$$ - French/European/Mediterranean - Valbonne
10 Place des Arcades, 06560 Valbonne, France
Having lived a 10 minute drive away for 6 years as a child and still going back every year, this restaurant was a staple for me growing up. They’re the biggest, most popular restaurant in Valbonne - a town of around 14,000 inhabitants further inland from Antibes/Cannes and a 40 minute drive from Nice. The old village dates back to the Middle Ages and has lots of small streets with colorful stone buildings. Valbonne is famous for its Friday morning market attracting many people from all around the Côte d’Azur (French Riviera), some even driving up to 1.5 hours to get here.
The Café has definitely gone through some upgrades; including acquiring its main competitor the Comptoir Victoria on the other side of the square, updating its menu, a flashy website, online reservations, etc. On the other hand, the big outside terrace with the classic French wicker chairs and the general bustling atmosphere with locals, expats, and tourists alike is very similar as to when I moved to the area 15 years ago.
THE FOOD
The restaurant is a pretty typical french restaurant with southern dishes like Salade Nicoise and Daube Provencal (beef stew). Being an hour way from the Italian border, there is a clear Italian influence with a wide range of delicious Neapolitan-style thin-crust pizzas, pastas, and Italian-style beef tartare.
Carpaccio - thinly sliced raw beef with basil and Parmesan
Arcades Salad with Arugula, walnuts, endive, apples
Ruccola & Prosciutto pizza - tomato sauce, cured ham, cheese, arugula, olive oil
Chocolate Fondant - delicious chocolate "lava cake" with melted chocolate inside
Raspberry Tart - comes on a cake-y crust with a side of vanilla ice cream, yum!
Not pictured but recommended:
A Café Gourmand - an espresso which comes with small desserts like chocolate mousse, panna cotta, crème caramel (flan), etc.
THE EXPERIENCE
Being the main restaurant for the town of Valbonne and right on the square, this is a very popular place to eat. A reservation is recommended if you want to sit right away (particularly for large groups + the weekend) but you can always put your name down and walk around the old town.
It’s very busy but the staff does generally manage to get the food out very quickly. In terms of service, it is a pretty typical French restaurant so you shouldn't expect to be constantly checked on. On the other hand, in keeping with the French tradition of long and leisurely meals, you won't be rushed in and out even when it's more busy. Furthermore, with the significant tourist/expat English-speaking population, the staff are well accustomed to English-speaking guests and are generally very friendly. Especially during the summer, there is usually at least one younger non-French local who is working there as a part-time job.
FINAL VERDICT
I recognize I'm biased because this has been my family's go-to spot when we're in the area for the past 15 years but by the often full tables, we're not the only ones. Being on the square with a large open terrace in the warm climate of the French Riviera, it's great to sit and people-watch before/after you explore the town of Valbonne. There is an extensive menu and pretty good value for money, especially for the location. I've always enjoyed my meals there and while I enjoy trying new places, we do always come back to Café des Arcades.
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