Le Bistrot des Serruriers

Feeling like the word ‘bistro’ is a bit overused at this point? Not if it’s as beautiful as the sophisticated spot nestled inside the Hôtel du Couvent, resembling something out of a Pagnol film and decked out with classy wares (vintage furniture, big mirrors, paintings galore). While chef Thomas Vételé (who used to work in the kitchens of Le Peninsula) shines a spotlight on produce from the house’s vegetable patch or from the Ferme Notre-Dame in the backcountry, Léa Bourseau Le Page (ex-Mandarin Oriental) keeps everything running like clockwork in the dining room, like the night we went: a galactic rabbit and Taggiasca olive terrine paired with pickled beets and turnips from the Ferme Notre-Dame; pissaladière from the Boulangerie du Couvent; top-notch devilled eggs; incredibly tender vitello tonnato; perfectly roasted sardines in olive oil and lemon; or perhaps even a mustardy pork chop, along with an elegant ratatouille; and to round out the meal, a divine lemon tart. // Lenny Vega