La Petite Maison - Nice

La Petite Maison is a restaurant that we return to year after year. Run by the formidable Madame Ruby, who frightens waiters and customers alike with her stern yet charismatic countenance, the restaurant has become a favourite among the glitterati.

Despite its omission from theMichelin Guide this restaurant really wows in terms of food. My starter dish of truffled scrambled eggs was vastly superior to Terre de Truffe’s paltry offering. They were creamy, fluffy, and light with the perfect balance of of truffle. This was the dish of the holiday, without question, hestitation or debate. In fact it is one of the best things I have ever tasted!!

For the main we all shared two magnificent roast chickens stuffed with Foie gras. So simple yet so wonderful, the chicken was cooked to perfection–tender and succulent with a robust crispiness.

La Petite Maison is not to everyone’s taste, which might explain its exclusion from the Michelin. The service is undeniably French, which in this case denotes rather cocky and indolent waiters who appear somewhat distracted and exasperated. It is also a good place for checking out the interesting work of some of Europe’s plastic surgeons. Certain patrons looked so pulled, taught, and overly enhanced that they resembled cartoon characters. If this is your kind of scene then you will be rewarded by the most amazing food. If not I still urge you to go just for the experience!

Lunch - La Merenda

Tucked away in a backstreet of Nice’s old town is an exceptional little bistro, called La Merenda. There is no telephone which means popping in beforehand and making a reservation. It is an tiny room, some of the press have referred to it rather unkindly as a ‘hole in the wall”, with wooden tables and stools placed so closely together that you can almost touch your neighbours shoulders. This should not deter you, however, because its rustic unpretentious charm is exactly what adds to the overall eating experience.

The Chef, Dominque Le Sanc toils aways in full view of his patrons creating great honest home cooking. Interestingly, he was a former chef at the renowned Le Chantecler who eschewed the sometimes stuffy gastronomic world in favour of opening his own restaurant, specializing in regional dishes.

There are no menus just one blackboard listing the daily offerings. I opted for a starter of Moules Marinieres. The mussels whilst fairly small had so much flavour, which was enhanced further by the fragrant broth which enveloped them. To follow a beautifully executed daube of beef was melt-in-the-mouth tender and reaffirmed exactly why this tiny bistro was so popular with tourists and locals alike.

Go during the day, and lap up the atmosphere.

La Petite Maison
11 rue St-Francois de Paule
Nice
04-93-85-71-53

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