Avignon

[Mark Goodson]

Four of us are going to Avignon by train for a week at the end of April.
Can anyone recommend restaurants? I have the feeling the Doc has a rough idea of the environs. Any suggestions as to restaurant  establishments we should frequent?
Cheers,
Mark.

[Dr Keyboard]

Ha! I live right in the middle of Avignon, I'm looking at the Palais des Papes right now as I type this message!
Where are you staying?

[Dr Keyboard]

Our favourite is La Vache à Carreaux, down behind the Palais; specialises in cheese dishes and fantastic local wines, extremely good value, you have to book a day or two in advance.
Poshest in town is Christian Etienne, 1*, never eaten there but has a good reputation.
In the Place de l'Horloge there are loads of restaurants almost all rubbish apart from Lou Mistrau which is a decent-ish old-fashioned bistro, and the CousCousier opposite the Mairie on the 1st floor.
D'Ici et D'Ailleurs makes a decent fist of it usually, quite interesting and different food although I find the salle a bit cold.
Right down the bottom of Rue Republique is Maitre Kanter, excellent for seafood and steaks. Seafood is particularly good, they have a big turnover.
Tapalocas is a great hippy-ish tapas bar on three floors behind Republic with free wi-fi.
Just outside town on the Route de Lyon/Ave Charles de Gaulle in Le Pontet is Les Agassins where I used to work; great value lunch menu and you can sit/eat by the pool. Tell them you know Chris Ward, the Maitre d' is an old friend as is the chef.
Let me know when you're coming, if I'm in town I'll buy you a beer - Le Cid on Place de l'Horloge is a cool bar, best cocktails in town.

[Mark Goodson]

That was a piece of luck indeed!

Thanks for all the in depth and practical info which is exciting.

We're staying at the Avignon Grand Hotel organised by the tour operator called Cricketer Holidays.

Our companions are Patrick Playfair-Hannay of Kingsmuir (Yes really) and his wife Frances, known as 'Fra'. We've holidayed together many times, the best instance being a week in Turkey which turned out to be three weeks in all. I went on the Vincent of course, but the Playfairs and my wife Barbara travelled by air.

This time, however, I'll be travelling with the others by train as the as the bike's getting a bit much for stiff joints.

I sure look forward to meeting you if you can stand the thought, so please leave contact details at the hotel - or of course by e-mail if you wish - I have to tell you though that our grasp of the language is of the "la plume de me tante" variety - pretty minimal indeed.

Cheers,

Mark.

[mpprh]

I went on the Vincent of course, but the Playfairs and my wife Barbara travelled by air.

This time, however, I'll be travelling with the others by train

Sacriledge

Peter

[Mark Goodson]

Couldn't agree more, Peter, but both Vincents are off the road at the moment, that is until Bob deigns to get the necessary machining done!
Mark.

[briand]

This is getting interesting!  I've just now seen this thread, and for me, too, it couldn't have been more timely.  We (two couples the wrong side of 60) are driving down to southern France in August and we'll be staying in Avignon August 11-16 at the Hotel Le Magnan, near the southern wall of the city (that'll give you some idea of our budget!).

I much appreciated your comments on restaurants, Doc, as we'll have five nights to cater for.  Are you still a chef, and if so, where?

In any case, if it can be managed, I feel I owe you a beer or two for the help over the years.  What do you think?

[Dr Keyboard]

Would love to see you if I'm here; I will be here around the 23rd as we're getting married that day, otherwise I can't say as I don't know - I'm almost certainly off to live and work permanently in Ireland fairly soon...

[briand]

Ah.  Looks like we'll miss you.  But congratulations on the forthcoming marriage and best wishes for the new life in Ireland!

[Dr Keyboard]

Drop me an e-mail to remind me nearer the time, it's not impossible that I'll be here. And you can always treat the missus anyway.
Cheers

[briand]

Hi Dr K.

Just to report back on our visit to Avignon in early August :

I can't recall all the places we eat at, but the D'Ici et D'Ailleurs was very good (and also not expensive at all), and we enjoyed cocktails at Le Cid.  We did eat once on our first night at a "touristy place" in Place d'Horloge - "cheap and adequate" would be reasonable description (my excuse is that it was dark, we unsure of our bearings and it was raining).  On one evening we partook of an event which included a superb meal with 4 different local wines served in the Cloister gallery of the Palais des Papes.  This was a fantastic experience and I'd be interested to know who maight have done the catering if not the Palais' convention centre itself.

Thanks again or the tips.

[Dr Keyboard]

Glad you enjoyed it. Palais has its own catering staff.