excellent English so she explained the menu very well. Loved the tartiflette!
Martha in Calgary, Canada 10/03/2009
Best: l'Oceanic in Chinon
Why: wonderful food and service
Phyllis Thomas in Lewes, DE USA 09/29/2009
Best: Le Bistro de l'Octroi, Sarlat
Why: Garden terrace, fresh, well-prepared food with prices a bit more than Rick Steves' usual budget options. The lamb was perfectly prepared and the Sarlat potatoes were absolutely creamy, cheesy and delicious. The meringue dessert with carmel was to die for. The best restaurant for quality food and reasonable prices had to be Cafe du Marche on rue Cler in Paris. Inexpensive wine by the carafe, great plat du jours, and huge salads. On different occasions we had duck, salmon, dorado and steak and each was well-prepared and mouth-watering.
Worst: None
Why: Every recommended restaurant served great food at reasonable prices.
Vickie Sprowls in Lake Nebagamon, WI USA 09/22/2009
Best:
Why: We actually got better recommendations from the locals. In Nice we were told of a place called La Cambuse but its on the main tourist strip by the Promenade Anglais. I don't have the contact info but it was fantastic.
Worst: Le Fontaine de Mars in Paris
Why: The atmosphere was good but the service and food were terrible especially for the price we paid--- nearly 200 Euros. Its the only place where we had a waiter just walk away while one of us were giving our order just because another waiter had asked him a question. He didn't apologize before he walked away, he didn't say anything at all, in fact. The food wasn't that good, menu limited in comparison with some other places, and its wrong to charge more than 20 Euros for a plate of grilled vegetables.
Mimi Simon in Edmonton, AB Canada 09/18/2009
Best:
Why: We enjoyed the restaurants in the area and the fruit stands.
Jim Colgan in Bixby, OK USA 08/15/2009
Best: Chez le Gaulois in Sarlat
Why: I had the raclette, and it was delicious (and extremely filling). I also enjoyed Pizzeria Romane and La Mirandol in Sarlat.
Kyla Gurganus in Ypsilanti, MI USA 08/11/2009
Best: L'Amboiserie in Amboise and L'Assiette Normande in Bayeux
Why: We loved L'Amboiserie so much that we ate there 2 nights in a row. The terrace is beautiful and has a great view onto the town and up to the chateau. The staff were great (we actually ended up having the same server both nights). The big salads were a great value, we especially loved the Salade d'Amboise.
L'Assiette Normande had superb, authentic Norman food at a reasonable price. I especially loved the camembert tartlet. The service was unusually slow (even for France), they were busy and we were seated in "the annex" and I think we were forgotten about. But the food was fantastic.
Colleen Earls in Vancouver, WA USA 07/29/2009
Best: La Roserie, Chenonceaux
Why: By far the best meals we had in France. The sadade aux geserds (gizzard salad) was to die for, and the excellent service by owners Laurent and Sophie and staff and convivial atmosphere was magnifique!
Steven Hauser in Atlanta, GA USA 06/13/2009
Best: La Girocedre near Vaison la Romaine
Why: Most delicious provincial food and great atmosphere. It's one of our favorite restaurants in France. More than a 5 minute drive from Vaison la Romaine, due to small country roads, roundabouts and driving at night.
Worst: La Ciboulette in Beaune
Why: We tried to go to this restaurant twice. First night it was too late. Second night we came back early for dinner at 8pm. The restaurant was full and they gave us a reservation at 9pm. We came back a bit before 9pm, the restaurant was still full and we were told to wait another 10 minutes. 2 other french speaking couples came in and they were seated. Another 10 minutes later, the waiter came out and said it would be impossible to seat us tonight. By now it was way pass 9pm and we had trouble finding a good restaurant that could seat us.
We later came back to the restaurant and told them that we were deeply disappointed given the restaurant was highly recommended by Rick Steves. They apologized and said that this happens sometimes.
Sbloom in Dallas, TX USA 06/02/2009
Best: Most of the restaurants were very well recommended!
Why: it was great to know somewhere that a 'friend' had been and knew that the food was worth having and/or splurging on, particularly in cafe-stocked Paris.
Worst: Chez Yvonne would have been a disappointment
Why: I didn't actually dine there, but planned on it based on the brief restaurant reco section of Strasbourg. The menu is all "hoity toity" like lamb 'head' and the like with none of the homey Alsacian staples I was hoping for.
Jessica in Kansas City, MO USA 05/24/2009
Best: Cafe du Marche
Why: Great food, good prices, also the Italian restaurant next door. Convenient location near hotel.
Worst: The one on the opposite corner
Why: Mediocre food, long wait, inattentive service
Sue Cromwell in Chester Springs, PA USA 05/04/2009
Best: Caveau des Arches
Why: Good food - consistent service - great atmosphere
Amy in Houston, TX USA 03/04/2009
Best: Hotel La Roseraie,Chenonceaux, Pasco on Rue Chevet, Rue Cler, Paris
Why: Taste buds never disappointed. Not sure that Pasco's was recommended in Guide Book. We found it on our own. It was outstanding!
Zoe Maurer in Southampton, NJ USA 01/01/2009