- french
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There is comparatively little written about the east of the Island in the guide books which is a shame as Aleria is a bit of a find for foodies: L'Etang de Diana is France's foremost spot for the farming of oysters and mussels (they say) and the region is carpeted with vineyards. Our favourite restaurant was Le Maracana on the town's main street. Don't be put off by the roadside setting and plastic chairs... A 13 euro menu featured hearty local vegetable soup, succulent pork fillet served with figs and brocciu cheese and mint-stuffed omelette plus a choice of fresh desserts and a carafe of house wine. Simple, yet stunning.
Route de la Mer, 20270 Aleria
Tel: 04 95 56 24 84
This is a website I just stumbled upon this morning, which is dedicated to Paris top restaurants. Worth a visit, especially for its list of the very top French cuisine restaurants and their worldwide acclaimed chefs (Michelin-starred, etc).
Great French restaurant serving tasty steaks, matchstick frites and a huge selection of wines. Atmospheric lighting, vintage cigarette posters, good service and really low prices given the quality of the food. Stays open late too.
Schutzenstrasse 5, Mitte, www.entrecote.de
A wonderful French 'country-style' (their words) restaurant, serving fabulous local fish, lamb, beef etc., but done in the best French way, i.e. cooked well and served simply. Anniversary dinner (snails in garlic butter and chilli, local lamb, sea bass in yet more delicous garlic butter, plum & almond tart) was faultless. So many provincial (and urban come to that) restaurants overcook fish but not so here - and it's good to be offered local sea trout and brill hauled in from the harbour opposite in Conwy. Staff are young yet very friendly and helpful. Not innovative cuisine but delicous nonetheless. We've been coming to Conwy for years but only tried this place this weekend - we'll definitely be heading back.
Paysanne, Station Road, Deganwy
Conwy, LL31 9EJ
Tel: 0871 223 9396
For the most authentic French food in the capital with quirky surroundings and no gimmicks.
Great snails, steak and wines. You have to go.
21 Monmouth St, London, WC2H 9DD - opposite Covent Garden Hotel;
tel: 020 7836 7243;
www.monplaisir.co.uk
A little French cafe in Southsea. Amazing food, friendly service and fairly cheap prices. It's a place to relax, enjoy your food and hang out with your friends.
37 Marmion Rd, Southsea, at the end of the High Street, opposite Waitrose;
tel: 023 9282 5113
Best tip - a bistro called Petit Paris on Grassmarket. The lunch deal is quite exceptional value for money, however get there early as there's very limited space and it's rather popular.
Failing this a picnic in the botanical gardens is also great on a sunny day.
38-40 Grassmarket;
tel: (0131) 226 2442;
www.petitparis-restaurant.co.uk
La Camargue is a French brasserie in Leith not too far from the Royal Yacht Britannia. A large lobster hangs over the door which does give you a clue that it is very much seafood orientated. What do you expect? Leith is a port after all! It does however cater for meat eaters as well, so fear not.
A two course of starter and main costs £16 and is good value. Starters include lobster soup, mussels, oysters and salmon. Mains range from fish such as Dover sole and halibut to meat such as venison and steak. Check out the website for the menu, but for £16 it allowed me to try things I have never tried before such as oysters. Staff are friendly and knowledgeable. The bar next door, Cameo bar, is worth a visit as well.
23 Commercial Street, Leith; tel: 0131 554 9999;
Transport: take the (very frequent) bus 22 from Princes street to get to Commercial Street;
www.camcameo.co.uk
Lovely restaurant in one of those old French colonial mansions. Sit on the wooden porch, amidst tropical plants, caressed by the breeze from old-fashioned ceiling fans and have a delicious leisurely lunch. The four cheese pizza is to die for...honestly.
Impeng Road, near the temple, Wat Impeng
Atmospheric French restaurant in Collins Street, next to the theatres. Good food, wine and service - c'est tres bien!
Collins Street, CBD
This is one of the best restaurants in Berlin and you wouldn't know by the looks. From outside it's quite shabby and inside it's quite dark and dusty, but they serve excellent French cuisine there (especially the Tagliatelli with prawns) and the wine is amazing. Jacques, a jovial Frenchman with beret, accent and everything, is still serving all the customers in person.
Maybachufer 8, 12047 Berlin, U Schönleinstrasse
You'll find this delightfully eccentric restaurant in the sleepy hamlet of Les Bois, just next to Flègere. The decor is odd and the lighting a touch bright, but if you're after authentic French cuisine it's the best bar none. It's also excellent value for money (particularly the set menus) and the wine list is excellent.
Les Bois, Chamonix. Tel: +33(0)450532931
Modern Scottish food intrigues, but there is not enough of it. La Garrigue does great things with duck and other Languedoc specialities, and the cheeses and lavender brulee are very good indeed.
www.lagarrigue.co.uk/ 31 Jeffrey St, Edinburgh
Award-winning French restaurant that uses the best Welsh produce. A three-course dinner costs around £35 each excluding wine.
Le Gallois - Y Cymro, 6-10 Romilly Crescent, Canton 029 2034 1264 www.legallois-ycymro.com/
By day, a tapas restaurant; by night, a bar/club. A lively mix of French and Spanish influences in music, food and drink. The young crowd here can be relied upon to dance with a passion and energy that is quite uplifting for a visitor from the UK.
This excitement is partly due to the live trumpet player at weekends, who, to disguise the DJ's average mixing skills, blasts out the south of France fanfare heard at rugby games and all over the region. This works the crowd into a frenzy, tempered only when the trumpeter slows things down for the Spanish national anthem. Then another fanfare, and the crowd go wild again. It's like this every weekend.
1 Rue Gabriel Peri, Toulouse. Nearest station: Gare Matabiau
On top of Manchester’s museum of the city: elegant building, great panorama. French-ish, but with local delights including Lancashire hotpot and steak and kidney pie.
Levels 5 & 6 Urbis, Cathedral Gardens; Tel: 0161605 8282
French brasserie in Leith. Generous portions of high quality fare coupled with friendly and knowledgeable staff. Need I say any more? Probably pay £17 for two courses.
88 Commercial Street; Leith; tel: 0131 553 5933;
Directions: get very frequent no. 22 bus from Princes street off jump off one or two stops before Royal Yacht Britannia/Ocean Terminal.
A French restaurant with a casual atmosphere and friendly staff, the food was really good. Eight courses including wine comes to about £30-50 per person, very good value.
975 Ploenchit Road in the building between
the InterContinental and the Holiday Inn;
BTS Chidlom, exit 7;
tel: 02 656 15312
Open daily 11:30-14:30, 18:00-24:00
The best restaurant in Whistler and definitely worth the price. An amazing atmosphere with extremely friendly staff. The interior is tastefully decorated, the French and Italian food creations are outstanding, and the wine list is exceptional. An up-market restaurant definitely worth visiting.
4222 Village Square, Whistler Village; tel: 604 932 4540;
www.araxi.com
This is a French/modern European restaurant in Stoke Newington. It's bit pricier in the evenings but nice, and the do a good-value lunch.
24 Stoke Newington Church Street, Stoke Newington;
tel: 0207 249 5029
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