Restaurant Reviews in Les 2 Alpes — 9 of Our Favourites

The menu is varied, offering everything from pizza and pasta, through the obligatory and much loved tartiflette, to fish dishes and grilled meats. The plat du jour (sautéed lamb with figs and dates this afternoon) was great value at less than 15€.

I’m not a big mountain luncher, but today’s sunshine was making the Toura’s huge terrace an irresistible temptation for what looked like half the skiers on the hill. Most were going for pizza and plat du jour, but we opted for omelette and chips, my favourite thing at Toura because a) they’re always perfectly cooked and b) they’re huge. Big portions are what a hungry skier needs.

The terrace gets busy on a sunny day, but the restaurant’s service is fast, friendly and efficient, so turnover is fairly quick, and you can have a beer in the deckchairs and admire the views while you wait. A perfect lunch spot.

Way behind the curve when it comes to veggie meals, France still worships a rare steak above all things, and this is therefore a refreshing and very welcome addition in town.

Not wanting to be pigeonholed, Laury, the owner, is wise enough to still do a varied menu, including some mountain classics, but with a twist. There is for example a great tartiflette, that comes with tasty mushrooms instead of lardons (bacon bits). Yes, I know, most traditional French chefs seem to think lardons are acceptable for vegetarians, as they come in the ubiquitous omelette that is inevitably the only dish you get offered if you dare to mention the V word! Not so here.

The Soul Kitchen is a cosy and small place near the centre of town just down a side street between the Bresilien Bar and the Casino supermarket. Apparently The Soul Kitchen (the clue’s in the name) is already well known amongst the locals for playing great background tunes over dinner. I have to say I didn’t really notice, which I think means they are probably doing it right. There is a small bar where you can have a drink too and table seating for around twenty five people. At the bar someone was having the tasting platter which looked brilliant and might have aubergine paté, a selection of cheeses and charcuterie on it (it’s not exclusively vegetarian) depending on the chef's selection on the day.

There was a blackboard with a choice of three or four main courses, plus a couple of starters and desserts, and the evening ‘menu’ is fantastic value at 20 euros. It would be great value in any city but is really great value for a ski resort. Laury also mentioned a couple of other specials that were available, plus the quiches that were almost done and that we could smell baking in the tiny open-view kitchen. I opted for the Khoa Phad Sapparod Thai dish. This consisted of a half pineapple scooped out and filled with a delicious mix of fragrant rice, vegetables and cashew nuts, and was absolutely delicious and beautifully presented. At our table other mains chosen included the Brie Aux Pommes et Caramel Beurre salé - an individual casserole dish of melted gooey hot cheese with a sweet and savoury caramelised golden top and crispy new potatoes combo.

Our starters had all come with a big green salad with the ‘house’ dressing with its secret ingredients - it was strong flavoured and earthy, and I’m guessing but I think one of those ingredients might be walnuts or chestnut puree. Every dish was presented and explained with care and attention, by someone who obviously takes great pride in the quality of the food he is serving. It's a sensibly sized menu, which felt in no way limiting as I wanted to eat everything that was on it and felt spoilt for choice.

Fancying the mango and pineapple crumble, but fearing I didn’t have space after the main and the huge and hearty French Onion soup starter, I went for the lighter option of Nougat Glace that wasn’t on the menu but was suggested as an extra choice after the mains were taken away. Served with a rich raspberry coulis this hit the spot and again left me staggered at the value for money once we had sampled all three courses.

Keeping it fairly local, we chose a decent Cotes-du-Rhone Valvigneyre (syrah) red, from vineyards 60km south of Lyon, under 20 euros a bottle.

We're looking forward to going back again soon as the big quiches lined up on the counter made my mouth water even as we were leaving and I knew I didn’t have space for another forkful. Talking of pronged cutlery, ‘Forks over Knives’ sums it up nicely! I would definitely recommend this place.

It just so happened that we ate there twice in the last couple of weeks, and newish owner Mathew has really taken an already good solid restaurant to the next level, in terms of both service and food, and its hard to get a table without reserving such is it’s popularity this season.

We ate here on two different evenings, a week apart and had two different, but both good experiences, mostly based on the time we ate. The first time a big crowd of us were at the table by 7.30, and there was a buzz about the place, and lots of couples and families with children in the mix. We had a great meal and service and everyone really enjoyed their food.

The second time round our table was for nine to nine thirty, and we didn’t start eating until about ten and then probably left around midnight. On this second time, the place kind of went a bit mad (in a good way if you’re looking for a lively place to eat with a holiday atmosphere) at about 11pm when the tunes were cranked up properly loud all the waiters and waitresses jumped on bar stools and started dancing! The diners lapped this up and joined in and soon the whole room was boogying to some obviously well-loved French classics!…plus a bit of good old Abba!!

It doesn’t take much to get the French clapping and singing, they love a good sing-a-long like no-one else on earth. It seems every time you turn on French telly it’s a game show that consists of a panel of presenters or celebs who start a song and the studio audience dive in and clap and sing - channel hopping doesn’t help, it’s just what they do. So we had a big taste of that and the atmosphere was a bit like stumbling in on someone's birthday bash. Eva our bubbly high energy waitress, who spoke great English, was probably one of the most efficient and friendly I have ever come across and even though the place was busy, the staff all kept their eye on the ball service-wise. This is refreshing as service can often be indifferent or sullen in places where you’d naturally expect better.

On arrival the bar man had been super friendly. Speaking perfect English he talked us through the wine options (wine notes - we opted for a really full bodied red called the Mourvedre and I’d recommend it if you go. Mourvedre is actually used quite often as a blending grape in popular wines such as Châteauneuf du Pape. It’s one of the major grapes of the Rhône along with Grenache and Syrah, although rarer and it originated in Spain). All of the other waiting staff were excellent, high energy and smiley, and there were enough of them to cope with the packed little restaurant.

Mathew deserves a special mention as he is a host that is hands on, and went around every table personally chatting and checking on everything - also a bit unusual and again in a very good way.

The food shouldn’t really come last in a restaurant review, but I guess the atmosphere is what is making this place so popular so it’s not surprising, but I am happy to report that the meal was great. Amongst us we had a big dripping whole cheese entree, snails, veggie burger, goats cheese salad with maple syrup, and a steak tartare. Prices are mid range and good value for money; it was probably about 30 euros per head including wine. Tartiflette and fondue are also on the menu at 16 and 20 euros respectively.

You could book a table at the first early sitting if you wanted a good meal as a couple or with the family, or go later if you like your restaurants to be lively and don’t mind a bit of shouting across the table at each other by the time the coffee and genepi comes - either way, I’d recommend Le Trappeur.

For one thing, the bar’s owner, Chris Goodwin, has set up his own microbrewery just down the road in Bourg d’Oisans. This means that Smokey’s now offers a good selection of locally brewed craft ales both on tap and in bottles. The menu has also broadened with the traditional Tex-Mex dishes now complemented by a decent range of pub food and daily specials.

Most Jacquere grapes, the clean and fresh alpine grape variety, are grown in the actual villages of Apremont and Abymes, both of which are "cru"s of the Vin de Savoie appellation. I like these wines a lot. They have high acidity, characteristic of cool climate vines, are best consumed young and are often described as "mountain-fresh" or "alpine-clean".

But last night I got to try a really nice wine I haven’t seen before, a Coteaux-du-Grésivaudan. Now this one really was local to us here in L2A as it is an Isere region, rather than further north Savoie region, wine! No surprise that the person that introduced us to this was Doume…..

Dominic, known to everyone as Doume, is one of the friendliest locals I know. He is also a proper Foodie - as posts on the restaurants' Facebook page attest too, following the seasons with comments and pictures of foraged mushrooms, truffles, home pickled chills, home made jams, new wines that have tickled his fancy, and other yummy stuff :)

There’s often an event happening, like a hog roast (his own pigs of course) or a day long BBQ. The team is mostly made up of members of the family or those who have been there for years - like Emilie, who makes some of the very best pizza’s in town (try her famous Cholesterol Pizza!) and from the wood fired oven they also produce amazing Magret de Canard, Gratin Dauphinois and Pave de Boeuf dishes. Portions here are big, so come hungry!

Over the last few years Doume has built up an impressive wine cellar - passionate about wine he will be happy to talk you through some of the choices he has to offer - and not in a stiff, intimidating French sommeliere kind of way, but in the approachable, understandable fashion of someone who wants to share their enjoyment of good food and wine. The restaurant is medium sized, and traditionally and rustically alpine decorated (plus more than a few hanging hams for good measure!) and there are the local skier friendly Montagnard dishes like raclette on the menu too, again always generously doled out!

The place has a great atmosphere - there is a convivial bar as you arrive, often bustling, and it is the kind of place you could come for a drink as well as dinner, in fact there's a pool table and Doume’s is also a pub. Evenings here work equally well in a group - and they have some large dining tables, or a cosy dinner for two by the fire.

It is unpretentious above all but with the care and attention to fresh, home produced, 'cuisine du terroir' seasonal ingredients that might belie first impressions. Apperos at the bar are usually accompanied by something tasty that Doume has had a hand in making; saucission ‘a la mason’, walnuts from his garden, his own hams - you get the idea. Locals love it and eat here, which is always a good recommendation!

If you are visiting L2A, make sure you have a night out here, booking recommended, especially during French holidays. You can find Doumes at the Venosc end of town opposite the small Spa supermarket.

Doume's; for the lovely atmosphere, Emilys pizza's and too huge alpine cheese-fest stuff! - Le Cellier for the meat grilled on the open fire, Crepes a Gogo for just being Crepes a Gogo and so unbelievably cutely alpine, Cote Brune terrace for a sunny nursery slopes lunch of goats cheese salad, La Kanata on Pied Moutet for the moules frites in a rustic atmosphere, La Fee on the main ski area for top tartes, Casa Nostra for tasty tapas and very good wine, Smithys for fajitas, Le Raisin d'Ours for special occasions......I could go on as we are so lucky in L2A for a fantastic choice of restaurants to suit all tastes and pockets!

And all of the above have particularly good service which is essential. But a friend's new favourite is Le Grain de Sel, and so we ate with them there in the summer, and over the last few months it has joined our list of favourites too, and I thought - here's a restaurant that's trying really hard and deserves a special recommendation!

The food is excellent - they are well known for their pizzas, but they also do some of the traditional alpine dishes you might expect, plus traditional French cuisine with duck, tasty steaks and big gambas prawns are on the menu. The people sitting next to us raved about their fondue. The atmosphere and decor is alpine and cosy, and its very easy to find on the corner just across from the new Diable chair at the Venosc end of town, just off the main street. For those who know Les 2 Alpes from previous ski trips, it is where the L'Etable restaurant, which was also a firm favourite of ours when Marco was in charge, used to be.

The service is also excellent - we received a really warm welcome (which included binging over water straight away for the dog, which is always appreciated!) followed by friendly, efficient but unobtrusive attention all evening. The charismatic owner pops through from the kitchen regularly, and every time we have been there he takes the time to visit all of the table and ask how things are. Now some restauranters do that with locals or their cronies, but it is very resfreshing to see this owner take time with people who are probably only here for a week and might only visit once - but are still treated like valued customers. The head waiter of the small team was pleasant, smiley and speaks fluent English.

Last time we were there I had the Iseroise pizza with honey and rocket and it was amazing - the big wood fired pizza oven is just as you walk in, and there is a small raised bar area that doesn't seem to get used much but is a nice spot for an appero or maybe sharing a pizza with friends.

If you are visiting L2A this season you won't regret a visit - I see they are starting to get top reviews on the sites tourists check out so probably worth booking if it is a busy week.

They also do take always and are open for lunch.

Jessie and her friendly team, which include her family, serve excellent coffee, snacks and smoothies on their sunny terrace and cosy café with mezzanine floor all year round.

New for this season, they have just introduced gluten free muffins, which I was very happy to sample today, and can report that they tasted delicious and I couldn't have told the difference from their other tasty blueberry or chocolate ones on the menu.

It shows they are forward thinking and listen to customer feedback - Tescos dedicated one of their Christmas ads this year shown repeatedly on UK TV soley to gluten free food, so obviously there is a market for this, but it's still hard to come by in cafés and restaurants in most ski French resorts. They also do organic coffee, decaf and a great breakfast with French pastries. They have free WiFi too.

It's lovely to sit outside in the sun today, but if the weather is snowy, they also have a large semi rigid transparent awning, so you can still enjoy a bit of French pavement cafe style people watching :)

Whilst enjoying my muffin I just saw the receptionist from the best hotel in town pull up in their hotel minivan and take away a tray of take out coffees back to work - there's a recommendation for you I guess!

You'll find Kafféin near the centre of town, on the main street between the big Marche U supermarket and the tall Diamant apartment building.

Dianne BASS

Every year some new ones pop up (and sometimes disappear just as fast), so perhaps unsurprisingly its the unflashy ‘old classics’ that have been around for years that are some of the most popular and best. And Le Moulin is one of those.

It does the two things that people seem to want to eat the most in ski resorts very well - Alpine specialities of one kind or another…..and pizza!

The place is often pretty busy; they don’t take reservations but usually seem to be able to cheerfully squeeze everyone in, and there is a nice bustling atmosphere over the two floors. It's not huge but they have a few tables that could also accommodate larger groups.

It was renovated last season and they have kept the cosy Alpine feel whilst brightening the place up with a simple bistro style. The staff and host are always very smiley and welcoming, and you can see that even when they are very busy they are quick and on the ball, so service is good.

Eating there with friends this week we had two on the fondue, which was exactly how it should be - bubbling hot in a le creuset pot and served with plenty of bread, salad and generous hams. I had the Salade des Alpages which is a favourite of mine - served on a big slab of wood there is a mound of salad with a great dressing, mountain hams, a casserole dish of melted cheese, and boiled potatoes - it’s a kind of one person raclette with a twist. The cheese sometimes comes combined with the potatoes in a crispy pastry shell. Another couple had the burgers which they raved about and couldn’t finish - desert wasn’t really on the cards after all that, but they do do a nice café gourmand.

Prices are very reasonable, it worked out about 55 euros per couple that night including quite a few pichets (jugs) of wine, main courses, coffee and tip. Le Moulin can be found right in the centre of L2A - even amongst the blinkety blink neon of the main street their huge lit up flashing windmill stands out!

The restaurant was created in 2015 by a small team of Brits who, having worked in bars and restaurants in the resort for several years, decided to open one of their own. Taking over a local restaurant, they completely refitted it over May and June, working around the clock, in order to open in July.

Foodwise, The Spot is best known for the build-your-own-burger menu, but they also do great steaks, a selection of pizza, tapas, lobsters and a few vegetarian dishes. I should start with the burgers though, as this is something that kids and grown-up kids will love equally. You are presented with a 'Build-your-own-burger' form and a pen. Filling in the form is a case of ticking the right boxes (or all of them), and is well worth the work as you lovingly craft the perfect burger. There are all-important questions to answer – such as whether one, two or even three patties is enough, and whether it is okay to have pulled pork, bacon AND shredded duck toppings on your beef burger.

There is a choice of bun – plain, ciabatta, bagel, wrap or none; beef, lamb, chicken or veggie burgers (or a combination of up to three); and five types of cheese. The best burger of the week wins a free meal, so make sure you give it a good name and leave your phone number. For those who just want a burger without the effort of designing it there are a few suggestions on the menu. My personal recommendation is beef, hash brown, raclette cheese and pulled pork on ciabatta, although I usually get carried away and add a few extras to that. My burger usually ends up several stories high, and eating it is quite an exercise.

If you don’t fancy a burger, the steaks are great, and if there are four of you with an appetite the Spot Special Beef sharing steak should do the job (order 48 hours in advance). There is a tapas menu as well if you want a quick snack or a bit of everything. The tapas dishes can also come as starters if you prefer. Chef’s specials come and go, so take a look at the blackboards as well as the menus.

The pizza menu is imaginative but logical. Most of the usual favourites are there, but the names have been given a new twist – there are names like Lizzie for the ham and mushroom (Reina in Italian = queen = Elizabeth), and Linda for the vegetarian.

Chips and sides are sold separately, which some might not like as the prices are higher than first glance suggests, but you do get a very flexible menu. There are three types of chips – home-made regular, sweet potato and polenta. My surprise favourite is the polenta – I had never imagined a polenta chip before The Spot opened, but they work really well. If you can’t decide, a combo bowl offers you the chance to try all three.

Desserts are a mixture of English and French – apple crumble and cheesecake are on offer, as is the Spot’s take on a coffee gourmand (the French idea of several mini-desserts served with a coffee), a selection of ice creams and a separate sundae menu.

Live music starts at 10pm two or three nights a week, courtesy of Jamie or Capu, so if you want to stay for a drink or two after your meal you won’t go short on entertainment.

At lunchtime, there is an ‘Express’ menu of wraps and sandwiches, and for those struggling with a hangover there are cooked breakfasts until midday (extended to 2pm on Tuesdays after pub crawl night).

Overall, The Spot has proved to be a great addition to the town’s selection of restaurants and bars. It is well worth a visit if you are looking for a change from fondue and tartiflette.

Read more from Ian on his website.