Dining Review: Le Belle Etolie – Villefranche-sur-Mer, France

July 2024

Dining Review: Le Belle Etolie – Villefranche-sur-Mer, France

If the beauty of Villefranche-sur-Mer does not pull you in to visiting this French Riviera town, let the food at Le Belle Etolie be another reason. This ended up being one of the best meals of our trip! And I know Villefranche-sur-Mer is full of amazing dining locations. 

While I found this place through Google reviews – which were glowing – and booked in advance online, our wine tour guide from the day before unprompted by me shared this as a recommendation so I knew this had to be good. 

Nestled into one of the alleys on an incline, this restaurant has prime real estate with ample outdoor and indoor dining with a view down the streets in two directions. The outdoor space was so whimsically decorated with plants and lights to make it very welcoming.

We were the first to arrive and got to pick the table we wanted to dine at and our host indicated the best seat in the house was the corner seat that looked out at the street down the hill – it was really a great view. 

Since this was a birthday trip, Kevin selected the wine and we decided to treat ourselves to Chassagne Montrachet. Exceptional wine. And when the wine arrived, it had the best ice bucket we have every seen. Instead of taking up valuable space on the table or a stand that blocked the walkway, this ice bucket literally attached to the table as if it was a booster seat for a child. We need more of these around, what a cool invention. 

We started with an amouse bouche as we decided on our menu selections. The menu has a few staples but mostly changes depending on what is fresh and in season. We were so excited to dive into this meal! 

Foie gras cream brulee with brioche

This has to be one of the best things we tasted this year – absolutely exceptional and we savored every bite. This was a foie gras mousse cream with a layer of brulee on top. We literally took the smallest bites to make this dish last longer and even considering ordering another plate of it. It was rich, it was savory, it was sweet, it was perfect. We could not stop talking about how incredible this dish was and there was not a drop left on that plate. 

Courgette cannelloni with goat cheese and tomato sauce

A beautifully presented dish that used zucchini to wrap goat cheese in the center. This was fresh and light which served as a nice contrast to the foie gras. The tomato sauce was flavorful which complimented the dish very well. 

Filet of bonito from Villefranche with lemon veloute

This was the fish our wine server highly recommended we ordered so Kevin made this his primary entree. Bonito is a local fish caught right in Villefranche and resembles more of a tuna in texture so it a hardy fish. Kevin enjoyed the flavor of the bonito more than tuna. The dish also came with a side of seasonal roasted vegetables which was a welcome addition to the plate and a side of fresh mashed potatoes – all of which was wonderful.

Filet of liche from Villefranche with shellfish sauce

I am not one to order filet of fish off a menu but the small menu was all primarily fish. With how good everything was up until this point, I put my faith in the chef. And how could we not try the two fish on the menu that were locally caught. This was a delightful white flake fish that did not have fishy taste (if you know what I mean). What was really great was the shellfish sauce that I applied to every bite. The dish also came with a side of seasonal roasted vegetables which was a welcome addition to the plate and a side of fresh mashed potatoes – all of which was wonderful.

Chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream

Artfully plated and perfectly shareable. Bite sized pieces of brownie surrounded by chocolate in various forms that paired with the vanilla ice cream. We both loved this dish and I was so happy that they leaned into the chocolate in multiple ways.

Comte 12 month 

We wanted to try a different taste for our second dessert so we finished the way the French do with cheese. This simple but tasty Comte cheese that has been aged for 12 month was a great way to end the meal.

Wow, what a fantastic meal that I wish we could have ate at over and over again. This alone is a reason on a return trip we may stay in Villefranche-sur-mer. And I know there are some fantastic restaurants in this town and from our experience, Le Belle Etolie is certainly on top. I cannot say enough good things about the restaurant – the vibe was relaxed, the staff were welcoming, the service was spot on, the portions of each dish was perfect, and everything we ate was delicious – a magically experience at Le Belle Etolie!

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