Some restaurants I could recommend to a friend (1): Nyon

This is the first post of a new series in which I’ll try to scan an entire city and its best restaurants. But what’s the definition of “best”? It’s simply the places I could recommend to a friend, but not because they are three stars in the Michelin Red Guide. No, just a decent place: good atmosphere, good cuisine, good price. Some days, you just want a good steak, with a nice piece of meat, fresh french fries and a smile from the waitress. And at some other times, you’d like caviar, lobster and foie gras… Let’s begin with Nyon.

The best place in town - if you are looking for fine cuisine - is Le Maître-Jaques, near the lake, facing the fountain where a statue of Maître Jaques gives the name of the restaurant. The chef, Tom Watson, is an Englishman who cooks like a Frenchman. He likes fish and seafood. Aside from the local filets de perche, he offers produce from the more distant seas, like oysters in a fresh ceviche, scallops and salmon in a smelly tartare, scampis in a red curry, for example. We don’t mean he doesn’t know how to grill meat: try his Wellington lamb with thyme, you’ll be happy. Lunch at CHF 21. Dinner between CHF 42 and 80 (without drinks). Nice Italian wines.

If you’re looking for a good Italian, not the one declining pizzas, but an authentic cuisine flirting with with truffles, basil and olive oil, go directly to the Café du Marché. Antonio Pagliuca is truffle mad and he litters them all around his large menu. With scallops, in a risotto, on a beef filet… But he also serves those special vegetables prepared like only Italians can, huge pastas and good fish. The two dining rooms are narrow, but wide enough to let the waiter show his talent. Lunch at CHF 20. Dinner between CHF 60 and 100. Wide choice of italian wines.

Another Italian is located in the Hotel Real. Le Grand Café is housed in a very strange modern room placed in a concrete cube facing the lake. Antipasti, pasta, fish and meat, a lot of effort goes into the preparation but everything is somehow a little bit shy. Lunch at CHF 18. Dinner between CHF 45 and 85. Nice Italian wines.

Want to eat trendy? Go to Le Lounge, in the Hotel Le Rive, facing the lake. Well renovated, the restaurant can do traditional filets de perche or world cuisine, mixing young rabbit and crayfish, avocado with crab and seafood, scampis and pistachio. Dinner between CHF 80 and 100. In the same hotel, try La Véranda for more classical gastronomy and La Brasserie for a simpler dinner.

If you’re looking for a nice view, go to the Auberge du Château and its nice terrace but be ready to be served by pretentious waiters. The cuisine can be a bit up and down, but nothing disastrous. Dinner between CHF 50 and 80.

Searching for fine Thai food? The only address in town is the Bangkok. Located on the road to Divonne, beside a roundabout, the environment could be reminiscent of industrial Bangkok. But the food is well done, with a huge amount of spices and all the traditional thai dishes. Dinner between CHF 45 and 65.

Addresses:

A. Le Maître-Jaques, ruelle des Moulins. Phone 022 361 28 34. www.maitrejaques.com.
B. Le Café du Marché, rue du Marché 3. Phone 022 362 35 00. www.cafedumarche.ch.
C. Le Grand Café, place de Savoie 1. Phone 022 365 85 95. www.hotelrealnyon.ch.
D. Le Lounge, rue de Rive 15. Phone 022 362 34 34. www.leshotelsderive.ch.
E. Auberge du Château, place du Château 8. Phone 022 361 63 12.
Out of map. Le Bangkok, route de Clémenty 64. Phone 022 362 25 62. www.bangkok-restaurant.ch.