Hotel Restaurant l'Escapade

We couldn't get a table at the Michelin-star restaurant in town, so we ate here instead and were glad we did. The menu is small and interesting. I had rabbit, while my friends chose octopus, and we all had the main steak dish afterward. Each steak was cooked just how we liked it. Friendly staff, a decent wine list, and pleasant outdoor seating. Merci.

The restaurant food was excellent, and so was breakfast. The location is ideal for Mont Ventoux, right at the start of the traditional Tour de France climb. I stayed two nights to cycle up the mountain and could keep my bike in my room. The staff were very friendly, but getting in was dreadful. I arrived on a Thursday and found the hotel closed, with no sign explaining what to do. I eventually tracked down a phone number, called, and got a door code and room number. An email on the day I arrived would have made this much easier. This is very much a restaurant with rooms, and nobody is around when the restaurant is closed.

We had luck finding a table here after the trendy, slightly out-of-the-way spots from foodie blogs and Instagram were full. The food was good, reasonably priced, and came at a comfortable pace, with neither long waits nor a rush. The waiting staff were very friendly and patiently slowed down and simplified their French so we could follow, even with our beginner-level stammering. It's a very touristy area, so they don't need to be nice to keep a business going, but they were anyway. Skip the foodie blogs and come here.

The hotel is basic, but perfectly adequate and has everything you really need. The restaurant is superb, and the three-course menu is fantastic value.