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Restaurant of the Week Archive |
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Amsterdam
Le Zinc... et les autres - this two-storey restaurant and former warehouse on Prinzengracht serves up stunning French food in a candlelit and white-linen setting that is casual, stylish and romantic. The à la carte menu is not cheap but once you taste the food you won’t begrudge the prices or the small portions. Three-course set menus start at €34.50 and there's also a superb cheese board. Staff are friendly and knowledgeable, and service is attentive but relaxed. Closed Sunday. Map Nov 11
Tujuh Maret - if you haven’t tried Indonesian food yet, Amsterdam is a great place to give it a go and this mid-price restaurant south of the centre at Utrechtsestraat 73 is one of the best in the city. If you are a first timer, an ideal introduction is a rijsttafel, a banquet of 18 delicious and spicy dishes that range from mild to pass me a bucket of iced water. It includes a chicken satay that is so good you won't want to share it with anyone - 0031 (0) 204279865. Map Aug 11
Le Pêcheur - on a warm, sunny day, one of the main attractions of this excellent fish restaurant is eating outside in the wonderful terrace garden, overlooked by some of Amsterdam’s finest houses. If the weather isn’t playing ball, the stylish interior, superb menu, and friendly and helpful staff will help take your mind of things. The €40 four-course set menu is great value for money. Closed Saturday lunch and Sunday - 0031 (0) 206243121. Map April 11
De Compagnon - this restaurant, a few minutes from Centraal Station, is a little difficult to find but make the effort and you’ll be rewarded with some of the best French cooking in the city. It specializes in classic Bourgondian dishes accompanied by an excellent selection of wines. The service is friendly and attentive, and the prices very reasonable. Ask for a window table overlooking the canal. Closed Sun and Sat lunch - 0031 (0) 206204225. Map Jan 11
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Taller de Tapas - there are several branches of this excellent tapas bar and restaurant in the city centre, all serving excellent Catalan cooking with plenty of mouth watering daily specials. The prices are reasonable, the house wines are good value, and there are multilingual menus if you don’t trust your Spanish. The original Taller opened in Plaza Sant Josep Oriol, a short walk from the cathedral in the historic Barri Gòtic, and is still our favourite. Map Dec 11
Irati- this inexpensive eatery off La Rambla - Cardenal Casanas 17 - was reputedly one of Barcelona’s first tapas bars. In the stand-and-eat bar you simply ask for a plate and help yourself to the delicious food. Everything comes on a cocktail stick and these are used to calculate the bill. As the floor is always littered with sticks, this system is clearly flawed. There’s also a restaurant area at the back. Closed Sun - 0034 902520522. Map Nov 11
Txakolin - this lively, friendly and moderately-priced tapas bar and restaurant near Parc de la Ciutadella is one of the city’s best tapas bars. But don’t fill up too much on the food lining the bar or you won’t have room for the constant stream of goodies coming out of the kitchen every few minutes. Everything tastes wonderful but the tortilla a la espanola is particularly superb. Good value house wines. Marques de l’Argentera 19 - 0034 932681781. Map Oct 11
Qu Qu - this lively tapas bar and restaurant is just a couple of minutes north of Plaça de Catalunya. You can eat at the bar, in the restaurant, or even get a takeaway, but whatever you decide the food is excellent and the house wines are great value. Even though the place is always busy, the bionic staff work at light speed, so you won’t have to wait too long for your food. Great for a snack or a full-blown meal - 0034 933174512. Map Aug 11
Orio - formerly called Vildsvin, this comfortable and inviting restaurant at Ferran 38 in the heart of the old city serves traditional Basque-style dishes and pinxtos - essentially tapas on bread. The food is excellent and good value, the house wines are inexpensive and very quaffable, and the staff are friendly, helpful and attentive. Fresh oysters are a house speciality and they serve some of the best croquetas in the city - 0034 902520522. Map June 11
7 Portes - this stylish restaurant serves some of the best Catalan food in the city and offers an excellent selection of wines. It has the added attraction of serving from 1pm to 1am, seven days a week. It opened in 1836, making it one of the oldest eateries in the city, and it’s certainly one of the best known. It’s always busy but if you don’t have a reservation and they’re full, you probably won’t have to wait long for a table - 0034 933193033. Map March 11
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Bistro de Pompe - step through the door of this charming old house just of the Markt in the heart of the city and you’ll find a diminutive and cosy bistro with a modern interior serving good food with a wide range of influences. The varied menu gives you plenty to choose from including excellent meat and fish dishes - especially the steaks - tasty pastas and tempting salads. Three- course menus from €27. Closed Monday - 0032 (0) 50616618. Map Nov 11
Manoir Red - this beautifully renovated 18th-century mansion close to the tranquil Begnijhof has been converted into a stunning hotel and restaurant formerly called De Snippe. It's one of the best places to eat in the city and the sophisticated surroundings are as much a feast for the senses as the food is for the taste buds. It also has a lovely garden terrace and set lunches from €40. Closed Mon/Tues lunch - 0032 (0) 50337070. Map Sept 11
L’Intermède - this stylish and intimate bistro on the outskirts of the city centre is away from the main tourist bustle but still easy get to. The cooking is French with Flemish influences and the results are superb. It's small and cosy and just the sort of place you might take that special someone for a romantic proposal over a candlelit dinner. Budget to mid-priced - Wulfhagestraat 3. Closed Sunday and Monday - 0032 (0) 50331674. Map Aug 11
't Huidevettershuis - set in the former Tanners Guildhall, which dates back to 1450, this charming and friendly restaurant specializes in Flemish and seafood dishes. Its four intimate dining rooms are spread over two floors and a window table will give you picturesque canal views as a backdrop to your meal. Service is attentive but relaxed and the excellent food and wine are very reasonably priced. Set lunches from €22. Closed Tuesday - 0032 (0) 50339506. Map July 11
De Stove - a couple of minutes from the Markt, in the historic centre of the city, you’ll find this atmospheric little husband and wife restaurant which seats around 20 people. The French and Flemish cooking is fabulous and if the food got any fresher you’d have to hold it down. Everything is homemade including the bread, cookies and ice cream. Try the herb-encrusted cod or the Flemish fish stew. Set lunches from €44 - 0032 (0) 50337835. Map May 11
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Le Sebastopol - next to the wonderful Théâtre Sébastopol in the town centre is this relaxed and unpretentious restaurant, which proves that Michelin-star dining doesn’t always require a second mortgage. Whether you opt for the €30 light lunch or the €65 seven-course gourmet extravaganza, your taste buds will still be thanking you days later. There are also some good value wines on offer. Closed for lunch Saturday and Monday - 0033 (0) 320570505. Map Jan 12
Aux Moules - as the name might suggest this corner brasserie at Rue de Béthune specializes in mussels and allegedly sells the most moules in France. Since it opened in 1930 it has become a Lille institution and magnet for local mussel aficionados. It's not the place to go for a special occassion or indulgent treat but as a seemingly bottomless bowl of moules with frites will set you back less than €15 it's perfect for an inexpensive and filling pit-stop - 0033 (0) 320571246. Map Aug 11
La Terrasse des Ramparts - even if your only criteria for judging a restaurant is the quality of the food, it’s still hard not to be impressed by the dramatic setting of this Lille institution. The restaurant is part of the 1620 Porte de Gand gatehouse in the historic centre and has a wonderful terrace and glazed veranda. The food is also very good - modern French cooking with Flemish and Mediterranean flourishes. Set menus from €16 - 0033 (0) 320067474. Map May 11
L'Ecume des Mers - this modern and stylish brasserie with its blue décor and contrasting white table linen is a favourite with local seafood aficionados, and it's not hard to see why. The menus change daily to reflect the catch of the day and you’d be hard pressed to find an inland restaurant anywhere in France serving fresher fish. The best tables are in the upstairs gallery and set lunches start at a very reasonable €15 - 0033 (0) 320549540. Map March 11
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Casa Tua - for good quality food at reasonable prices head for this busy osteria near Porta Romana in the south-east corner of the city. It specializes in Tuscan cuisine and you get a free plate of delicious antipasti while you peruse the excellent menu. The wines are also Tuscan, and the subtly fizzy house red and white are such good value it's rude not to drink them. Pleasant surroundings and friendly staff. Closed Monday - 0039 025514269. Map Jan 12
Sadler - whether or not you need a special occasion to blow 200 euros on a meal, this stylish and contemporary two-star Michelin restaurant in the Navigali district of the historic centre will certainly turn your visit into an unforgettable gastronomic experience. It is quite simply one of the best places to eat in the city thanks to the wonderful cooking of Claudio Sadler, one of Milan’s top chefs. Via Trolio 14, closed Sunday - 0039 0258104451. Map Oct 11
Hostaria Borromei - this family-run restaurant in Milan’s business district, and close to the Civico Museo Archeologico, specializes in cooking from the Montova region of Italy. It’s a favourite of the business community and not just because of the excellent and reasonably priced food. It also has a charming vine-shaded courtyard, which makes it a great venue for al fresco summer dining. Set menus from €30. Closed Sunday - 0039 0286453760. Map July 11
Trattoria Milanese - this mid-price trattoria is a little hard to find, but well worth it. The Milanese certainly seem to think so because the place is invariably heaving with locals. It’s everything you’d expect from a family-run trattoria with over 70 years cooking under its belt. The classic regional cuisine is simple and delicious, the surroundings are basic but pleasant, and the house red is excellent value. Via santa Marta 11, closed Tuesday - 0039 0286451991. Map May 11
Joia - although Joia is a vegetarian restaurant, even committed carnivores will leave this gourmet and Michelin starred establishment with a satisfied smile and a determination to go veggie more often. The food is beautifully prepared and presented by its Swiss chef and owner, and there are four distinct seasonal menus. There's also an extensive wine list. Set lunch menus from around €50 and wine from €18 - 0039 0229522124. Map April 11
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Jules Verne - award-winning chef, Alain Ducasse, took charge of the Eiffel Tower’s two restaurants in 2007, but the Michelin-starred Jules Verne on the tower's second level is worth visiting just for the amazing panoramas. You’ll need to book in advance, especially if you want a window seat. There’s a private access lift in the south pillar so you can avoid the queues and fixed-price lunches start at around €60 - 0033 (0) 145556144. Map Jan 12
Astier - there are two very good reasons why this charming little bistro near place de la Republique, just north of the centre, is always busy - the food is excellent and it's superb value for money. And for cheese lovers there’s an additional bonus, Astier has one of the best and most generous cheese platters in Paris - and a great wine list to go with it. Three-course set lunches from €22 and bottles of wine from €17 - 0033 (0) 143571635. Map Nov 11
La Tour d’Argent - this restaurant was opened in 1582 to cater for aristocrats tired of slumming it with the proles. It became so popular that people fought duels to get a table. Luckily you no longer have to reach for a weapon to eat in this plush Michelin-starred eatery. It's famous for its duck and vast wine cellar, and has wonderful panoramic views over Notre Dame. Set lunches from €70. Closed Monday and Tuesday lunch - 0033 (0) 143542331. Map Oct 11
Brasserie Bofinger - this wonderful restaurant is said to be the oldest brasserie in the city and is everything you’d expect from a traditional French brasserie - tiled floors, leather banquettes, vast mirrors, miles of wood panelling, and smartly dressed waiters in a hurry. The beautiful art nouveau interior and stained-glass dome are a protected national monument and it's worth eating here just for the view. Set menus start at €23 - 0033 (0) 142728782. Map Aug 11
Aux Deux Canards - I discovered this restaurant, as many people do, through word of mouth. The food is wonderful and there can few places in Paris more welcoming. The mussel soufflé is superb, as is the house speciality, duck a l’orange. Also try the homemade spirit produced from orange rind, which you'll be offered by your hosts. The house red is great value and set lunches start at €17. Closed Sun & lunch Mon/Sat - 0033 (0) 147700323. Map July 11
Aux Crus de Bourgogne - if you closed your eyes and tried to picture an old-fashioned French bistro, it would probably look something like this wonderful family-run restaurant north-west of the Pompidou Centre. You can even sit outside on the terrace without being choked by Paris traffic because it’s in a car-free zone. Specialities include lobster and foie gras, and set meals start at €20. Closed Saturday & Sunday - 3 rue Bachaumont - 0033 (0) 142334824. Map April 11
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Taverna Da Giovanni - on the other side of the footbridge from Castel Sant’Angelo is this basic cosy budget-price taverna that's family run and welcoming. It serves simple and tasty traditional Italian food including some excellent antipasto, and the house wines are very reasonable and inexpensive. While you’re eating you can spend some time identifying the famous faces in the murals that decorate the place. 58 Via Banco S Spirito - 0039 066864116. Map Dec 11
Colline Emiliane - tucked away down a quiet side street near Piazza Barberini, and easy to miss, is a family-run ristorante that specializes in classic Bolognese cuisine. It serves some of the best pasta and cured meats in the city, as well as a wide choice of delicious Italian dishes. The house wines are good value and they do a superb Zabaglione. Budget to mid-price - via delgi Avignonesi, 22. Closed Sunday evening and Monday - 0039 0644817538. Map Sept 11
Da Giggetto is a wonderful and busy Roman-Jewish restaurant has two outside terraces and a very impressive setting, the Portico d’Ottavia. Specialties include fried artichokes (carciofi), dry-salted cod (baccala) and the extremely moreish courgette flowers filled with cheese and anchovy (fiore di zucca). In the Summer you can escape the heat by having an aperitif in the cellar tasting room. Friendly service and a good selection of wines. Mid-price and up - 0039 066861105. Map June 11
L’Antica Birreria Peroni - you don’t have to be a beer lover to enjoy eating and drinking at this basic and budget beer hall at 19 Via di San Marcello. The simple but delicious food has Roman and Teutonic influences and the house wines are very good value. It’s a favourite with local businessmen at lunchtime, and gets crowded and lively. You might have to share a table with other diners but that's part of the fun - 0039 066795310. Map June 11
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Michel Sarran - set in a lovely 19th-century building with a charming indoor garden, this two-star Michelin restaurant is run by master chef Michel Sarran and his wife, Françoise. The food is superb, and it's probably the best and the most stylish eatery in town. A three-course set lunch, including wine and coffee, is unfaultable value at around €45 and there are also tempting €95 and €120 menus. Closed Sat/Sun & Wed lunch – 0033 (0) 561123232. Map Jan 12
Emile - this great city-centre restaurant overlooks one of Toulouse’s most picturesque squares - Place St. Georges - and has a terrace for alfresco dining in the summer. It serves wonderful and beautifully presented local cuisine including cassoulet, duck and foie gras; and is famous for its excellent and interesting wine list. The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly, and the staff are unobtrusively attentive. Fixed-priced lunches start at around €20. Map Dec 11
Le 19 - this fashionable and atmospheric restaurant, so called because it is 19 steps down from street level, dates back to the 16th century. The split-level layout features terracotta brickwork throughout, but this is most dramatic in the dining room with the stunning floor-to-ceiling brick vaulting. The creative cooking has an international flavour, and set lunches based around daily specials start at €15 - 0033 (0) 534319484. Map Sept 11
Le J'Go - this busy mid-priced bistro and (upstairs) restaurant opposite the indoor market in place Victor Hugo is spread over two floors, several rooms and an outdoor terrace. It serves tasty, good-quality food but as it specializes in meat dishes, particularly lamb, it’s probably not a good choice for vegetarians. Service is friendly and attentive, and there are fixed-priced menus and a reasonable choice of wines - 0033 (0) 561230203. Map May 11
A la Truffle de Quercy - cassoulet, a tasty meat and white bean stew, is a Toulouse speciality and a favourite at this small and friendly restaurant near the Musée des Augustins in the centre of the old town. It is one of the many traditional dishes that have been served up in this busy family-run eatery for over 150 years. The food is very good and inexpensive, and the small wine list is great value - 17 rue Croix-Baragnon - 0033 (0) 561533424. Map March 11
Brasserie Les Beaux-Arts - forests of wood panelling, mirrors everywhere, waiters in black waistcoats and white aprons, this restaurant - part of the Flo group - is every inch the traditional French brasserie. Oyster fans will love the different varieties on offer and if you like crepes, the Grand Marnier flambé is a must. A great location, attentive service, excellent food and wine, and fixed-price menus from around €25 - 0033 (0) 561211212. Map Jan 11
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Grand Canal, Monaco Hotel - there are several good reasons for eating in the Grand Canal restaurant of the beautiful 17th-century Hotel Monaco including the faultless service and excellent food. But the best reason of all is the waterfront terrace with its spectacular views of the mouth of the Grand Canal and the Santa Maria della Salute church. It’s expensive but you’re getting more than just a meal, you're getting an experience - 0039 0415200211. Map Jan 12
Trattoria alla Rivetta - for a taste of real Venetian cooking at budget prices - and only a few minutes from Piazza S. Marco - head for this lively and friendly seafood restaurant at the foot of Ponte S. Provolo in Salizada S. Provolo. It’s a favourite with locals, especially gondoliers, and always busy. It's quite small, so you may have to share a table, which only adds to the experience. But the food is well worth the squeeze. Closed Tues - 0039 0415287302. Map Sept 11
Vini Da Gigio - this cosy canalside trattoria is tucked away from the crowds in Fondementa San Felice and specializes in fish and traditional Venetian cooking. The dishes, from starters to puddings, look as good as they taste; the service is attentive and relaxed; and there is an extensive wine list. Unfortunately, and with good reason, it’s very popular, so it’s best to book. Set menus from €45. Closed Monday & Tuesday - 0039 0415285140. Map June 11
Corte Sconta - this oasis of calm and wonderful seafood trattoria is a hidden gem and one of the best places in Venice for an alfresco meal on a sunny day. It doesn’t have a canal or lagoon view but walk through the main restaurant and you’ll find yourself in a vine-shaded courtyard and the perfect spot to enjoy some of the best cooking in the city. Mid-price and above. Calle del Pestrin 3886; closed Sunday and Monday - 0039 041 5227024. Map March 11
Fiaschetteria Toscana - despite what the name might suggest, there’s nothing Tuscan about the cooking in this mid-price ristorante in Salizada San Giovanni Grisostomo near the Rialto Bridge. The food is typically Venetian and there’s plenty of fish on the menu. Everything is cooked with high-quality ingredients and there’s a huge choice of wines. Leave room for one of their moreish home-made puddings. Closed Tues/Wed lunch - 0039 0415285281. Map Feb 11
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