Restaurant Reviews in Nice — 13 of Our Favourites

We turned up to this restaurant on spec, not having been able to find a website or email address but assuming that mid-week in early May might be quiet. Not so! Even though there was just two of us we were lucky to get a table.

We were welcomed by the patron of the restaurant, who is the grandson of the couple who opened it way back in 1927. He explained to us that they rarely have a quiet night, even in the quiet season, due to it being a favourite with many locals.

The exterior is unassuming, much like many others in the area, and the interior is very cosy with a traditional Nicoise vibe - lots of wine bottles lining the walls and dark wooden beams against classic whitewashed walls. There are a few small tables outside but the interior is so lovely that we were happy to sit inside.

After perusing the menu we settled on the tomato and mozzarella starter (we both had the same to avoid food envy), followed by duck for me and escalope for my friend.

The starter was a great choice; fresh ingredients, wonderfully creamy buffalo mozzarella and a handful of olives drizzled in a good quality olive oil.

After such a good start we were keen to find out if our main courses would live up to our expectations… I’m pleased to say that the duck was excellent, cooked to a delicate pink and served in a fig sauce that added a pleasantly sweet contrast. Funnily enough, the duck seemed to have been cooked “upside-down” - normally you expect to have a crispy top where the fat has crackled but this had all the fat on the bottom - but it was still extremely juicy and very good. My friend had opted for the escalope “maison” - a breaded veal cutlet served with cheese, ham, fresh basil and a Provencal sauce that he was very happy with. Being a chef he can be quite critical of restaurant dishes but he was very impressed, declaring it a success on all counts - phew!

The menu features a lot of meat dishes such as grilled loin steak with various sauces, a choice of different escalopes, and the ever-present “daube” (a typically Provencal beef stew that is on practically every restaurant menu in various guises). There are a few tasty sounding fish dishes accompanied by Nicoise favourites such as ratatouille and tapenade, but vegetarians will struggle to find anything more exciting than pasta in a tomato or cheese sauce - which is probably homemade and very good, but…

Dishes are reasonably priced with the tomato and mozzarella starter costing 9,80€, the duck 15,50€ and the escalope 16,80€.

After such a good meal we couldn’t resist dessert so we went the whole hog and had a panna cotta and an Irish coffee to finish - both excellent. The light creamy panna cotta was topped with a tangy red fruit sauce and garnished with a handful of toasted pine nuts.

Overall, our meal cost us 85,70€ including a very nice bottle of Chateau Ducla Bordeaux, which isn’t bad for Nice and considering the popularity of the restaurant seemed like quite a good deal. The Acchiardo not only serves great homemade Nicoise cuisine but has such a charming atmosphere and warm personal service that I’m sure we’ll be back again soon.

As we found out, booking is essential, even mid-week in the quiet season. However, they have no website, so you have to call ahead or pop in earlier in the week - they speak good English and are very friendly!

Acchiardo Restaurant

The Loving Hut is in an excellent location, right on the Menton seafront with wonderful views over the bay. If you’re having lunch or an early dinner, it is definitely worth requesting a table on the terrace. And you will have to request it, as this place seems to be very popular.

Sunday evening, late September, table for three… we figured that booking probably wouldn’t be necessary but we decided to play it safe and call a day ahead. It’s a good job we did, as they were surprisingly busy and when we turned up it seemed that all the tables had little “reserved” signs on them.

The restaurant is small inside, with most of its seating being either on a pavement terrace or in the porch under an awning. It’s not fancy but has a relaxed friendly vibe with lots of plants and colourful decor - there is also a deli counter where you can buy food to take away and a little corner selling all sorts of speciality food items.

We were seated by a very friendly lady who seemed to be fluent in both French and English, and was very happy to explain the menu to us. The cuisine has an international influence with lots of curry and stir-fry type dishes, as well as falafels, salads, kebabs and savoury crepes.

There was a good choice of starters and you could easily order a selection for a varied tapas-style meal - spring rolls, crostini, stuffed endives, etc - there is even a vegan “cheeseboard”. For a bigger appetite there were about half a dozen pasta and rice dishes, many with tofu or soy protein but some just with vegetables for those who aren’t a fan of “faux” meat products.

Slightly bizarrely, they also have a menu for vegan dog and cat food should you wish to dine with your four-legged friend. Intriguing as it sounded, we decided to stick with the human food.

To start we shared a dish of Cha Cha Épicé, which was imaginatively described as “stir-fried seasoned delight of the sea crumbled with hot spicy pepper, onions and garlic”. What this transpired as was pieces of tender white flesh fried in a crispy batter that tasted quite authentically fishy, served with a deliciously creamy spicy sauce. We couldn’t quite decide whether it was more like scampi or calamari but either way we all agreed that if we had eaten it anywhere else we would have assumed it was real seafood of some sort.

Next up was a vegetable quiche - a hearty wedge of spinach and tomato quiche with a tofu and cashew nut filling and a sturdy whole wheat pastry crust, served with a side salad. It was really good and definitely worthy of a place alongside any egg-based quiche. My friends tucked into the doner-style kebab and a big pile of noodles and veggies in a slightly spicy peanut sauce and both were very happy with their choices. Everything arrived very quickly but it all seemed freshly prepared and certainly tasted excellent. We’d been tipped off that the falafels are the “pièce de résistance” but unfortunately they’d sold out - they were on the chalkboard of lunch specials outside so they were obviously snaffled up by the time we arrived.

It was the desserts that fascinated me the most - chocolate cake, New York cheesecake, apple pie, lots of different ice creams - all vegan! Not a drop of cream or smear of butter in sight. They had most of them on display in a chiller cabinet at the deli counter and they all looked delicious - not at all like “health food” or whatever else you might be expecting. After much deliberation I went for a wedge of lemon tart - a crumbly base with the texture of shortbread topped with a thick tangy layer of lemon curd. Lovely, but would have been even lovelier with a dollop of ice cream on the side. I’m sure it won’t be my last dessert there so next time I’ll remember to ask.

Portions are certainly generous, so anyone with preconceptions about vegan food being only for rabbits will find themselves surprisingly well-fed. The Loving Hut is part of an international franchise with around 200 restaurants worldwide; their ethos is to provide affordable, tasty vegan meals and we certainly felt that they accomplished that when we visited. The one thing that took us by surprise is that they don’t serve alcohol - not sure why, it’s just not on the menu. They do however have some non-alcoholic beers, a lovely dark malty ginger beer, fruit cocktails and the biggest herbal tea list I’ve ever seen.

Our meal for three at The Loving Hut came to 60€ for a starter, three main courses, a dessert, two non-alcoholic beers, one ginger beer and two coffees.

We'd heard good things though and my friends had been there before so I swallowed my reservations and gave it a try - and I'm so glad I did! I can honestly say that it was not only one of the best meals I've had in awhile, but also one of the nicest dining experiences.

On arrival we were met by a very friendly waitress who informed us that the tables were all full but one group were just finishing up and if we wanted to grab a drink at the bar opposite she would come and get us as soon as the table was free. This was a nice little arrangement and worked out well; we were called over about 5 minutes later and the barman had no problem with us taking our drinks over to the restaurant.

Once seated we were given the menu, shown the specials board and left to decide. The menu was the first surprise - so many places, especially in the old town, try to please everyone by having a bit of everything from pizza to fondue with a few Provençal "classics" chucked in for good measure. The menu at Papayou is not huge and everything sounded tempting; there were a few salads to choose from, some pasta dishes and a couple of meat/fish dishes - some with a local twist but all sounding like someone had actually put some thought into them.

Between the three of us we went for crispy spring rolls with sweet chilli dipping sauce, a bresaola salad and a burrata salad to start. The spring rolls were a big hit and, happily, they were mine! I had to keep an eagle eye on them to avoid them "disappearing" the moment my eyes were averted. Packed with fried but not greasy vegetables, they were piping hot and deliciously crispy, served with a sweet and spicy chilli sauce. The bresaola got the thumbs up, thinly sliced and strongly flavoured, served with cherry tomatoes, fat juicy olives, slivers of sharp tangy parmesan and a good slug of quality olive oil. I'd never had burrata until I came to Nice and it was a bit of a revelation - I'd always thought mozzarella to be a bit bland but slice into a burrata and you'll find a rich creamy centre that oozes over the plate, contrasting against the crunchy chunks of salt and pepper inside. This one was served with a crisp mixed salad and sundried tomatoes.

When it came to the main courses we were already quite full, but had enjoyed our starters so much that we were looking forward to the next plate. Our waitress was not only friendly but obviously also had a passion for the food that she serves - she was almost as excited about our meal as we were and seemed genuinely delighted when we told her how good it was. When it came to ordering, she was really helpful and happy to give advice. I actually thought she might cry when I decided against the risotto (it is, apparently, the best in Nice) but I wanted something a little less creamy, so I opted for the spaghetti with tomato and basil, as did my boyfriend. It can be a bit of a risk choosing something so simple, as sometimes it can be completely overlooked by the chef and turn out to be something you could have done at home with a tin of chopped tommies and some dried herbs. But, done right, there are few things more tasty and satisfying than a good old plate of spaghetti. And this one was definitely done right - fresh tomato sauce with plenty of flavour, studded with big chunks of sweet garlic and tossed in strips of torn fresh basil. It smelled amazing and tasted just as good.

Our friend was equally happy with his pasta dish - fat tubes of rigatoni smothered in a fragrant pesto and topped with a big dollop of burrata (can't get enough of the stuff) and a sprig of fresh basil leaves. We washed down this fine feast with a bottle of Grenache/Syrah red wine, organic and recommended by our waitress.

We had no space whatsoever for dessert, not even a scoop of sorbet, but if the rest of the meal was anything to go by then I would imagine that they're worth saving a little room for - maybe next time...

Our meal for three with starters, main courses, a bottle of wine, a coffee, a cappuccino and a limoncello came to just over 100€ - making it a fairly reasonable 35€ per head for an unexpectedly lovely evening.

Papayou

With a group of 18 people it was not easy to find a place to accommodate us in the centre of Nice. The traditional venues and restaurants of the Old Town are small and cater more towards an intimate setting for smaller parties, however this relatively new restaurant in the Old Port area was more than happy to take our booking.

On entering Le Rosalina you are struck with just how relaxed and inviting the interior is. It as the feel of an old loft or boat house that has been white washed and then decorated with all sorts of quirky, kitsch and home made items. The school dinner style communal seating down the middle of the room, was not only perfect for a group our size, but also adds to the friendly 'chat to your neighbour' vibe.

Our waiter greeted us instantly with a friendly enthusiasm that can be hard to find in many traditional French establishments. He explained to us in both French and English the food that we would be eating that evening and the way in which it would be served. Due to the large nature of the group they had decided that they would bring out a selection of 'degustation' for us...which added up to become an eight course meal...with an option for it to become nine with dessert! With six starters and two main courses to sample we settled in for a night of cocktails, wine and a delicious mix of fresh Provencal produce and Italian flavours.

After the initial six starters you could have been fooled to believe that the meal was over, with dish after dish arriving at the table. We sampled the fresh tomato and crisp breads, vegetarian roulade and quiche, mashed potato with cod, aubergine gratin and smoked mozzarella and cherry tomatoes. And after a much needed break (and plenty more wine) they then brought our two main courses of pasta, both of which were very tasty. Some of us then opted for dessert which again was available to try in a 'degustation' style, although those proved harder to share with each person having their own personal favourite! We sampled the creme brulee, tiramisu, chocolate fondant and a surprise dessert of cheesecake with fruit compote.

On top of all this the restaurant was also amazingly good value with the meal, including drinks, coming to under €40 a head. Really good for the amount and quality of food we were served, and we certainly made the most of the cocktail menu and wine list!

Whatever your reasons for visiting Nice we think Le Rosalina is a 'must visit'; the great service and relaxed environment made this place a winner for us. A great option for a quiet meal on your own, a family night out (with a swing right beside the table for the kids to play on!), and definitely the perfect setting for a large group like ourselves.

Olive et Artichaut is owned and run by a couple who are passionate about local cuisine and regional produce who strive to create dishes with a modern twist. The name was apparently inspired by two of the region's most emblematic products - versatile olives and artichokes!

Since my husband works in a four-star luxury hotel in Monaco, the bar was already set quite high - so kudos to the extremely friendly waiter who greeted us warmly and offered us a choice of either sitting in front of the open kitchen, or a quieter table at the back. We opted for the latter.

The interior is tastefully decorated and relaxing with its tones of black, white, and grey. There is a bookshelf at the back, overflowing with a variety of culinary cookbooks, also displaying some locally bottled jams and preserves as well as some interesting flavours of Zytha - a brand of artisanal craft beer. The restaurant is set up to accommodate couples and small groups. There is just one larger table to accommodate a bigger group of six or so, therefore booking in advance is definitely recommended.

I opted for the set menu which consisted of a cold, creamy zucchini soup with croutons and pistou - excellent paired with the accompanying olive bread, which was then followed by succulently cooked chicken and grilled Provençal vegetables. Dessert was a melt-in-your-mouth moelleux au chocolat accompanied by a scoop of home-made vanilla ice cream.

My husband was at a loss for words to describe his own seasonal Italian risotto which came with parmesan shavings, grilled pancetta, and was drizzled with a lovely meat stock. It was that good!

He followed this up with an amazing red berry tart filled with pistachio whipped cream. Each dish was perfectly crafted with just the right balance of flavours.

The chalkboard menu is ever changing according to what's available at the markets, and a three-course menu will put you back about 32 euros without drinks. It is worth mentioning that even though we were minus our 21-month-old, the table next to ours had a couple of young children who were immediately taken into account by the same attentive waiter who brought out a few toys, books, and colouring pencils to keep them busy. I also overheard him offer the kids alternative meal options. This restaurant is definitely child-friendly. A high chair is available on request.

Other than the impeccable service, the food itself was out of this world, and the price was also affordable for the quality you get. Overall, this place is a must visit and one of my most pleasant restaurant experiences ever.

Unlike other restaurants along Rue Lascasris, Jan does not have an awning sticking out across the pavement and if it wasn’t for the striking coat of arms style ‘JH‘ on the door we could have walked right past.

Philippe, greeted us as the ‘Maitre d’Hotel’ of Jan and was joined by Michael who would be our Sommelier. This duo completed the front of house team and from the moment they took our coats, we were made to feel incredibly welcome and that we would be in very safe, knowledgeable hands.

The interior of the restaurant was discreetly classy, with perfectly polished silverware, crisp white table cloths and candles throughout. In total, the dining room consisted of 10 tables all elegantly decorated. We were only the third table to sit when we arrived at 20:15 but as the evening progressed, the restaurant soon filled so I would certainly recommend booking in advance. As we sat and awaited the menus, we noticed that there were some quirky elements to our table setting which suggested this would not be a traditional dining experience.

When presented with the menus our suspicions were confirmed, each of the 5 courses were written out by their key ingredients, and that was all; the first starter simply described as; Salmon Mousse - Smoked Salmon - Strawberry - Cucumber. So other than the key ingredients, we had no absolutely no idea how each dish would appear. We were kindly asked if we had any allergies or dietary requirements, and if we would like wine with dinner. After opting for a glass of red each, our menus were removed and the show began.

From our table, we could see right into the kitchen and so really did get a feel for the backstage element of our dinner. It made the experience much more intimate, seeing the chef’s eyes following every dish as they left the pass. The Head chef was a very friendly South African who served a number of dishes, chatting with diners at their tables.

The 5 courses taster menu was preceded by a hot towel and of course, an amuse bouche. Served in a blue willow English teacup and saucer, our first taste for the evening was of leek purée, potato crisp, edible flowers and foam. My mouth was certainly amused, had I been brought out a whole bowl and told that was it for the evening, I would have been more than happy. It was a great sign of even greater things to come.

Our first official course was a fish starter of salmon mousse, bordered by smoked salmon and dressed with a strawberry reduction, cucumber shavings, mozzarella and salmon roe. The plate was garnished with dill, edible flowers and a white crisp. Throughout the evening, each dish was presented by Phillippe with a detailed breakdown of every ingredient that was on the plate.

Course after course, the dishes only improved in quality and taste, each being more interesting and delicious than the last. Highlights included; succulent beef served with chicken liver, mange-tout and truffle foam, presented on a wooden plate, freshly baked bread that had been proving at our table for the first 2 courses, and beetroot sorbet with paprika and pomegranate.

At 79€ per person for 5 courses (plus all the extra courses in between) it felt like very good value. Overall, from the walking through the door to being handed our coats as we left, we felt incredibly well looked after and that it was a true Michelin Star experience, I will certainly be returning to Restaurant Jan.

Small but smart this restaurant sits on the corner of Rue du Collet in Vieux Nice with tables both inside and out. Steering clear of the usual checked tablecloths and Provencal crockery, the decor is sleek and stylish with lots of mirrors to make the tiny interior seem more spacious.

Our very friendly waitress took our drink order and explained the menu to us; there is plenty to choose from, including a decent number of vegetarian options.

The 20€ menu is basically a platter of assorted sushi, maki and california rolls - but you can have as many helpings as you like! The bottomless pit sat across the table from me beamed with delight. The menu includes a drink with wine, beer and soft drinks to choose from.

Our meal arrived with all the usual trimmings - wasabi, pickled ginger, soy sauce and a homemade sweet sauce. Our expectations of substandard bargain-basement sushi were proven to be completely unfounded, it was delicious!

I’m a bit particular when it comes to sushi, it has to be just the right size and consistency. I get cross when the pieces are slightly bigger than a polite mouthful, so that you have to bite them in half and then they fall apart between the chopsticks - or when they’re not compactly rolled enough so that when you dip them you end up with rice falling into your soy sauce. I know, first world problems, but still. Anyway, these perfectly formed morsels met my rigorous standards.

Despite the portion sizes being quite generous we waded back in for round two. The waitress asked us if we wanted the same again or if there was anything in particular that we would rather have more or less of; the bottomless pit had a whole second portion of everything, while I restrained myself and had a small selection of california and maki rolls.

There were a few others like us, doing the 20€ deal, but from what I could see of the other diners plates pretty much all the dishes looked good - our waitress recommended the spring rolls in particular. Basically, we’ll be back to try out the rest before too long.

Our meal for three at 100% Sushi cost just over 75€ including three extra bottles of Japanese beer and two espresso coffees.

First impressions don’t blow you away at this restaurant; it’s not in a great location, the busy street allows for a few small tables outside but these are mostly for the smokers - the traffic is too heavy for you to actually want to eat your meal out there.

On arriving at the restaurant the bar was deserted and the radio was blaring out some trashy dance music; not exactly the traditional “trattoria” experience I was anticipating. However, as soon as Alex “il patrone” popped his head out of the kitchen we were welcomed like old friends and ushered through to the cosy dining room. Rough stone walls, dark oak wine racks, chalk board menus and fresh flowers - much more like it.

Alex bustled around making sure we were comfortable before he presented us with the menus - the chalkboards are changed daily according to what’s best from the market, while the “carte” is updated seasonally.

We started with the burrata with prosciutto and salad to share. We had been warned that the portions are on the generous side and when it came we could see why; this could easily serve as a lunch for one person. Burrata is a dish made from mozzarella stuffed with a creamy filling and it was exceptional - soft and silky with a light texture, dotted with little crunchy nuggets of rock salt - not at all like the dense, chewy, stringy mozzarella cheese you often get. The ham was paper thin with a delicate, slightly nutty, flavour. The salad was a pleasant tangle of various leaves with fresh tomatoes, a light herby dressing and a good slug of olive oil, poured at the table until you say “stop”.

After the success of the starter I had high hopes for the main course; I chose the tortellini with creamy truffle sauce and my partner opted for the pesto linguini - both off the seasonal menu. The linguini came to the table still in it’s pan, saves on the washing up I suppose, and suits the “homecooked” ethos of the kitchen. It was a triumph of a dish that can often be an oily green mess; the pesto was as fresh as I’ve ever tasted, simple but delicious. The tortellini was the star of the show though; a generous handful of pasta parcels swimming in the biggest bowl of sauce I’ve ever seen for one person - I actually thought it was a salad bowl for another table when the waiter first brought it over. The sauce was rich, creamy and generously speckled with slivers of truffle - it smelled, and tasted, to die for. Just to avoid any food envy we shared both dishes between us, alternating between mouthfuls of light zingy pesto and decadent truffle cream - Alex came over with more bread and a knowing chuckle, as if this was entirely expected.

During the meal Alex circulated and chatted with all the customers, clearly knowing some of them very well. For a restaurant that doesn’t advertise and is off the beaten track, they clearly rely on their reputation. I don’t know how long Geppetto has been open but Alex pointed to one table and told me that they’ve been loyal customers for over 25 years.

Although we were both stuffed and very content by this point we figured that if the rest of the meal was this good, imagine what the desserts must be like?! There were about 8 options to choose from the chalkboard and we settled on the “tarte du jour”; roasted strawberries on a crispy pastry base with creme fraiche and pistachios in a strawberry soup. It was the perfect end to the meal with a deep intense flavour from the still-warm strawberries that was balanced out by the cool cream and crunchy pistachios.

All-in-all, Restaurante Geppetto more than lived up to the hype, we have decided that we have to go back often enough to try every other dish on the menu. Looks like Carine and Alex have gained two more loyal regulars!

Our meal cost €70 for a starter, two main dishes, a dessert, a bottle of Chianti, a coffee and a limoncello. For quality and value for money we reckon it’s one of the best restaurants in town. Geppetto is open daily for lunch but only Friday and Saturday evenings for dinner, booking is recommended.

The narrow streets here provide a fantastic maze to lose yourself in and you’re sure to stumble upon one of the fantastic old churches or the Cathedrale Sainte Réparate. There is also a great range of restaurants, from pizzerias and snack bars to bistros serving traditional French cuisine.

After a wander around f the labyrinth-esque roads near the cathedral, I started to head up the slightly wider Rue St Francois until I came to La P’tite Cocotte, tucked up a short side street on the right hand side.

Although the packed dining room confirmed that I had found a real gem, I was concerned that I wouldn’t be able to squeeze in, even on this quiet Monday evening in January. I was pleasantly surprised, however, to be lead through to a smaller room at the back of the restaurant with a free table.

The rustic stone walls here made for a cosy atmosphere on a wintry evening, but I imagine would also give a welcoming coolness in the summer months.

La P’tite Cocotte has a small menu of home cooked food, all made from scratch – the menu changes every week, so you’re sure to be choosing from the best of what the current season has to offer.

Having never been tempted by escargots in their usual white wine or garlic sauce, I was pleased to have a great opportunity to sample the French classic dish served in a different and more appealing way; as part of a chickpea and smoked sausage salad. The flavours in the starter worked excellently with the smoky sausage giving the cold dish a real warming feel.

I followed this with the duo of pork; a fried filet mignon and a deliciously tender braised shoulder accompanied by a tasty side of green cabbage and a flavoursome wholegrain mustard gravy.

Having been very impressed by the chef’s combinations of flavours up to this point, I was in no doubt that the chocolate fondant served with pistachio ice cream would also be well mastered. I was certainly not to be disappointed, the hot pudding with the cold, nutty ice cream was the perfect end to my evening and left me feeling that I should probably take the long way home, with a few more lost laps round the old town to work it all off!

The enjoyment of my evening wasn’t even to be tainted when the bill arrived, as La P’tite Cocotte’s superb quality menu is incredibly reasonably priced at 22.50€ for 2 courses or 27€ for three.

Although the selection of fish and meat dishes here render it an unsuitable choice for a vegetarian, this really is the only reason I could give for not visiting this great little spot during your time in Nice. I would recommend booking for larger groups though, to avoid disappointment.

Located at the heart of the chic Carré d’Or (golden quarter), La Cresci dominates with a large terrace that seats about 100 people and the two storey interior holds many more. Open since 1956, the décor is kind of old-school French glamour - smart but not stuffy.

We chose to sit outside and watch the world go by in one of the busiest shopping districts in Nice, where the streets are lined with designer boutiques such as Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Hermès, Cartier, Armani, and so on. Lively bars and street musicians make it a great place if you like a bit of hustle and bustle.

We got straight down to business and ordered two pizzas and a bottle of Valpolicella - they have plenty of other options on the menu such as meat, fish, pasta, salads, omelettes, etc but we wanted the authentic Cresci experience. With about a dozen pizzas to choose from (including one with a focaccia base that we might have to go back to try) we opted for a pepperoni and an aubergine with an extra topping of ham.

Surprisingly the pizzas are all “demi-lune” half-moon shaped, which I don’t know the reason for and can only imagine that it must be less convenient to cook than a typical round pizza but they were plenty big enough, overhanging the plate at either end! They were also extremely good - fresh and crispy with rich flavoursome tomato sauce and good quality toppings. All pizzas here are homemade and cooked in a wood-fired oven, the traditional way - being this close to Italy they have to be good to survive the competition!

The service was quick, friendly and efficient - not massively personal but then they did have a lot of people to look after and they managed very well. It might look like a bit of a pack ‘em in, feed ‘em up and send ‘em home kind of a joint but it is actually very good in terms of service, food and value.

We washed our pizzas down with Irish coffee and a sweet fruity limoncello before heading off to check out the nearby bars; there are some quite cool ones within a few minutes stroll, give Jam a try if you like live music.

Our bill came to 83,90€ for two pizzas, an extra topping, a litre of sparkling water, a bottle of nice Italian wine, a cappuccino, an Irish coffee and two limoncellos - which we thought was pretty good for one of Nice’s most famous restaurants in the heart of the swanky Carré d’Or!

Over the years La Cresci has welcomed famous faces such as Charles Aznavour, Edith Piaf, Elizabeth Taylor, George Clooney and Johnny Depp through its doors - make sure you go inside and have a look at all the celebrity photos lining the walls! La Cresci may not be as intimate and cosy as some of the smaller restaurants but it is fun and lively with plenty of flamboyant Nicoise energy. Hey, if it’s good enough for Elizabeth Taylor...

La Cresci

It's not the fanciest of places, if you can picture just about any ex-pat Irish pub in the world then you'll know what to expect. The interior is reasonably cosy with a central bar surrounded by stools, sofas and big screen TVs for the live sports - they show all the big games - and a stage for music nights.

The menu serves all the usual pub grub, cooked breakfasts, fish and chips, etc, as well as some tasty-sounding salads and side dishes. We stuck with our original plan of burgers and went for the Ma Nolan's special and the falafel burger, with bottles of Bundaberg ginger beer to wash it down.

Despite the terrace being very busy we found a couple of seats beside the bustling street, our order was taken straight away and our food arrived pretty quickly. The Ma Nolan's burger is a towering stack of two ground beef patties, smoky bacon, sauteed mushrooms, mature cheddar cheese, caramelised red onion, tomatoes, pickles and relish in a sesame seed bun served with chips. The beef patties were cooked medium with a slightly pink tinge in the centre, well-seasoned and very tender - as well as being fairly massive. The toppings were delicious and did more than just fill a post-swim gap.

The falafel burger was also a good choice - no hungry veggies at this bar. A large burger of chunky chickpeas, fresh herbs and plenty of garlic was topped with pickled red onion and salad - again served on a toasted sesame bun with a hearty pile of chips. The only improvement would have been to cook the falafel a little longer so that the outside crisped up a bit more, it looked a bit of an unattractive beige blob, but it tasted excellent nonetheless.

Again, presentation-wise, a bit of salad or coleslaw on the side of the plates would have elevated the appeal of both dishes no end, but I guess they're there to be eaten not to win beauty contests and they both filled that function admirably.

A quick scan of the tables around us suggested that the other dishes on the menu were just as good - everywhere we looked people were tucking into hearty steak pies and generous portions of delicious smelling battered fish. Prices range from 5.90€ for soup of the day up to 23€ for a sirloin steak with onion rings, chips and all the trimmings.

At 14.90€ the Ma Nolans burger isn't the cheapest in town but it'll certainly keep you full for the rest of the day; the falafel burger was just 10.90€, which isn't a bad deal for a good lunch in one of the most central spots in Nice.