 | Nice Restaurants | Tips 1 - 10 of 248 |  |
 | |  |  | La Taverne Massena: The best Italian in Nice? | Tip Rating:   Satisfaction:  |  |  | |  |
Don't be put off by the location - the Zone Pietone is full of restaurants and very touristy, but the Taverna Massena really takes some beating. The service is just right - not too fast, not too slow, the menu wide, and the pizza's cooked "feu de bois" are oustanding. Its always busy, and patronised by the many Italian visitors to Nice - always a good sign. If you can't get in, or fancy another place, be aware that the genius of the Pizza in the South of France since 1956, Francis Cresci, owns two other of the Zone Pietone restaurants - Le Quebec, and La Pizza, both of which serve Pizza to the same exacting and fabulous formula. Taverne Massena has the edge with its more varied general menu than the others. Cresci was recently honoured in Paris along with Nice mayor Jaques Peyrat for innovation and dedication to the highest quality provision of food. In a nation obsessed with high quality food, thats something!
The Perugina sausages with choucroute are a personal favourite, but it is a struggle to chose against the pizza. They work some magic formula with this and the pizza is true perfection. The peperoni is a personal favourite, with lashings of chilli-infused oil at every table to allow you to adjust the heat to your own taste and pain threshold. Leave a Comment Theme: ItalianPrice: US$11-20 » Currency ConverterComparison: about averageAddress: Zone PietoneDirections: The paved walkway between the front and Place Massena
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| | | | Lou Pilha Leva: means 'takeaway' - stay and have a drink though... | Tip Rating: Satisfaction:  | | | | |
The original language of Nice is called Nissart and it is still used in parts of the Old Town. The roads signs in Old Nice are written twice, in French and Nissart - the Nissart looks a little bit like Italian - a reminder of when Nice was not part of France. Lou Pilha Leva is Nissart for The Take-away. Lou Pilha Leva is in the heart of the Old Town at a crossroads. The 'restaurant' is a simple serving hatch and there are tables and benches outside. You will need to suss out if you want sunshine or shade; we went in April and managed to catch a bit of welcome sun at the end of a table. It is very simple and basic. You queue up, get served on a tray which you take and sit down - just fill up any spaces at a table, you will probably share with others but that is ok. Drinks are served at your tables by waiters from a bar opposite the serving hatch on the other side of the road. We ordered two lots of drinks over lunch and although normally you would pay the drinks bill at the end, the waiters seemed happier to take payment with each order, which seems sensible enough. I have always wanted to try here as the menu looks excellent value and it is a lively, buzzy place with good scope for people-watching; the world and his wife seem to pass through here. The down side is the queuing. It has always put us off. Today it wasn't too bad plus there were obvious spaces available at the tables - another thing that put me off was the possibility of acquiring food and having nowhere to sit. There is a slight element of people baggsi-ing tables BEFORE queuing up for food, not really fair, but utterly understandable. In fact, we did this ourselves - the husband queued (briefly, only two in front) and the daughter and I sat down. To make it look better, I caught the eye of a waiter and got the drinks in quick so that we felt were legitimate paying patrons. It does state on the board that you must buy a drink if you intend to sit and eat your food rather than take it away - 'boisson obligataire en terrasse'.
I had a Nicoise Salad, it was fresh and bright and a big plate full. There was plenty of tuna, egg, peppers, tomatoes etc and even the lettuce was nice - sometimes it can be a bit manky in these salads, but I could have eaten every scrap (as usual) It also came with a bread roll so it felt even better value at 7 euros. The daughter had a chicken Panini - an Italian toastie (her second choice as they had run out of ham and cheese!) and the husband had sardine fritters called beignets. I had 2 coffees, good value at 1, 10 euros each and the husband had a beer - there was a good selection of continental beers from 3-5 euros. The drink prices are written up clearly all over the outside of the bar; likewise the food prices are clearly marked up on large boards surrounding the serving hatch. The food is cheap and cheerful with portions of Socca (chickpea flour savoury pancake - delicious) for 2 euros, paninis for about 3, 50 euros, salads and various nicoise fast-food specialities like beignets sardines - battered or fritterd sardines about 4-5 euros a portion. A Pan Bagnat, another nicoise speciality which is basically a large bread roll stuffed with Nicoise Salad, is only 3, 50 euros. It is a popular place so you need to choose your time or not mind queuing. Plenty of French seem to eat here which I always take as a good sign; mind you they are likely to be tourists themselves rather than locals. A half-litre of local wine is about 4-5 euros and a bottle of Cote de Provence rose wine is 12 euros. Nice food, and if you can't get a table get a take-away Pan Bagnat and have a picnic on the beach or up on Castle Hill. Leave a Comment Theme: LocalComparison: least expensiveAddress: 10 rue du Collet - Vieux NiceDirections: On the corner of Place Centrale. Where Place Centrale, rue de la Boucherie, rue du Collet and rue de la Loge all converge.Website: queue up and grab a table Other Contact: open most days, no bookings
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| | | | Chez Rene Socca: Cheap and very cheerful in Old Nice | Tip Rating: Satisfaction: | | | | |
It's taken a couple of goes to figure our how to eat here but now I reckon I've got it sorted and it is great, really cheap too. On one side of the road on a corner, you find a counter displaying pre-prepared plates of Nicois specialities, on the other corner there is a counter with no food, just an oven displaying different varieties of cooked pizza and a traditional socca oven, for the freshly cooked to order socca. There is always a queue here, in fact two queues start to form, the food counter queue for all the different Nicoise specialities and the other queue for pizza and socca orders. If you want a plate of food and socca, then either get a mate to stand in one queue or start off in the food counter first, after they've taken your order, you are asked if you will be wanting socca or pizza, they probably order for you and then you join the other queue. Are you still with me here? It took us five years to sort this out! You can take away - 'emporter' or eat on site, which means that you take your food and walk to the other side of the road and sit at one of the many wooden tables mostly outside and some inside too in the bar over the road. It's ok, it is all part of the same (and I hesitate to use the word) restaurant. Tables hold up to about twelve, don't be shy, just settle yourself down. It's not considered the done thing to bagsie a table in advance, unless perhaps your are a large group and will buy drinks while your friends queue up for the food. Many people are taking the food away, so there is usually plenty of room.
If you choose to sit, you must buy a drink from one of the busy orange-shirted waiters, so although the food is very cheap, pizza portions from 1,10 euros, don't forget to allow for a drink too - the cheapest drink is an espresso coffee, 1,50 euros (includes a biscuit) or a small glass of wine, also 1,50 euros, I then ask for a carafe of water which is free, although a large glass of chilled rose shouldn't break the bank too much for 2,20 euros either. The waiters are sometimes so busy you have to be patient, they are clearing tables etc. On the whole, the plates of Nicois specialities, ie pan bagnats, beignets, farcis, pissaladiere, etc are all priced about 3 euros, the socca is 2 euros and chips are about 1,50 euros, pizza slices from 1,10 euros, sausage and chips is 2,50 euros. All the menus are on my external pages about Nice, see the link below. For pudding there is usually one large tray of raspberry torte, a large slice is about 3 euros. I have noticed many groups of people all ordering separate dishes and then sharing them all between each other, a good way to test out all the dishes. It is a very popular place, whole French families descend on a Sunday, it take them 10 minutes to exchange kisses with everyone. Expect to queue, but don't be put off too much, it is quite fast moving and there ARE two queues going on. If you are not sure what to order, just point at the dish you like the look of, if it needs heating that will be done for you. I have had the Nicois salad and the Pan Bagnat, the daughter has had the white bait and fish beignets, husband the sausage and chips, none of it will gain any Michelin stars, nor is it particularly super-sized but the three of us ate here last Sunday for under 9 euros, 11 if you include wine. Sachets of salt and a pepper shaker are by the socca counter, not on the tables. Really pleasant place once you've got the hang of it and such good value. If you come during Carnaval week in Feb, you will see the waiters all dressed up in exceedingly tarty drag, quite a sight. Leave a Comment Theme: LocalComparison: least expensiveAddress: Rene Socca, rue Miralheti, Old NiceDirections: Where rue Miralheti meets rue Pairoliere, in Nice Old Town, just off Place Garibaldi, not far from the brasserie, La Civette Garibaldi.Website: http://www.allaboutnice.com/restaurants_in_Nice.html Other Contact: closed Mondays
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| | | | Le Tire Bouchon: top quality French cooking in the Old Town | Tip Rating: Satisfaction: | | | | |
This is a super restaurant, consistently good, a great choice for a romantic meal, open every day, evenings only. Note: 2006, Le Tire Bouchon has a new chef from the exclusive Chateau d'Eze. Note the set price is now about 29-30 euros. A gym buddy who owned two of the best restaurants in Liverpool (The Other Place in Allerton and the city centre) visited Nice for the first time two weeks ago, tried this restaurant and recommended it. Her say-so was good enough for me - the husband and I reserved a table at Le Tire Bouchon (meaning 'cork-screw') for our 10th wedding anniversary. I had always quite fancied the look of this restaurant although we had never been - the prices always looked a little on the high side. Also, it is only ever open in the evenings, which has not been much use to us with a youngish child in tow. The restaurant opens at 7 pm. We were offered a table in the rear section of the restaurant "less smoky". You have to go outside and around the corner on to rue de l'Abbaye to reach this part. The decor is bordello-red with mirrors and the lighting is good - low and intimate and the tables were beautifully laid. Service was excellent and all the small details were right, this is a quality place. It was very popular, people without reservations were turned away. I suspected that smokers were encouraged to reserve a table at the front part of the restaurant. The clientele looked to be mostly tourists; nearly everyone spoke English although from the accents, few were from the UK. I was surprised to see so few French, perhaps the combination of the touristy location and being Easter kept the French away - many prefer to celebrate festivals en famille. The 3-course menu for 27 euros offered seven choices of starter and six choices of main course plus cheese or a pudding. Some olives and slices of salami arrived while we were studying the menu. Details of the 27-euro menu are on the web link given below; it is very tempting - full of rich fatty meats, pate, rich sauces and game.
The husband picked the winner this night. For an extra 7 euros, and to reward his infinite patience over the last ten years, he ordered Tournedos Rossini, with goose liver. It came wrapped in a bundle of fat tied on with string. Accompanied by a strong Chateauneuf du Pape for 32 euros (there were cheaper wines available from about 18 euros), he said it was one of the best meals he had ever had - and that spans a few years! I forgot to say he started with Scampi and leeks in a cream casserole. I started with prawn and crab souffle - yummy and piping hot, followed by scallops and crayfish with broccoli and dauphinoise potatoes, excellent too, but I think the husband made the better choice. We didn't want to spend 27 euros on a menu for the daughter as there was not much that would appeal to her. I hit upon the happy idea of two small courses from the a la carte. I had thought a starter then pudding but all she fancied was the cheese course (see inset photo), 7, 40 euros, followed by a sweet pudding. The cheese was superb and I am glad I ordered it as I may be tempted to choose it instead of a sweet pudding another day (for we shall definitely be returning). A large plate of six good-sized chunks of three different varieties of cheese, one a goat cheese, plus salad and apple in a good dressing - delicious and the daughter tucked in happily making the most of the basket of stone-ground bread. For pudding, the daughter, surprise, chose the hot chocolate pudding, husband had the tarte tatin - posh apple pie and as a nod to the diet I had a lime sorbet, utterly delicious followed by decent coffee (6,20 euros for two double espressos) Not the cheapest meal we've ever had in Nice but one of the best value and certainly one of the best quality. The wine, coffee and Badoit - a half bottle of this mineral water cost 3,20 euros, bumped the price up but the total of just under 110 euros compares very well to restaurants of a similar standard in London and Liverpool. Here's to the next 10 years. Leave a Comment Theme: FrenchComparison: more expensive than averageAddress: 19 rue de la Prefecture, Old Nice 06300Phone: 04 93 92 63 64Directions: Rue de la Prefecture is in the Old Town of Nice - the road that runs parallel to, and one block north of the Cours Saleya - the famous flower market of Nice. Open every evening from 7pm. There is a good map on the website below.Website: www.le-tire-bouchon.com Other Contact: (2005: set menu now 28 euros)
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| | | | Au Vieux Four: for the cheapest pizza (and wine) in Nice... | Tip Rating: Satisfaction: | | | | |
This is my local pizzeria, sadly closed for a few weeks this December and January. It is in rue Emmanuel Philibert, the same road as our studio and it is the cheapest place that we have found to eat (although now I have found the Bar de la Bourse in the Old Town, there may be a new contender for this title) It is very small, no terrace and it is always packed with locals and sometimes the canny guests from the two budget hotels over the road. It is a good idea to pop in or phone to book a table.
The speciality here is pizza (nine varieties from 5,80 to 8,20 euros) made as you watch and cooked in a wood-burning oven or 'au feu de bois' There is always a brisk trade in take-away pizzas. The prices are excellent -about 6 euros for a large and yummy cheese and tomato or Marguerite pizza. The wine is the cheapest I have found too - about 5 euros for a jug (about a bottle) - mind you it is a tad rough but who cares as these prices. The husband who doesn't love pizza like I do has tried other things off the menu and these have always been pretty disappointing, apart from the basic pasta dishes like spaghetti bolognaise which are excellent. When in Nice, it is my ambition to do as little cooking as possible. This means I am constantly on the quest to eat out well but cheaply (otherwise there's no money for shopping ;-) This can be difficult in Nice but I am slowly building up a few places that fit the bill and this restaurant rates very highly with me as it is cheap even with wine, close to home and the pizzas are excellent. Very recommended and handy if you are staying near the Port or Place Garibaldi. Leave a Comment Theme: PizzaComparison: less expensive than averageAddress: 1, rue Emmanuel Philibert, 06300 NicePhone: 04 93 89 00 89Directions: rue Emmanuel Philibert is off rue Cassini between the Port and Place Garibaldi. The Au Vieux Four restaurant is across the road from the Comfort Hotel and the Kyriad Hotel at Place du Pin.Website: http://www.allaboutnice.com/restaurants_in_Nice
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| | | | Chez Pistol: great seafood, lovely square, best ignore the name | Tip Rating: Satisfaction: | | | | |
This restaurant, Chez Pistol, is small, unpretentious and does great seafood. It is somewhat in the shadow of its neighbour the well-established and famous seafood restaurant, Le Grand Cafe de Turin. It is literally in the shadow too, as it is under a stone arcade (be wonderfully cooling in the summer heat) along the south side of Place Garibaldi - a formal yet attractive square which links the Old Town with the modern city. It is soon to be pedestrianised and become part of Nice's new tramway so building work may well disrupt the area periodically. We have not yet been to Le Grand Cafe de Turin and we are building up for a large platter of seafood crustacea there one day but as we only had an hour before we had to leave for the airport this Easter Monday, we opted to have lunch at the no-queue and less impressive-looking neighbour - Chez Pistol. Inspite of liking this restaurant very much, I still don't think much of the name. The inside of the restaurant is old and wood-panelled but we ate outside as the usual temporary plastic walls and outside heaters were in place to thwart any inclement conditions. Interestingly, listening in to the rather loud lady (a Brit) at the next table, she was informing her friend that this restaurant was far superior to Le Grand Cafe de Turin next door and that the staff here were much friendlier. I shall reserve judgement until I have been to both. I shall certainty be coming here again and I'm glad I got over my prejudice against the horrid name. The service was excellent. We are so used to walking along this arcade as it is part of our well-trod path to the Old Town and Bus Station that it was a real treat to actually stop and have lunch here.
The grilled sardines. I think the photograph sums the restaurant up very nicely even though I think 'food' photographs can be a bit off-putting. I couldn't fault this simple plate of grilled sardines. It was fresh and tasted of the sea. Served with bread, salad and wodges of lemon, it was excellent and it took a bit of eating too. Good value for 10 euros by the time I had finished. The husband and daughter had moules marinieres - mussels in garlic juice, 8, 50 euros each plus a couple of bowls of chips, 3 euros each. The daughter loved it; the husband thought the juice a bit watery - all the more to mop up with bread I'd have thought. To give you an idea of some prices; A pitchet (half a bottle) of house red is 8 euros. The Plateau Pistol (an impressive selection of shellfish) is 89 euros for two people sharing and the Plateau Royal Pistol (even more impressive) for three to four people is 179 euros. Great for a special occasion. All sorts of seafood and shellfish is on offer - oysters, urchins, clams, langoustines, lobster etc as both starters and mains, from a few euros for a couple of pieces up to top prices for the platters. Special fish soup, Bouillabaisse is 24 euros. The menu was comprehensive but concentrated on its specialities - shell-fish. It included a couple of pasta and meat dishes but I think it would be pointless to come here and not have the seafood. Here's an example of how to save money. I had one bottle of Badoit mineral water - 3,50 euros. I should have stuck to the free carafe of water. One bowl of chips was more than enough for 2 sharing - save another 3 euros, not much but it would have bought the bill down to under 40 euros for 3 people. Look out for 'Rouilly' the fluffy white restaurant dog - a great favourite of the daughter, we always have to look out for him every time we walk by and we are seldom disappointed. What a great life that dog must have! Leave a Comment Theme: SeafoodComparison: about averageAddress: Place Garibaldi, 06000 NicePhone: 04 93 92 56 21Directions: From the city centre, head up boulevard Jean Jaures to Place Garibaldi. From the Old Town, head up rue Pairoliere to Place Garibaldi and from the Port, head up rue Cassini to Place Garibaldi. A few minutes walk. Also bus routes 1, 2, 7, 9, 10 and 14.Website: http://www.allaboutnice.com/restaurants_in_Nice Other Contact: closed Tuesdays, no cheques
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| | | | Bar de la Bourse: I almost want to keep this tip to myself... | Tip Rating: Satisfaction: | | | | |
December 2003 We have walked past this bar many times in the summer. It is by the fish market in Place de St Francois in the Old Town - not the most attractive street. There is no outside eating area or terrace but the owners have squeezed a couple of plastic tables directly onto the street - these were always occupied every lunchtime in spite of the unattractive surroundings and busy pedestrian traffic. When you peep in, it looks like a (fairly grotty) bar. Note: 2006 - downstairs bar is now extended restaurant area, no longer a bar, they must be doing well. It's my husband's favourite place to eat in Nice. However, this December, we decided to re-consider this place following a recommendation found in Jack's Travel Guide website and we decided to give it a go, ever on the search for good but cheap meals. What we had missed, were the stairs leading up to a mezzanine level where there was a small restaurant. It was full of French people. The owner must have been a fit man, up and down every minute. The decor was simple but what gave it some edge was the modern art exhibited on the wall by the local artist, Eve Domy. It felt relaxed and easy up there in the midst of happy and lively french conversation. The price was amazing (for Nice). 10 euros for a 3-course meal which also included a glass of kir (white wine and cassis).
The set menu for 10 euros gave a choice of 2 or 3 starters, main courses and several desserts. The plat du jour this day was lasagne. We started with pissaladiere (onion tart - a Nicois speciality) which was very good, then I had the lasagne , the husband had daube (beef stew) with ravioli. The lasgne came with a salad. The daughter did not have the set menu and chose a nicoise salad (about 5 or 6 euros) from the general menu. There was plenty of bread, not really needed as the portions were large. A bottle of wine was only 6 euros and it was fine. For pudding, chocolate torte which was excellent and not the usual dry afterthought and it was quickly commandeered by the daughter. The husband had cheese. Bar de la Bourse is open Tuesday to Saturday (closed Sundays and Mondays) for LUNCH ONLY. I don't know if you can make reservations here - I think you just turn up and wait - have a drink in the bar if necessary. Drawbacks. Well, I wonder if we would eat here in the heat of the summer. For me, it would be too hot , busy and crowded to enjoy eating squashed in the street and I wonder if it might also be too hot to be indoors upstairs. I did notice an air-conditioning unit up there so I think it may be worth a go in the summer to see if it is bearable. Note 2006 - it is, also outside is v pleasant if you can grab one of the two tables! However, in the winter, what a wonderful place. Simply the best meal for the cost that we have had in Nice and we will definitely be returning. We were so full we did not bother with an evening meal. The food and service was excellent. The meal was incredible value and I can't wait to go back there in January. Note; been back many times; excellent, price now about 11-12 euros. Leave a Comment Theme: LocalComparison: least expensiveAddress: rue Pairoliere, Old NicePhone: 04 93 62 38 39Directions: At the start of rue Paroliere in Old Nice, just by the fish market in Place St Francois, about 1- 2 minutes' walk from the Gare Routiere (bus station) Not far from Place Garibaldi.Website: http://www.jack-travel.com/CoteAzur/CoteAzurhtml/nice_recommended_restaurants.htm Other Contact: above website recommendation
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on March 23, 2004
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