Roche Belle

Bib Gourmand • Provençal. This small house, smothered in Virginia creeper and complete with a patio planted with olive trees, paints an archetypal portrait of Provence. The aromatic, sun-soaked cuisine, steeped in the fragrant aroma of the Mediterranean, illustrates a culinary quest whose goal is “simply good food” (to quote chef Arnaud). The bargain lunchtime set menu is as devilishly tempting as the à la carte lineup. We sampled snails in parsley and garlic and hazelnut-flavoured squash; veal blanquette stew with girolle mushrooms and red rice from Camargue; roast figs in muscat grapes and fennel, honey mousse and raspberry sorbet. The house speciality is whole fish and poultry (seabream, capon, etc.). Cheerful welcome and service.