Finding a good dinner
Le Pont des Bannes
Very elegant. Hits every major local specialty and has almost nothing from outside the region on the menu.
Le Flamant Rose
Member of a society for the preservation of true Camargue cuisine. Local specialties, plus a remote location.
Le Tamaris
The most rustic â most likely to prepare food you absolutely cannot get outside of the Camargue. The display of their dishes, remote location, and menu selection suggests it is probably a worthwhile experience.
Mas de Peint
Table dâhote, by reservation only.
When staying in a touristy city like Saintes Maries de la Mer, it can be difficult to find a place for a good dinner with anything beyond fried chips and over-grilled meat.
However, if you have a car, here are some tips for finding a good place serving local cuisine. Internet connection can help in your research. You should look for:
Restaurants out of town, even in remote locations. Minus the convenience factor of an in-town location, many countryside restaurants rely on local customers and fidelity to regional cuisine which attracts enough clientele despite remote location.
Menu that lists mostly or exclusively local specialties see the list above
Ferme Auberge farm inn, an official government program. Members usually show good fidelity to local cuisine, though limited menu selection.
Membership in Conservatoire des Cuisines de Camargue, society for the preservation of true Camargue cuisine
Table d'hote guest table, a kind of intimate restaurant. Often a bed and breakfast which prepares dinner with advance reservation. Don't confuse it with table d'hotes in a regular restaurant in a big city where it is more for solo diners to share a communal table--and more common at lunch.
Ask at the local tourist information office. They are not allowed to give opinions, but you can ask what restaurants serve local dishes in the list above or if there are any table d'hote or ferme auberge in the region.
Here are some restaurants that look promising per above recommendations as of Sept 2010 although not tried hands-on by Wikitravelers yet:
close to Saintes Maries de la Mer: Le Flamant Rose, â 04 90 97 10 18 [email protected], fax: 04 90 97 12 47, . Member of a society for the preservation of true Camargue cuisine. Local specialties, plus a remote location. edit Le Pont des Bannes, . Very elegant. Hits every major local specialty and has almost nothing from outside the region on the menu. Dinner menus: starter+main+dessert: â¬43; starter+main: â¬36; main+dessert: 31; starter+dessert: 17. edit Mas de Peint, . Table dâhote, by reservation only. Breakfast: â¬22; lunch: â¬42; dinner: â¬55. edit La Tour du Cazeau, Arles The Sambuc, â 04 90 97 21 6 [email protected], fax: 04 90 97 20 70, . Ferme-auberge, by reservation only. Dinner menu: â¬25. edit
local specialty foods
Specialty foods of the Camargue include:
Bouillabaisse
Anchoïade
Anguilles au four
Gardiane de Taureau
Salade Camarguaise
Aubergines aux anchois et aux capres
Barbouillade d'artichauts
Brandade de Morue
Canard aux figues
Moules en Brasucado
Hachis camarguais
Fougasse d'Aigues Mortes
La Broufado