Restaurant Reviews in Les Arcs — 7 of Our Favourites

The menu however is unusual so if you have a slightly adventurous streak or are looking for something a little different than the run of the mill tartiflette, raclette and fondue, this is the place for you.  I chose to try the Plat du Jour which was a Boudin Noir (a sort of black pudding) Omelette served with a Red Cabbage Purée, Green beans, sautéed potatoes and a side salad. It was not especially hot which lead me to believe that the dish of the day is pre-prepared and kept warm. Even so, the red cabbage puree was particularly tasty but not something that I felt really fitted in with the dish; a nice surprise none the less. The omelette was bizarre but absolutely delicious and quite filling.

Naturally, I couldn't leave without having some dessert. Being a fan of all things chocolate, I was easily convinced into ordering the Chocolate Fondant with Strawberry Jus and Chantilly Cream. Needless to say it was worth every penny, perfectly gooey and warm in the middle. It will be hard for me to pass by Chez Fernand's door in future whilst this is on the menu.

One of the main things that really stood out about his restaurant is that service. It was quick and efficient and always with a smile. The owner has also clearly managed to build up a good rapport with lots of his regulars. And at just €15 for two courses, I will be back next time I am passing through Les Arcs.

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.

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!”) 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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). 

Having opened last winter, an attic-space mezzanine has been added this season, increasing capacity and spreading the restaurant over three eclectically-decorated floors.

The café is open from 8am ‘til 9pm, primarily serving breakfast, lunch, hot drinks and, après ski, a selection of refreshing alcoholic beverages. Although the menu boasts a full-English (complete with imported British bacon/black pudding/etc) at €10.50, this is definitely a café where you pronounce the acute accent. Rather than a mug of builders’ tea you are presented with a large selection of organic juices, interesting teas and the predictably wide range of coffee options. If you need a pick-me-up to propel you to the morning’s first lift, they even do an early-starters’ special coffee for €1 from 8am to 9am.

This season I want to find the best places to stop off for a mid-shred lunch. As you can, gently, ski straight down the middle of Arc 1950’s “high street,” the café is accessible directly from the Marmottes piste. For some reason there was no ski rack outside the entrance, but there are a few nearby and a fairly capacious adjoining wall that served the same purpose on this occasion. There are a number of tables outside, including a very cool converted gondola bubble, and over forty covers inside. The mezzanine floor (which is apparently NOT suitable for people wearing ski boots) is a cute space, and should be very popular with people chilling out with a hot drink and a piece of cake. Downstairs there is a slightly bigger “restaurant area” where larger groups can be accommodated. Although typically anticipating walk-in customers, I was informed they would take bookings for groups of ten people or more. The middle floor contains the bar, a few tables and some additional seating.

At lunchtime, there is a good selection of bagels, focaccia, sandwiches, croques monsieur and tarts available. If you are looking for something more substantial there is a plat de jour (€13), a soup de jour (€7) and a burger de jour (€15); these three options change every day. With the help of a local bakery, the burgers come in a variety of colourful, flavoured buns, which look fun and delicious. I chose the plat de jour, which turned out to be lasagne. This was a good choice. Having only done about an hour’s snowboarding previously, and not having starved myself for days beforehand, the lasagne proved to be more than enough to satisfy my appetite. To be honest, I think this particular “plat” would easily have satiated two people. It was huge. Fortunately, or unfortunately if you are the personification of my recent attempts to eat less, it was also very tasty. Topped with slices of melted Beaufort cheese (a welcome Savoyard addition) and consisting of many layers of pasta, beef mince and fresh tomatoes, I was persuaded to eat as much as I could. The lasagne was complimented by a side salad finished with a light vinaigrette and assorted seeds, and fresh bread. In terms of flavour, value for money and quantity, it was very difficult to fault.

Service was quick, the staff were very helpful and everyone spoke excellent English. The lunch choices were decent, freshly homemade and reasonably-priced. If you are looking for a full three course meal at midday, this probably isn’t the place to go, but if you want a good-quality “normal” lunch in cool-kitsch surroundings, it probably is.

Après ski, the café becomes more of a relaxed bar. There were four types of beer on tap with prices for a 25cl glass of lager starting at €3.50. If you need warming up after a day in the snow, they also do a hot chocolate with rum for €6, which is always tempting. Every Wednesday the café has themed evenings, offering relevant food and drink: last week tapas and sangria were on the menu, there are seafood and sushi nights to come.

I liked the food, I liked the carefully mismatched decor, and I liked the prices. I will be going back.

Calling this place a café is a bit like calling Les Arcs a place that you can ski. Yes, you can pop in for a quick pick me up cup of caffeine at lunchtime or a hot chocolate after you’ve hit the slopes but it is also much more than this. The restaurant is quite traditionally decorated with lots of exposed wood but with some funky touches to make it feel much warmer and more homely than a lot of the local ‘Savoyard’ style eateries. It is located in the Charvet village of Les Arcs 1800 and is close to the slopes so you could come at lunchtime or for dinner after enjoying some après ski.

As you enter, the bar is stretched out along one side of the restaurant and invariably has locals and holidaymakers enjoying an après ski beer into the early evening. There is a good selection of uplifting tunes that are loud enough to create an energetic atmosphere but not so loud that it disrupts the conversation if you are eating at one of the tables. Having said that, if you are looking for a quiet, romantic option then this place may have a bit too much hustle and bustle.

The lighting is pretty lively around the bar area and the table area is enveloped in hues of blues and purples and reds which keep the atmosphere cosy but bright enough to see what you’re eating. There is also some large, flat screen TV’s around the walls which show a selection of extreme sports videos and provide excellent motivation for the next day’s riding…..after a good feed and some cheeky genepi shots everyone agreed to ‘try’ at least one triple cork the next day….if only aspirations could be so easily achieved!

So onto the food! The menu is delivered to the table on a large chalkboard and there is a selection of tapas style starters including onion rings, tacos with salsa / salad and melted cheese sticks. If you have little ones with you there is also a ‘menu enfant’ which offers a small hamburger or chicken nuggets served with chips and ice cream to finish, all for 9 euros.

For mains the restaurant has a good selection of meat dishes including Fajitas, Ribs, Chicken Wings, Grilled Prawns and also a traditional ‘Tartiflette’ dish. If you’ve not had a tartiflette before it consists of lashings of potatoes, lardons, onions and garlic all combined with melted reblochon cheese and white wine. It’s not for the faint hearted and to be honest there are more traditional versions of this dish available elsewhere, however most people keep coming back to the Mountain Café for a very specific reason…..the Burgers!

Chicken, Beef and Veggie options are available and they come with great garnish and a large side-pot of fries. What makes these burgers so good is that you can tailor the size of them to suit your appetite. I am not a light eater and with my girlfriend we shared onion rings to start, a single chicken burger and a single beefburger for mains and it was plenty. However, if you are feeling really hungry then why not try upping the ante and going for a double! And if you want to push the boat right out then you can even ‘triple’ your burger for maximum calorie intake. The burgers are home-made and cooked to your liking and really are very tasty indeed!

There were seven of us dining the evening that we went and Oliver the owner was most helpful. We booked a table as it can be very hard to get a seat if you just rock up. There is a simple yet decent wine list, with all the normal beers that you would expect in a French bar, including bottles of Desperado crisp and cold out of the fridge. Most of us went for the burgers with one person opting for the fajitas. Again, these come in Beef, Chicken or Veggie options and are a really decent sized portion. We shared a 2012 Bourgogne wine between all of us, beers and a round of shots at the end of the meal with our coffees. The bill worked out at 30 euros per person and this included a 20 euro tip for the service which was fast, efficient and helpful.

I would definitely recommend this spot for having a decent sized yet not overly expensive meal out. It is great for groups or couples and also very family friendly. The service is good and all the staff speak English so don’t worry about your Franglais!

It is not a gastronomic adventure but they are offering something a little bit different to the traditional Savoyard fare and in a fun and inviting environment. Just don’t forget to book, especially if there is more than 2 of you!

Mountain Café

The Thoral family are the adventurous group that have taken over this enormity of a chalet, moving from the neighbouring Maurienne valley to Les Arcs in hope of turning this forgotten restaurant into a reputed brasserie on the slopes. They are open as soon as the lifts are to welcome you into their fire-warmed interior or sun drenched exterior with a view of the Mont Blanc for drinks and food. And not only in the winter season can you experience their excellent hospitality; they are open during the summer months of July and August as well. They can cater for large groups, with various private alcoves and a first floor mezzanine that can be hired for functions as well.

The restaurant is situated in Villaroger and despite the horrific visibility we managed to find it with minimal problems. There was a very warm welcome waiting for us when we entered the large wooden chalet. We were seated quickly next to a large window, which I’m sure, would have been a spectacular view if we weren’t completely surrounded by thick clouds and were bombarded with incredibly attentive cheerful wait staff.

The food is (unsurprisingly) French style cuisine with some Savoyarde specialities. The meat is all sourced from France and Germany and everything is cooked to order. The patisserie is homemade as well. They have a decent selection of alcohol with a more than adequate treasure chest of wines.

We ordered a standard starter and more unusual main courses. Luckily my companion is even more adventurous with her food than Bear Grylls so we knew we were going to taste some of the more uncommon local dishes. We opted for a sharing Savoyarde platter of a mixture of cured meats, cheeses and bread. We ordered raspberry kirs and carafe of house red. We followed our sharing platter with a Rossini burger (duck breast and foie gras) and an andouillette sausage (andouillette sausage is an offal fuelled Savoyarde sausage that has an incredibly strong flavour that is not to everyone’s taste). They were accompanied by chips.

We then put in an order for dessert, we had to - it was all part of the job, crème caramel and chocolate mousse. We also had a good look at the tartiflette which was presented in a copper skillet that was exceptionally impressive. The portions are very generous and their prices reflect that. The food was excellent and so was the service but my only qualm was the pricing. The cheapest starter was 14 euros. This obviously is not the kind of place to come for lunch everyday but it is definitely worth a visit.

The entire structure is truly striking thing and its avant-garde styling would not look out-of-place in the centre of a large city. The interior is no less impressive, with the floor-to-ceiling windows providing incredible views of the surrounding pistes.

Le Restaurant is very different from most mountain eateries in a variety of ways. Whereas most restaurants give you the options of being inside (usually with little natural light) or outside, the immense glasswork of Le Lodge blurs the line between the external and the internal, giving you the sensation of being outdoors even when you are not.

The Restaurant

There are two main dining areas in Le Restaurant, plus private rooms. In the main room there is a bar, a relaxed sofa-seating area, a decent number of tables (including raised tables with stools) and, of course, the impressive picture windows. Along one side of this space, there are a handful of individual rooms each with a table, a window with a view of Mont Blanc and a television so you can play the helmet-cam footage from your own action cameras. Downstairs there is similar additional seating, although without the grandiose high ceilings and panoramas. All tables can be reserved in advance.

Le Restaurant is open between 11:45am and 6.30pm every day, serving lunch and “Happy Hour” drinks and snacks (between 3.30pm and 5.30pm). Dinner is served only on Thursday nights, when the Lodge is open to the public for a while longer, and a restricted menu of Savoyarde specialities is available.

The decor and finishing throughout Le Restaurant is top-notch and the clientele ranged from skiers just off the slopes, to ladies-who-lunch wearing designer apparel, and a good number of patrons who clearly worked directly for Paradiski (which, I think, is a very good sign). It appears that no expense has been spared in the realisation of the building, with the separate child’s play area (including Playstation 4), the individual dining rooms, the capacious bathrooms and even the cutlery paying testament to the restaurant’s inherent quality and attention to detail.

Outside there is a suitably large, two-tiered terrace area complete with tables for eating and deckchairs for relaxing.

The Food

As usual I chose the “plat du jour” (€17) which, on this occasion, was Beef Bourguignon with Purée Maison (or very smooth mash with a leaf pattern, as I like to call it). There is also a daily starter (€9) and dessert (€10), or you can have all three dishes as a menu du jour (€27).

The menu itself has a good selection of salads (starting at €14), the typical Savoyarde fayre (with a traditional fondue costing €19), a couple of pasta dishes (starting at €16), and a few meat options (including “Le Lodge Burger” at €22 and duck breast with winter vegetables at €26). The starters were mainly available as sharing platters, which I thought was a nice idea even if it might not suit every group size.

If you can drag the kids away from the play area, then they are also catered for well: the children’s menu has two meat options, served with one of pasta, potato dippers or vegetables, followed by chocolate pudding for €14. There are also six baby high-chairs on hand for tiny people.

Throughout my meal the waiting staff were very attentive and pleasant, with my lunch arriving very promptly. The beef was beautifully cooked and the stew had a great depth of flavour. The accompanying mashed potato was very smooth and creamy, off-setting the rich, meaty sauce very well. I must admit, in a weaker moment, I virtually wiped the plate clean with one of the complementary bread rolls.

Having demolished my main course, I was tempted by the pudding menu which included a cheese board, an Alpine berry meringue, and a coffee (or tea) gourmand featuring a medley of mini-desserts (all €12). However, knowing I had plenty more snowboarding to do in the afternoon, I stayed strong and fought the urge.

The Drinks

There is an excellent wine list including four choices of Champagne for any special occasion (starting at €70). There is a wide range of cocktails (from €8), an extensive list of liqueurs, and four beers on tap. During “Happy Hour” you can have a “demi” Stella Artois for a very reasonable €2.50 and mulled wine for €3. At the same time, you can sate your hunger with crepes, waffles or platters of meats or cheese. 

If you fancy something non-alcoholic, the bar offers an assortment of teas and coffees, soft drinks, “mocktails” and fruit juices to whet your whistle.

Overall

Le Restaurant is not the cheapest place to lunch in Les Arcs, neither is it the most expensive, but it is certainly one of the most unique. The architecture is stunning, creating an incredible space in which one simply eats delicious food. Whether treating yourself to a slap-up lunch, or just enjoying a quick drink on the way back to your home resort, it is worth visiting Le Lodge at least once during your holiday. You can’t help but love the venue and its extensive views.