Hôtel Alain Llorca

The patio view is stunning, so book early enough to catch the sunset. We were a party of 12, and they did a nice job serving each course to everyone together. There was a large red wine spill on someone in our group, though, and I wasn’t fully satisfied with how the staff handled it. The nine courses varied a lot, from creative and exceptional to forgettable. We had to skip the cheese course because of time. The Italian risotto was outstanding, and the asparagus was a fun, creative, delicious highlight. The seabass was beautiful and delicious too. The veal tasted good but was tough, and a few other courses fell flat and felt overworked. It was a beautiful evening, and the view alone makes it worth visiting.

The staff were kind, professional, and attentive throughout, and the meal made a lovely start to our time in the South of France. We had a four-course menu for lunch last month to celebrate my birthday in the charming village of Saint-Paul-de-Vence. A friend had recommended the restaurant, so we booked a table with a view and were glad to get the perfect spot. The peaceful mountains in the warm South of France sunlight made a lovely backdrop. The menu was satisfying, and my favorite was the squid on a toothpick, with balanced flavors and intricate details in every course.

Looking back, I thought the meal was overpriced for what we got. I’ve had much better Michelin star meals in the UK for far less. Apart from the monkfish and lamb, which were exceptional, the rest didn’t have the same flavor or quality. We had a fantastic time at Alain Llorca, and those two courses really stood out. We chose the five-course menu, which was more than enough food. My only reservation at the time was that it cost a little more than other restaurants of similar caliber.

The food was good and the staff friendly. The price was fair, which is a plus, though I expected a little more from a one star michelin restaurant, based on what I’m used to.