We won't hide it from you. We also love the region for its terroir, its good restaurants, its vineyards, its producers... A certain art of living.
You have to take the time to sit on a terrace, to stimulate your taste buds, to enjoy yourself. There is something for all tastes, all desires, in all seasons.
Cévennes sweet onions, Vigan apples, pelardon, figs, olive oil, chicken, capon, strawberries, not forgetting truffles and ceps, are endlessly varied by the region's restaurateurs. Note: there are more than 760 organic producers in the Gard, making it a leading department in France.
So, how about it? A little treat?
The café and restaurant des Mages: both close by and completely different...
Marie's cooking, entirely home-made, is based on local and organic products, often flavoured with spices from around the world. A cuisine that makes your taste buds travel... and when it comes to travelling, Marie knows what she's talking about!
Dennis, in the dining room and at the bar, with his kindness and discretion, will take you to other destinations with his "light" accent.
Not forgetting the local beers and lemonades... Even the artists programmed during the season are "certified local artists".
83, place des frères Nouvel - Les Mages - +33(0)4 66 83 99 65 - 5 minutes drive
https://www.facebook.com/DenmarKafe
We appreciate this couple for their authenticity and straightforwardness.
The chef's cuisine is inventive and refined. Some Mediterranean accents emerge, but not only...
After the meal, he goes into the dining room or on the terrace in summer. He tells us about his life as a travelling European, and as if by miracle, his dishes made "à la minute" take on a whole new flavour, that of his origins (Italian) and his peregrinations (Paris and Brussels).
The value for money of the menu is perfect. But beware: no children's menu!
Route d’Uzès – 30500 Potelières – +33 (0)7 88 44 35 18 – 10 minutes drive
At the Bistrot de la Fontaine, all dishes are made with local and seasonal products. The chef offers a menu of the day, a "Bistrot" formula or a meal plate. The choice is yours.
The room and terrace are small. Don't arrive too late or think about booking. Homemade food at a very affordable price and in a family atmosphere, we ask for more!
4 rue de la Fontaine – 30500 Saint-Ambroix – +33 (0)4 66 61 63 75
https://www.facebook.com/lebistrotdelafontaine
Monday to Saturday at noon. 10 minutes drive
A street corner. A very small room. Wooden tables covered with red and white checkered tablecloths... In this old-fashioned setting, the chef has been delighting our taste buds for nearly 30 years with Cevennes products that he gleans at the Abbey market. His simple and unpretentious cuisine emanates all the flavours of the land.
The guidebooks are not mistaken: the enamelled plates of the Routard, the Petit Futé and the Gault & Millau compete for every square centimetre of the façade.
Don't forget to book!
17, rue Mandajors - 30100 Alès - +33 (0)4 66 52 62 98
https://www.le-mandajors.fr
Monday to Friday, lunch and dinner | Saturday evening. At ½ hour drive
Lussan, a medieval Languedoc town classified as one of the most beautiful villages in France, is home to a gourmet restaurant that also serves as a café. The refined dishes delighted our taste buds and made our eyes shine. The service is friendly and efficient. The decor is contemporary and elegant. And what can we say about the terrace made of stone from the Cévennes region, which makes you want to stroll around in the sunshine with a drink.
A semi-gastronomic address!
Place Jules Ferry – 30580 Lussan – +33 (0)4 34 04 86 85 – http://www.lebistrotdelussan.fr/ et https://www.facebook.com/bistrotdelussan
Five minutes from the house, “le Clos des Arts” offers a classic but inspired menu. The chef lets his talent express itself with local and seasonal products that he selects for their quality. The dishes are beautiful and succulent. The service is impeccable.
A table where bad surprises are not an option.
Domaine de Villaret - 30960 Les Mages- +33 (0)4 66 25 40 91 - 5 minutes drive
Every day for lunch and dinner, except Monday and Saturday lunch, and Sunday evening.