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La Vache restaurant review

International cuisine with a cow theme off the pistes of Peisey

featured in Restaurant reviews Author Sam Birch, Les Arcs Reporter Updated

Situated at the bottom of the short Parchey chairlift and directly accessible from both the Poney and Écureuils slopes, La Vache has been serving a diverse selection of food and drink to hungry skiers for ten years. 

As well as serving authentic Savoyarde fayre, the restaurant specialises in meals from all around the globe, making it popular with diners of all nationalities.

Open from 10am, La Vache serves lunch, Happy Hour snacks, and dinner, whilst having a very well-stocked bar for drinks at any time. The huge West-facing terrace, with panoramic views of La Plagne and the Nancroix valley, is a great place to catch the sun in the afternoon.

a restaurant terrace

The Cows

The amount of bovine paraphernalia adorning the restaurant makes it practically moo; there are cow pictures on the walls (even in the bathroom), cow cushions, cow-print curtains, cowhide bar stools, cow themed menus, cow knick-knacks, cow soft toys, you get the idea.... Cows are firmly embedded in the Alpine psyche: they provide the cheese that is found in many local dishes, in the summer they populate the pistes (and almost any available piece of grassland) and are well-represented in the French language (“vachement” means “very” or “extremely” and, when something mildly unfortunate has happened, you can often hear people exclaim “oh, la vache!”) 

a cow in the restaurant in les arcs

When the owners came to naming and decorating the restaurant it was surrounded by cows and the gentle chiming of their bells, so their decision was pretty straightforward. The result is very welcoming, like a cross between a traditional French chalet and an English pub in the heart of dairy-farming country.

The Food

When reviewing a restaurant at lunchtime I typically choose the “plat de jour.” At La Vache I was spoilt for choice as, rather than a single dish which changes daily, they have five “de jour” options: a soup (€6.50), a quiche/tarte (€9), a terrine/pate (€9), a curry (around €14) and a pie (around €12.50). Although tempted (as any self-respecting Englishman would be) by both the pie and the curry, I settled upon the quiche which was offered with salad, fries or both.

quiche and chips

The owners of La Vache have travelled extensively, taking some amazing photos and being educated on a variety of different cuisines along the way. This is evident when perusing the menu. In addition to the daily Indian or Thai curry, the lunch menu boasts BBQ ribs with chips, Falafels with Tzatziki, a Mexican Burger with sweet chilli sauce and a Mezze at Happy Hour. I’m not sure how you feel reading it, but just writing that makes me feel hungry again. During the evening, you can also choose from a selection of fondues and raclette (starting at €15 per person).

Kids have a dedicated menu of simple dishes. Chicken wings, steak haché and chicken nuggets are all available, served with rice or chips. These are very reasonably priced (€7.50 each) and you can add on an ice-cream dessert for an extra €2. There are a couple of high-chairs provided for very small children.

a chalk board

My lunch was served very promptly and looked delicious. The quiche was exactly what I needed, packed with tomatoes and rocket with a discernable, but not overpowering, flavour of Tomme cheese. The fries were well seasoned and crisp, just as you want fries to be. However, the star of the dish was the salad; it was garnished with sun-blushed tomatoes, roasted beetroot, basil, pine nuts and a dressing that I could literally have drunk in pints. Honestly, it was that delicious. When you visit La Vache, I implore you not to “pass up” on the salad in favour of more chips. Have both!

Having completely demolished my generously-portioned lunch, I noticed that vegetarians were well catered-for on the menu, with two of the meals “de jour” also being suitable (soup and quiche) and the curry having a veggie option.

a bar in a restaurant

The Drinks

The bar is particularly well-stocked, with a number of cocktails on offer, as well as some very British tipples. There’s a good range of classic cocktails (Moscow mule, Cosmo, Whiskey Sour, etc) from €7, and they even sell shooters/shots (from €3.50) if you’re that way inclined/catching up. If you prefer the refreshment of liquid sold in pints, then you should also be well catered for. The owners import British ales and, when I visited, both Spitfire Gold and Old Speckled Hen were on sale. Personally, it is the existence of real ciders (Stowford Press on tap and the, rather more potent, Old Rosie available in bottles) that transforms La Vache from one of best restaurants I’ve visited in Les Arcs to one of the best places I’ve visited anywhere.

There is a Happy Hour between 4pm and 6pm, where litre pitchers of lager and cider become more economical, and you can get rum or vodka shots for €2! During this time, you can buy fries, calamari, a mezze, cured sausage or a sharing platter of cheese, cured ham and pickles to ward off the hunger until dinnertime.

I had a hot chocolate with my meal, and there are plenty of non-alcoholic options on the drinks card. There is an assortment of teas and coffees, with fresh cake being baked every day.

a small mountain restaurant

Practical Information

At lunchtime, you can usually walk/ski in and get a table. For dinner it is best to book in advance, especially if you are thinking of visiting on a Wednesday night. If you are part of a large group, it is always best to phone ahead, regardless of your intended mealtime.

The very friendly and approachable staff were all fluent in English as well as French and there was free WiFi. There is live music at various points during the winter season and hidden TVs which are sometimes used to show big sporting events (such as the rugby Six Nations). 

Location

Map of the surrounding area