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Provence Restaurants  Eating out is a part of the French way of life.   Don’t have a holiday in France without having a meal in a French restaurant.  Although there are many unusual French foods (frogs legs, snails, tête de veau etc.) you will find many foods that are a true delight!
Which restaurant?  Try to find a restaurant that is targeted at French diners (French menus are a good clue!).  Don’t expect to find a fantastic restaurant in the major tourist destinations - here we would recommend something safe and straightforward such as pizza, crêpes etc..
Which time?  It’s often cheaper to eat at lunchtime and during the week.  Sunday lunch is always busy and it pays to book ahead.  In the evenings, don’t arrive too early - 7.30PM is often the earliest you can get served.
Which menu?  Don’t go for à la carte options.  Usually they have the same options as the menu prix fixe and they cost a lot more!  Avoid Menu Touristique like the plague!
Which wine?  Wine can be quite expensive if you go for named bottles.  But carafes of house white or red wine have usually been exquisitely selected by the restauranteur and are excellent value.  Refer to our wine section for more advice on wines in France.

Our favourite restaurants in Provence:

     - Auberge St Roch
     - Bastide Bleue
     - Clos du Pâtre
     - La Grotte
     - Hostellerie du Seigneur
     - Le Mas de Garrigon
     - Le Mesclun
     - Les Geraniums
    
- L’Oustalet Maianen
     - Pizzeria des Remparts


Please let us have your feedback on any others!

La Grotte

1 Ave des Pebrons

13008 Marseille
+33 (0)4 91 73 17 79

Follow the coast road south as it bends around the Massif de Marseilleveyre.  Just as it turns inland towards the end of the road (at les Goudes) you will find this delightful seafood restaurant (meat, pasta, pizza also available!).  This is one of those hidden gems that you would never find without local knowledge (thanks to my colleague Frank Ferrandino!).  It comes highly recommended, not only by French colleagues, but also English colleagues that have been taken there as well.
External websites offering information on Provence restaurants (not all visited by us):

- Provence Web
- Restaurants in Provence

- Advice on eating out with families in Provence

We had a very pleasant evening eating in the open air at one of the pizzerias in the central square in Aigues Mortes.  Occasionally street entertainers came alongside and many French families were rounding off their day with a meal out.