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Here are three rental apartments in Nice near Les Épicuriens:
Les Épicuriens
6, Place Wilson, 06000 Nice
+33 (0)4 93 80 85 00
Tucked discreetly away on Place Wilson, you may not immediately notice Les Épicuriens when you’re wandering through this leafy square. Far from the crowds of tourists in the Old Town and the Zone Piétonne, the ‘Etoile’ area, as we call it, is a hotbed of culinary talent and home to some of our very favourite restaurants.
As Les Épicuriens is conveniently located just next to the Nice Pebbles Sales office, I decided one cold, January night that I’d walked past one time too many without ever venturing inside.
Booking a table for two (booking at the weekends is advised) we were warmly welcomed into the cosy dining room and shown to our table.
I had been worried that the restaurant may be a little stuffy, with its pristine tablecloths and the suit-clad business crowd it attracts at lunchtime.
I had no need to worry. The atmosphere is surprisingly laid back and friendly, especially in the summer when tables spill out on to the terrace and you can enjoy one of Nice’s balmy summer evenings, the perfect partner to great food, wine and company.
I have to mention how welcoming every staff member was. In fact the service was one of the best I’ve experienced here. The waiting staff got the balance of friendly yet discreet just right; knowledgeable about their food and wine, without constantly interrupting your conversations!
The food itself was divine. The menu is just the right size, with a good balance of fish and meat dishes that will appeal to most tastes.
While perusing the menu we were presented with an amuse bouche to whet our appetite.
I opted for fish choosing ‘friands de langoustines’ which were coated in a light batter and served with seasonal salad leaves. Tasty and light, I knew I was in for a treat from the start.
Just the right amount of time was left between each course, so you weren’t sat tummy rumbling nor were the main courses brought while you’re still on your last mouthful of the starter.
The main course arrived, a full sea bream that was presented to me and then filleted and served on a bed of tomatoes and onions with a drizzle of olive oil. This may sound simple, but there’s no need for any sauces or spices when the fish is this fresh and cooked to perfection. On the side a creamy risotto with asparagus rounded off the main meal nicely.
To accompany each course, the sommelier recommends wines served by the glass. This was ideal for us, as I wanted a white to go with my fish while my partner Fabien was looking for a nice red to complement his meat dish.
The crisp Sancerre recommended by the sommelier, hit just the right note and perfectly complemented my sea bream.
Fabien was more tempted by the meat dishes and enjoying a light starter of artichokes and Parmesan followed up by lamb with crushed potatoes.
Too full for dessert really, I sacrificed myself for the sake of this review and struggled through a tiramisu (which I thoroughly enjoyed!). Fabien plumped for the café très gourmand with a selection of three mini-desserts and coffee.
All in all we had a great meal at Les Épicuriens. As the name suggests, this is a restaurant for those who love to eat. They pride themselves on offering ‘bistronomie’, a hybrid between a gastronomic restaurant and a friendly neighbourhood bistro with a touch of class. This description pretty much sums up the experience perfectly.
If you’re looking for a quick bite to eat, this isn’t the place, but if you want a relaxed evening filled with fresh, local food and excellent wine, you’ll find it all here.
– Keely, Nice Pebbles. If you would like to contact Keely, you can email her at keely@nicepebbles.com