Try A La Table de Nicolas for Fresh Dining in St-Remy

Dining in St Remy de Provence

It’s difficult to become certified as a Master Restaurateur in France. Not only do you have to be able to cook at a high level, but everything must be homemade, not thawed or reheated.  When you find a restaurant with a Maître Restauranteur in the kitchen, you can be assured of a delicious meal.

Nicolas Jonette was proclaimed a Maître Restauranteur in 2014 and opened his restaurant A La Table de Nicolas in St-Rémy the following year. It’s his second restaurant in the area after his first one was so successful that it outgrew its space. Jonette chose St-Rémy because he was familiar with it, having once worked at another restaurant in town and because it’s the hometown of his wife Eva, who runs the dining room while he takes care of the kitchen.

Chef’s Inspiration

Jonette describes his cuisine as, “traditional but modern. I take my grandmother’s recipes and give them a modern touch.” He and his wife enjoy traveling with their kids, where he often picks up ideas that he incorporates into his menu. A recent trip to Thailand inspired the Phad Thai that is currently on offer. Jonette changes his menu with every season, keeping only his delicious starter of foie gras and his ever-popular chocolate fondant.

Jonette is attuned to food sensitivities, like for nuts and lactose, because his daughter is gluten-intolerant. “As the chef, I know what goes into everything,” he says, “and I want to take care of my customers, so I’m happy to adapt a dish to make it safe for them to eat.” He also offers a nice selection of vegetarian dishes, plus others that he can adapt for vegetarians.

Fresh, Seasonal Menu

Jonette takes pride in the freshness of his ingredients. “All my food is fresh, even the bread that I bake every day. I shop locally for nearly everything, and all the fruits and vegetables that I serve are organic.”

Unusually for a French restaurant, A La Table de Nicolas does takeout—you can find the list of what’s available on its website. For tourists who typically have to choose between a quick sandwich and a full, sit-down meal, this is a nice alternative.

In the busy summer months, the restaurant’s customers are mostly tourists, but it is open year-round and has developed a base of loyal customers. They come back, again and again, to see what’s new on Nicolas’s menu…or maybe they just can’t get enough of that chocolate fondant.

Practical Information

 À la Table de Nicolas (website)
8 boulevard Marceau, St-Rémy
Tel: +33 (0)4 32 62 03 82

Hours:
Closed Mondays
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday for lunch (12-14h) and dinner (19-21:30h)
Friday dinner only (19-21:30h)
Sunday lunch only (12-14h)

Image Credits: All photos are from the A La Table de Nicolas website and Facebook page.

Things to do in St Remy de Provence

Step Back in Time a Visit to Ancient Glanum

9 Fun Things To Do In St Rémy de Provence

Don’t miss! The Wednesday morning market

Escape the heat with a walk along the shady canals

Keith Van Sickle

Keith and Val Van Sickle made their first trip to Provence decades ago, and it was love at first sight. After that, they came back every year until 2008, when they began a part-time life there, splitting their time between Provence and California.

Over the years, they’ve travelled all over Provence, seeing sights both well-known and obscure. Their French friends have introduced them to favourite restaurants and wineries and picnic spots and taught them funny local expressions (not all for polite company).

Keith now shares this local knowledge in his new book, An Insider’s Guide to Provence. Packed with the Van Sickles’ favourite things to see and do, it’s a must-have for anyone travelling to this glorious corner of France.

Keith previously published two books about the couple's experiences in Provence. One Sip at a Time: Learning to Live in Provence, and Are We French Yet?, both are available from Amazon.

You can see all of Keith’s blog posts at Life in Provence.