Cost for two: 100 €. April 2004 + previous visits. Web: www.ranquet.com
A highly positive review by Jonathan Meades when he wrote for the London Times brought us to this isolated hotel where the garrigue meets the Cevennes and it didn't disappoint. Their Web site is informative about their fine chef Anne Majourel as well as the pleasant hotel that seems to be comfortable yet relaxingly informal. Simple, skilful cooking using regional ingredients. I'm not sure why the Ranquet isn't better known.
As you drive through the wooded scrubland south east of Tornac you soon come across Le Ranquet that proudly announces itself as a 4* hotel, although with all the bedrooms sited in the grounds it actually feels more like a restaurant. A colourful shaded conservatory extends the dining room away from the stone Mas and extensive bric-brac creates a pleasant informal atmosphere. This is just as well as the staff stay in the background.
Sliced artichokes, cubed tomato and tiny grilled sardines with a balsamic dressing and olive oil was excellent. Lapin fermier with white courgette and a sage sauce thickened with the liver was simple, skilfully cooked and succulent. A spring roll of pelardon cheese mixed with sweated vegetables and a green salad was an enjoyable change to the cheese board. A Madeleine with a plum sauce for dipping and yoghurt ice cream was highly enjoyable and not too sweet.
A very pleasant lunch. Our fellow diners had chosen the 40 € "les yeux ferme" (surprise menu) and seemed to be enjoying the foie gras and lamb creations. The wine list is very reasonably priced and a white Pic St. Loup went down well. Disappointingly only one wine from the neighbouring Baruel estate was listed. Coffee, petits fours and a walk round the splendid herb garden in the grounds completed a very pleasant lunch. Being a hotel there is a small boutique shop (mainly stoked with food items) that at least was very unstuffy.
We returned for Sunday lunch on a cloudless June day and sampled the les yeux ferme surprise menu. Being busier (but far from full) made for a better atmosphere. Another good recommendation from Jonathan Meades. Cusinière Anne Majoural also runs what seem like interesting cookery weeks of weekends.
See www.ranquet.com for details.

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Cost for two: 95 €. September 2001, September 1999 + previous visits

The food here has improved with each visit as Thierry Rousset gains experience. Sound yet imaginative dishes, especially the desserts, from a long established family venture. The very spacious dining room unfortunately lacks atmosphere even when they're busy, something that even the charming Georges Rousset can't compensate for. Update - I've had good feedback that all was well in 2005.

We first dined here before back in October 1993, a mid-week lunch after an ascent of the Pic St. Loup. I recall the meal was a tad heavy and lacked a little refinement, plus the spacious dining room was in need of more dining companions. Since then Georges Rousset has handed over the kitchen to son Thierry and is now imposing his charming and relaxed personality on the diners. We had an enjoyable meal despite the leisurely pace necessitated by a large party and several other tables of eager diners, we had after all booked late that day.

For amuse-bouche taster a lobster mousse was gutsy and interesting. The menu offers two dishes (plus cheese and dessert) for 37 € and the four dishes we indulged in were sandre with hazelnuts, morels and chick peas - a star; semi salted salt cod with a saffron sauce and clam ravioli made with black cuttlefish ink; beef in a deep red wine sauce with rosti and bone marrow; and to complete the quartet a truffeled pigs trotter affair that was certainly fine but disappointingly refined. Vegetables were not neglected with stuffed tomato, creamed turnip spaghetti and a layered aubergine, onion and courgette bake were interesting and not over elaborate. The dessert list is bold and highly imaginative with baked banana with liquorice ice cream being one of the more conservative choices. A mass of tiny tasty myrtilles in a large brandy snap basket with cinnamon ice was simple but super. Individual creme brêlées lacked definition but the petit fours were better.

The cave could stock up with more examples of the Herault and other local wonders, but nevertheless we found a great all round red - Dom. Clovallon Pinot Noir at a bargain 20 €. Overall a splendid meal with plenty of interest, but this is a dining room that needs plenty of companions to give it atmosphere.

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This review is courtesy of Languedoc-Dining.com

Cost for two: 90 €. April 2006 + previous visits

The stunning view of the Larzac escarpment is the first thing that hits you. Laurent Arrazat, previously number 2 at Le Jardin de Sens, is now well extablished and the cooking gets better and better. Enjoy delights such as Pimentos stuffed with rillets of fish, tarte aux pommes with caramel glace and liquorice creme anglaise. Good selection of the regions finest wines at all price points. A place to watch, beyond just the view that is. Now well signposted from the A75 junction just north of Lodeve.

Firstly note that Le Temps de Vivre is situated on the west side of the N9/A75 opposite Soubes. Once you get that far you'll find it well sign posted. What you'll find is a modern simple building, but once inside there's an attractive dining area beyond which is a glazed terrace that offers an extraordinary view of the pine forests and limestone crags that border the great Larzac plateau.

This is a recent opening from Laurent Arrazat who was previously number 2 at the prestigious Jardin de Sens in Montpellier. Our lunch started with a young roquette salad with bits of quail and dried jambon, and a seared brown trout on a base of young leaf salad, orange and onion. Dorade went surprisingly well with apple puree, julienne of leak and a beurre blanc sauce. Lamb on a pastry biscuit topped with confit of aubergine and tomato was full of flavour. Cheese was passable. A crème brûlée of potimarron (pumpkin) was simple and interesting while a tarte fine au pommes with vanilla ice had been reheated.

Overall the dishes kept things simple by focussing on three key ingredients. The menu was only 26 € so the noted short cuts perhaps had some justification. The wine list covers the spectrum of local growers wines but the price of the rising stars is steep and understandably the wines are young. Nevertheless, there are bargains to be found such as the local La Jasse Castel.

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Cost for two: 50 €. April 2001

Only open at weekends off season but worth seeking out for genuine Ferme Auberge home cooking in an appropriate setting. Chicken in leeks with a hint of Roquefort was a first rate example. Wine is made on the Domaine and certainly keeps the cost down. Check my detailed notes for directions and be aware that they close for much of September and October. Also book well ahead and note they don't respond to FAXes - this has derailed our plans to return more than once.

The Domaine du Pelican is an isolated set of grand farm buildings surrounded by vines and fields. First the logistics. Outside of July and August they only open at weekends so do book first. To find it take the Gignac turning off the N109 dual carriageway from Montpellier and then take the first left (before the town) following signs to Pelican. Coming from the west involves going through Gignac and making the right turn.

Chickens wandering around freely confirm that this is a Ferme Auberge. The dining room is simple but attractive and on our Sunday lunch visit became more or less full. With only your host serving service is leisurely but calm and effective. For 21 € you select two courses each with a choice of three dishes followed by cheese and dessert. Also included is a jug of the domains wine and some tapenade nibbles.

We started with pissaladiere, a Provençale tart with white onions spiked with thyme and anchovies, and a tasty asparagus flan (actually a mousse). Next chicken with leeks and a hint of roquefort was delicious with a pintade and cherries not far behind. Potato pancakes and what we thought was cauliflower flan accompanied. After cheese an apple tart and strawberry charlotte completed the meal. While all of this is more akin to accomplished dinner party fayre it succeeds far better than most equivalent priced menus you would encounter elsewhere in "proper" restaurants. Our only criticism would be the over use of eggs throughout the meal, but then you are on a farm. Next time we'll probably upgrade to one of the domain's bottled wines. Coffee disappointed, even at about 1 €. Total bill just 52 € including two kirs and muscats with the dessert.

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Cost for two: 65 €. Many visits

Chez Philippe was a pioneer in the area for offering quality budget food. Flavour packed dishes featuring "humble" very fresh ingredients, plus portions that don't leave one feeling stuffed was the secret. New owners took over in 2003 and I've had feedback they struggle to uphold the challenging standards set by the founders. More reports welcome.

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Cost for two: 80 €. September 2006

A reader urged me to try this quayside restaurant renovated by the Pourcel brothers of the Jardin des Sens in Montpellier. One advantage is that it opens every day, and for a more extended season than most by the quay. A pumpkin soup with chestnut and creamed goats cheese was good, as was mackerel on a fruit and shellfish studded cous cous. For dessert a clafoutis of plum with ice cream was fine. The cooking is certainly sound and the service excellent, but sadly the wine list is somewhat pricey. A welcome alternative to the swathes of hit and miss establishments around the quay.

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Cost for two: 90 €. June 2005 and May 2004

For some reason Pezenas is a gastronomic dead spot, but wedged between two high white stone buildings Les Palmiers, with a great al fresco atmosphere, is a strong recommendation. The food is eclectic ranging from braised rabbit with olives, through Moussaka to Brandade of haddock with gambas. A refurbishment for 2005 includes a large modern kitchen and the cooking has stepped up a couple of notches. A bonus is a quality short local wine list. Sadly prices have crept up somewhat, otherwise a ? would be in order, but the set lunch remains a good deal.

For some reason Pezenas is gastronomic dead spot. Les Palmiers was recommended by wine lover Jean-Marc at Les Vins de Horloge, not least because the short wine list has some local growers gems with very low mark ups. Located just down from the tourist office in the maze of back streets that is Pezenas, the other attraction is a great atmosphere. It looks like a South American shanty shack in a space no bigger than a deep squash court wedged between tall ancient white stoned buildings. There are also a couple of very tall palm trees to justify the name.

The menu looks interesting because it is diverse. For our lunch the blackboard included dishes ranging from Moussaka to a vegetarian dish with goats cheese. We started with a succulent rabbit kidney terrine with salad and a Poulpe (octopus) salad - both simple and good. Saddle of rabbit baked with olives with some cheese baked penne was crude but a good sized portion and enjoyable. Brandade of haddock with gambas was perhaps a bit cheesy but otherwise tasty and fulfilling. Bough in tarte aux fraises completed the meal.

Note that Les Palmiers closes for winter and does not take cards. There is no inside dining but blinds to protect against rain were in evidence.

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Cost for two: 110 €. April 2005 + previous visits
Web www.hotel-du-golf.com

The closure of Léonce left a big gap in the region's fine dining addresses but at least Jean-Claude Fabre is now cooking here. Many signature dishes have been kept on and the seafood sauces remain to die for.A bigger kitchen brings more choice and prices are reasonable for the quality. Another plus - the contemporary hotel dining room is one of the better examples. As of 2006 the restaurant only opens evenings except Sunday lunch.

Léonce in nearby Florensac had a dedicated following and the unexpected closure towards the '90s was a big blow to the area's fine dining scene. A tip off from a reader that Jean-Claude Fabre was cooking here made an early visit essential and we were not disappointed. In season the Île de loisirs will be stuffed with tacky holiday attractions and the Hotel du Golf offers an oasis from this - all be it an anonymous international one. Le Caladoc is separate from the main hotel and the simple contemporary dining room works well. You could be anywhere, but in Cap d'Agde that really is just as well.

The essence of Jean-Claude's signature dishes have been kept on a menu offering plenty of choice, with many being available as half portions. At lunch there was a great value (now 25 €) three course offering.

We ordered cannellonis roulés aux piquillos and brandade à la chair de crabe that was endowed with a heavenly seafood sauce incorporating the unctuous dark meat from the crab. Plancha d'encornets au sofragit à la goutte acidulée was mixed with white coco beans. Sofragit seems to be a Catalan sauce that includes peppers, anchovies, garlic, onion and saffron.

Riz "Carnoli"en presque risotto, coulis mousseux aux coquillages et crevettes was a tasty shellfish rice dish. For dessert le cake chaud au praliné coulant with passion fruit sorbet plus a sushis à l'ananas, riz au lait au cœur fruits rouges, crème coco aux perles du Japon, réduction acidulée au safran made an interesting contrast to share.The wine list offers a good choice of local wines at all price levels and mark ups are reasonable. Try the white viognier from up the road.

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Right beside the famous Les Halles indoor market this restaurant is very popular with locals, particularly at lunch time, serving traditional French cuisine from a selection of set menues and an excellent a la carte, closed Sundays and Mondays, arrive before 12.30 if you want lunch.

We always visit this restaurant when in Narbonne. The service and the food are excellent. The steaks are fantastic.

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Tucked away down one of the side streets off the main market square in Pezenas, husband & wife team originally from Lyon(he is the chief), delicious food; all homemade & beautifully presented plus Bernadette is a charming host. It is just in a poor location so doesn't get the foot traffic, don't be put off if you are the only guests, you won't be disappointed!

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This is an excellent Marocan restaurant in the heart of Perpignan. It is very big but has lots of hidden areas so it doesn't feel like a barn. The food is wonderful, couscous and Tajines. Friendly staff. Well worth a evening out. Take a street map it's not easy to find, near the cathedral.

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This is a lovely family Restaurant on the edge of Perpignan (north side) Fresh fish every day, but the meat dishes are also very good.

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Ideal for meat lovers. This traditional Catalan restaurant specialises in meat, grilled on an open fire and served on swords. They do a great grilled black pudding. Starters are a buffet "à volanté" and the desserts are good too.

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Imbernon was a Perpignan and French national Rugby union player. He opened his Restaurant and bar in the centre of Perpignan, along the side of the Basse (river). Excellent food and a good wine list. A must for any rugby fans.

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This restaurant overlooks the Canal du Midi and as far as I could tell is the only restaurant in the village. It provides lovely wood fired pizzas; my fellow diner had one of these and was very pleased with it. For starters I enjoyed a mozzarella salad however far better than this was my friends curried scampi, sounds strange I know and we all deliberated whether he should have ordered it, however when it came we all had food envy as it was delicious – be sure to order some when you go! For mains I enjoyed moules & frites this again was good however, not as good as my friends main, he ordered duck breast and I have never seen a piece duck breast quite like it - it was huge!! And very tasty, cooked to perfection. If you going to have any duck during your holiday make sure its here! We sat outside at this restaurant, we really enjoyed our meal here, the waitress was friendly and presented service with a smile which I believe goes a long way. The owner of this restaurant is the chef, he obviously takes pride in his food and the service provided which shone through during our meal. Highly Recommended!!

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This restaurant is off the beaten track a little. We walked from the canal into town, following signposts, took a slight diversion and happened upon it. It was full of French diners and we were the only English there, which to be honest was absolutely perfect for us and what we enjoy when on holiday. The main dining space is within a stoned courtyard, the ambience is intimate and very enjoyable. We had not reserved a table and were lucky to get a table within the courtyard, please ensure if you are going to go that you reserve a table in the courtyard as the indoor part of the restaurant is within a huge barn which houses very large and old wine barrels which cause the room to have an unpleasant smell (however this cant be detected from the courtyard. The food here is traditional French, my dining party and I had one of the fixed menus we enjoyed foie gras, steak, cog au vin and sausages, and for desert we all had chocolate mousse. The food is simple French cuisine, cooked well at a reasonable price.

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Pezenas' latest 'haut cuisine' restaurant is creating quite a buzz. Everyone seems to be talking about it. And so they should. The food is excellent - it's quite innovative and very tasty. My scallops in Japanese tempura batter was lovely - succulent and crisp (although it wasn't REAL tempura!). In fact, we all thoroughly enjoyed our meals, eating out in their courtyard. The interior is very stylish and modern - lots of taupe and black. And the service is extremely friendly - not a bit snooty. I think the lunch menu is cheaper than the dinner menu - which I've heard can be rather pricey. But this is a truly special place - perfect for a birthday or other special event. Highly recommended.

I know I have reviewed this place before but I just wanted to add further praise for this excellent restaurant. We went last night with my parents and a couple who have been successful restauranteurs in the UK. They were very impressed with the food and presentation. And we were all delighted by the staff who - without exception - were charming, happy and engaging. The only minus point was that until the restaurant filled up (which it did) the large room at the back was a bit lacking in ambience - but this soon changed as the other diners arrived. Another excellent meal all round - not the cheapest - but I am happy to pay for quality and knowing that they consistently deliver is a plus.

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The restaurant, which is situated in Les Halles, has a young, animated clientele. There are large screens around the bar area, on which I have only seen football and rugby matches. However, there is not the atmosphere of a sports bar, and conversation at the table is not drowned out. On Thursday nights they have concerts, which I cannot comment on as I have never been on a Thursday night. The food ranges from pizzas and their house hamburger to minced magret de canard served with fried fois gras. All the dished I have ordered have been excellent quality, and superb value for money. The service has only ever failed once, when we had to ask for a coffee three times. Altogether, it is a very pleasant evening out. You could easily imagine yourself in London, New York or Paris. Note that there is a doorman that will not let you enter if you are wearing jogging trousers. I don't know yet if shorts will be permitted in summer, as the restaurant only opened last Autumn.

we ate here on Sunday and it was disapointing. We opted for a tapas platter which arrived nicely decorated however it was mainly bruscheta which was impossible to eat so we just ate the toppings! we had hamburgers to follow which were Ok not great and there was no fois gras (to be fair the menu no longer says this). As it was quiet the staff sat aroung reading the newspaper and having a cigarette, i had to go to the bar to get a glass of wine. Things did improve when a new waiter came on duty he stopped at each table to check all was ok and was very pleasant.

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This is one of our favourite restaurants. The cuisine is extremely good and of very high quality. We go there regularly for lunch after shopping, as it is close to Les Halles. The menu though small is satisfyingly innovative and the specials absolutely deserving of the name. Real favourites are prawns with coconut milk risotto and lasagne of moules in a citronella sauce. Every visit is a true gourmet experience. We cannot recommend Le Petit Monmartre highly enough

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This is one of our favourite restaurants. The cuisine is extremely good and of very high quality. We go there regularly for lunch after shopping, as it is close to Les Halles. The menu though small is satisfyingly innovative and the specials absolutely deserving of the name. Real favourites are prawns with coconut milk risotto and lasagne of moules in a citronella sauce. Every visit is a true gourmet experience. We cannot recommend Le Petit Monmartre highly enough

Everything about the evening meal we recently had at le Petit Monmartre was excellent. There was a small unpretentious menu of top quality food cooked to perfection. We are very grateful to the previous review which prompted us to visit and we'll most definately be back.

Visited a few lunchtimes in August 2009 on the recommendation of this website. Food was excellent, the owner was charming (despite limited English) to our 10 year old son. In the evening ambience may well rate a 5. Thoroughly recommend this restaurant.

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