La Merenda

Wonderful experience at La Merenda. It's a small restaurant so reservations are recommended. We got the fried zucchini flowers, stuffed sardines, tripe, and pesto pasta. Everything was delicious. The pesto pasta was definitely the standout and one of our favorite dishes in France. It's pretty cool to see how the chefs work in such a cramped place but somehow it all works out great. Highly recommend if in Nice.

Came here right before 2pm and thankfully we got the last table before they close their lunch service. The pesto pasta was absolutely mind blowing, we enjoyed it so much and safe to say, our lives were changed. Stuffed sardines were also very special. Beef stew was so tender and flavourful. We also got the tripe and lentils soup. Great service overall and i would strongly recommend this restaurant!

A Culinary Gem in Nice Pesto pasta that melts on your tongue, a slow-cooked beef stew bursting with flavor, and sardines that redefine “fresh.” No fluff, just extraordinary food made by a real chef. Tiny space, big soul. No reservations, no cards, just honest, unforgettable dishes. This place blew us away. A true hidden gem.

We were incredibly lucky to get a table for two just by walking in and asking for a seat yesterday. The food was absolutely fantastic! I especially loved the caramelised onions on the Pissaladière — so beautifully cooked and full of flavour. It was my first time trying this Niçoise dish, and it was a real treat. The pasta was hands down one of the best I’ve had in a long time — rich with the flavours of pesto, garlic, and cheese. The beef stew was hearty and comforting, and the panisse as had the perfect texture to complement the tender beef. We ended the meal with a warm lemon tart that was simply divine. You could really tell how much care and effort went into every dish. What truly stood out was the thoughtful gesture of the restaurant splitting each dish for us, as I was sharing the meal with my husband. Thank you for making our visit to Nice so memorable. I look forward to coming back on my next trip to try on other dishes on your menu!

Very cosy restaurant, air conned so even though you’re inside it’s ideal for the summer. Now you can book online, it’s easier to get a table! Traditional cuisine for the area, ratatouille is fantastic, as were the zucchini flowers. 3 corses with wine was €110 for 2 people. Make sure to get cash.

After reading many articles online along with the reviews, managed to book a place for lunch at La Merenda. I had "Beignets de fleurs de courgettes" as a starter and it was the best one since the last one I had in Mytilene, Greece. As a main course, I tried "Tripes de veau à la niçoise et panisses" which was excellent and finished my lunch with "Tarte au citron". Next time I would like to try "Pâtes au pistou" too. It is a place to enjoy really good and fresh food in a modest atmosphere. Waiters were really nice and very kind. Looking forward for my next meal there and I would like to say thank you in my language as well " Teşekkür ederim!".

Loved it since I came in I think this concept wouldn’t work anywhere else than Nice or France in general. How small the place is crazy but fun I have got to know the Brazilian couples next to me. It was fun and the food is super tasty. The service is crazy fast you will eat full menu in an hour.

We ordered beef stew, stomach sausage, veal head, and coppa. We like all the dishes we ordered! Everything is done very well. If I have to comment on something, that would be if there could add more seafood dish to the menu. Service is very good and they are very accommodating. I would suggest to make a reservation or the wait could be long.

05.31.24 I was so excited to experience La Merenda that I made sure this would be our last special meal before flying out of Nice. The space is super small, almost snuggling with the people you share the table with small. And on a very hot and muggy middle of the day heat I felt like I was roasting in the oven. That was strike one. Strike two... the food I'm sad to say, it really wasn't anything special. We ordered the fried zucchini flowers to share, it wasn't greasy at all, delicate but in need of a fair amount of salt sprinkling. For main courses I had the basil pesto pasta which smelled divine but again, lacking in seasoning. Hubs got the beef stew which also nothing that I can't make at home on a crockpot. The dishes really wasn't anything extra ordinary like I was expecting the it to be. Staff were pleasant and lovely. It was fun to watch everyone work around each other in what maybe a 10 sqft space of a kitchen.

What a fun experience! We made a reservation and was squeezed cozily with other enthusiastic diners. The service here is amazing and attentive. My husband ordered the tripe but wasn't sure, so the server bought him a sample and told him he can switch if he doesn't like it; it was awesome and he loved it! We also had the pesto pasta and it was fantastic! The food was great but for the price point, we like some of the other restaurants in the area better for frequent dining. We definitely recommend coming here at least once to try it out. The chef is amazing and it's always fun seeing him biking around the market looking for fresh food to cook for the day!

When I go out, I like to discover something new and exciting. Not something I would make at home. And Dominique delivered! Cod with potatoes and tete du veau and a soft goat cheese reminiscent of brie that I never would've found near home or chosen off a larger menu. Delicious! Service was attentive and cheerful. Local red wine and bread service were on point. Excellent meal!

Food was excellent and atmosphere eclectic. Clearly a locals favorite for good reason!

Best food we had in nice. I recommend to make a reservation. We have the pesto pasta, beef dish, and lentil dish all amazing. Service was amazing. If we go back to nice we are eating here again for sure. The ambiance is perfect. It is a small restaurant and they really take care of you here.

Need a larger space I can't book a week in advance when I'm on my holiday. The lady taking reservations took someone's reservation right before us and the. Decided after that there fully booked.

I stopped by La Merenda and found it packed, so I picked up le farci (stuffed peppers) to take for a picnic. The portion was reasonable (what many Americans would consider small), and not inexpensive, but delicious and satisfying. Service was friendly and efficient. I'd like to return for a full meal when next in Nice... 4.5 stars.

La Merenda was our final meal before leaving Nice and I'm so glad I saved it since it left such a lasting impression.  Only 1 chef at the helm, Dominique Le Stance, Michelin trained super chef with a veritable pedigree having worked at fine restaurants all over the Riviera.   He left his high ranking stations and all his past riches to take over this tiny Mom-and-Pop establishment for the last 12 years. His goal was to simply cook his heart out without all the large kitchen logistics and politics.  Now that is the mark of a truly passionate chef! La Merenda has been a historical landmark in Nice having served the city for 30 successful years.  The establishment only offers a few seatings per day/evening as the dining room holds no more than 20 people at a time and is only open during lunch for 2 hours (12-2pm) and during dinner for 4 (7-11pm).   We totally lucked out and snagged the last two available spots for dinner, literally an elbow's length away from the gals seated next to us.  I'm sure it bugs some Americans to be all up in someone's grill, but I quite enjoy the close quarters.  What better way to ogle a stranger's dishes than to see/smell it up close and personal? We started with this luscious onion tart and breaded sardines stuffed with leafy green market picks of the day.  House-made pesto pasta came next and you could have heard me moan from a mile away at the firstAHMAZZING bite!  It's been a minute since I enjoyed a plate of carbs this much as I could still taste the perfectly cooked bouncy, chewy noodles as if it was yesterday.  Seriously ridick guys! For our main dishes le hubs and I both selected the highly recommended beef dishes.  One Daube de Boeuf a la Provencale et Parisse and Queue de Boeuf a l'Orange et Polenta.   I would typically never order 2 of the same proteins in one meal but they had run out of veal tripe when we arrived and I wasn't in the mood for stock fish.  I mean he only makes about a dozen dishes every evening so once it's out, it's dunzo hunnnies!   The vernacular translation of La Merenda means "the crust breaks".... I absolutely LOVE that.  Breaking bread over an authentic Nicoise meal, made with precision, tradition, and above all else, absolute passion. Just a note:  They have no phone, they do not take credit cards, and reservations can only be made in person, as a result.  So get there right when they open and you should be fine.  They even allow dogs in the restaurant (as I've come to learn most restaurants in France do) which obviously means I LOVE IT HERE!!!!!   You get why I would move in a heartbeat?!!!

Ambiance-5 Wine-5 Service-5 Food-4 Everything was great about this place! The service was superb. One waiter for the whole place which the place is tiny and intimate. Def not a tourist trap which is a plus. The waiter translated the menu to anyone who didn't speak French and the whole menu is in French. He even let me sample the Tripes de Veal just in case I didn't like it which I thought I was insanely considerate. It wasn't my favorite taste so I decided on something different. We enjoyed our experience and will return on our next trip to Nice :)!

La Merenda - what a find this was for my GF and I.... We walk in on a Tuesday I believe, no can do - only by reservation. SO, we asked if we can come back the next day! Luckily for us they had a table available. Look up La Merenda online and you will get the full 411 of the chef! The food: We started with the Zucchini flowers and a warm ricotta or goat cheese salad (can't remember what cheese was used). The flowers blew us away how good they were - they do put a bowl of sea salt for you to sprinkle over the flowers to your liking. The salad was also very good. Next up was a beef dish for me and the staple Green Linguini for my GF! Mine was good, but the Linguini - oh man. Not heavy on sauces, not loaded with butter, in fact it may have been some olive oil. Desert we had the chocolate mousse with coffees..... very good as well. This was our #1 while visiting Nice this year. I highly recommend this place but keep in mind the hours are limited. Bon Voyage.

Always a pleasure, no phone, no booking, but magnificent Tomato tarte tatin, oxtail stem with orange zest served with a delicious wet polenta, sensational Forgot to mention the Courgette flower's delicious, light as a feather

Had lunch here. The small chalkboard menu is very regional and yet everything (except maybe the tripe) appealed. We ended up ordering the stuffed sardines, the pasta with pistou (pesto) and the stewed oxtail with orange. For dessert, the chocolate mousse and the lemon tart. I can unequivocally recommend every single one of these dishes. I had a glass of the house wine, which was excellent. The tiny restaurant was filled with locals, and some tourists. The staff was extremely helpful. And, the only sound was of conversation, and utensils being used. Happy conversation. What a welcome change from American restaurants who tend to crank the music up to painful levels. As we left, we made a reservation for three people, for 2 weeks later. Looking forward to it!

This is the second time I have dined with Chef Dominique. Everything from appetizer to entree to desert is truly outstanding and what you would expect from a Chef of his stature. I would classify the food as French / Rustic with many classic dishes such as Le Pistou soup, blood sausage, beef, delivered with amazing taste and preparation. The restaurant is simple inside and be prepared to sit right next to other patrons on small stools. The food is well worth the intimate seating. Observe Chef Dominique preparing each dish, opening wine, and working hard with an assistant chef. Two servers take care of the dining room and were friendly and spoke good English and French. The first seating (possibly the only) on the Friday night we went was full. Most patrons were French. Dominique prepares exquisite, excellent tasting, gourmet, simple French food on his terms, with local sourced ingredients, and keeps the place and seatings focused on quality and not turning tables. We followed his website and got a reservation via Instagram.

The best restaurant in Nice! Very kind Ratatouille. Great tasty Genovese pasta! People at restaurant are also very good! Love it!!

What you need to know about this place - its tiny, cosy and very very good. It has around 15 seats, no outside seating. It's authentic and pretty awesome. It's a family place, no music, just people talking and enjoying their meal. I did not like the wine much though, but the food was very good. Especially I loved the beef (on the pic).

My boyfriend and I were there this past week and let me tell you, we will be going back. My boyfriend found this restaurant on yelp and read about the chef being a two star Michelin from previous restaurants he worked in. Little hole in the wall but 7pm and 9pm hours are fully booked. Now lets get to the good stuff...the food. I can't begin to tell you how amazing the food is here. It just melts in your mouth. The zucchini florets (not sure what they call them exactly) but they were our favorite. My boyfriend ordered me the pasta and I literally wanted to lick the bowl when I was done. All the food brought to the table was amazing. Not to mention the waiter was great (only one for the whole place) and the chef came to the table as well. I would highly make this a part of your visit but make sure to make reservations or you won't get in.

Although my experience here didn't start on a good note, it ended as one of the best meals I've ever had. I have eaten in 3 star Michelin restaurants and this was different but just as good. Recommended by a local, we tried very hard to find this place. It was slightly tricky and what a disappointment when we realized it was closed all day. How do you make reservations? No phone, no website. I was determined however. We came later that night and were basically laughed at by the waiter and the locals giving us quizzical looks when we tried to navigate through closely packed tables and speak to the only waiter / bus boy / maître d'. Alas a reservation was made for the next night. Turns out they only have two seatings so dont miss out! It was the smallest restaurant I have ever been to. I am pretty sure I counted only 24 seats altogether. We were seated extremely close to a table of 6 loud men having lots of wine. It was close to the kitchen and extremely hot. I am not going to lie, I was annoyed. Take all this and scratch it right out. The food is so worth the aggravation! Exquisite! Phenomenal! Simple. Dont expect decorated plates. Its just simple food from the best ingredients that South of France has to offer. Not sure why it took me so long to write this review, I forget most of what we had. I can however, still taste the pates au pistou (pasta with Pesto). Not being a huge pasta fan, it was naturally not what I ordered. Having tried it from my husband, I was practically begging him for more and almost licking the plate. It was just devine. I watched the chef all night weighing the fresh pasta portions (fettucini) on the old fashioned hanging scale and tossing them into hot water. My god was it delicious. The whole night was magical. Romantic with amazing wine. Great conversation with the table next to us. If I am ever back in Nice, I will be going out of my way to come here for sure!

Excellent food! We went based on TA and Yelp recs. Were there at 12:15 and the place was almost full already. No phones, no set menu and no credit card just great food!!

Get the pesto pasta. This place is tiny, homie, simple, and down right delicious. No more than 26 seats, people line up out the door before 7:00pm. Chef comes in and shake hands with locals. Get reservation a day or two in advance.

The food was not all that everyone made it out to be. This was recommended by a few people in nice and I felt everything was good but nothing spectacular. I wouldn't go back but it was a great experience

We found this restaurant from the travel guide Lonely Planet. The chief used to work at Le Negresco. If you are looking for local food speciality, this is the place to be. Every dish is very well cooked. Highly recommend this place and price is not inflated at all. We were sad that we are only able to try it once. Make reservation in person.

Amazing little resto in the heart of the old town which would be easy to dismiss. It was recommended to us by our Airbnb host & although they were full the night we wanted to go we cut short our trip to Monaco today to try it out. Best decision of the holiday so far. The food is amazing. Amazing. I would come back to Nice just to eat here again. I had the beignets of courgette flowers, they melted in my mouth & with a sprinkling of fresh sea salt, they were divine. He had the pasta au pistou. Best pesto I have tasted. I could have eaten it for starter, main & dessert. For mains I had the daube & he had stockfish - a spicy salted fish stew. Both were delicious which we were given a taste of to make sure the flavour wasn't too overpowering for Scottish tastebuds. A really kind gesture. The staff genuinely care that you understand what you have ordered& are happy with your choice. Dessert was choc mousse for him & pears poached in a red wine jus for me. Both sublime. The flavours were spot on. The menu is limited but every dish is perfectly executed. The wine was lovely too. Limited choice but paired well with the menu. If you are in Nice, try this place. You have to make the effort to book. No website or phone. You have to turn up in person to make a reservation but if you make the effort, you won't be disappointed.

It was the crowd gathered outside, each time I passed this petite restaurant, that initially attracted me here; then I read some great reviews extolling the wonders of the place and the renowned chef. So, I booked well in advance and went along in mouthwatering anticipation of the glories ahead. The menu changes (daily, I think) and offers a limited choice. (The dishes I'd been hoping for didn't feature on the evening I went). As a non-meat-eater my options were restricted. I went for a typical Provencale-style fish dish which was a little too strong for my taste. Still, I really enjoyed the experience, the general ambiance, attractive décor with lovely paintings, friendly people and good, well-priced local wine. Overall, definitely worth a visit, if you can get a table! Bear in mind that they don't accept credit cards (or at least not the last time I visited.)

Very nice tiny restaurant, taste food, good service with efficiency. Definitely will come back next time.

This cute little restaurant is only a 20 seat restaurant. They don't have a phone so dont expect to call them for a reservation. You must walk in to make a lunch or dinner reservation. I came here specifically to try the chef's award winning Pissaladière. It was amazing I must say; salty, briney from the house cured anchovy paste, the delicious niçoise olives on top & the sweet caramelized onions added the much needed balance of sweet to salty ratio. The crust was perfection it is house made & thankfully not a puff pastry dough usually found at cheaper establishments for Pissaldiere. If ever in Nice I highly recommend coming here for a fantastic French Mediterranean experience & who doesn't want to dine where Robert De Niro has dined or CATHERINE DU MARCHE?

Till this day, the best meal of our lives!! We will visit Nice again simply to eat at La Merenda!!

Really enjoyed our dinner here. It's not for everyone though-- expect it to be cramped and hot. We were here for the first sitting in July and it was just unbearably hot. Unfortunately there are no fans in the restaurant and no AC. My husband didn't enjoy his meal as much because of the heat, but I thought the food was excellent!

Being from Nice and not currently living there, each time I go back home I have to stop at la Merenda for the perfect nicois lunch or dinner. This extremely popular small place is hard to find, even more so since there is no phone to book. You will find there locals with a taste for good food and tourists who have done their research well, booking often montsh in adavance by wrtitting a letter to the owners, chef Dominique Le Stanc (ex chef of Le Negresco) and his wife. The menu is short and focussed on the local specialities including daube de boeuf, tarte de Menton (pissaladiere), mesclun, polenta, tripes and tarte de blette. The jewel on the menu remains for me the Pates au Pistou, which are green tagliatelles with pesto (basil, garlic, parmesan) sauce. This the best pesto pasta in the world (in mine at least). Food is served with some good and reasonnably priced Cotes de Provence wine, in a very small room filled with art by local artists of which La Merenda was a favourite (Cesar and Arman in particular). So when in Nice, make sure you stop at La Merenda.

La Merenda is the most amazing little traditional "cuisine nicoise" et mediteranneenne restaurant. Very friendly, very small, unpretentious, but one of the best chef in Nice ! Nice is my first home and when I want to eat somewhere good, here is a place where I will never be desappointed !

Nice small family owned restaurant. It was closed during the weekend so we waited till Monday to eat there. It was worth the wait. Salad with ricotta cheese was very good. I had the meat which was very tasty. I also recommend the lemon tarte for dessert.

Hard to imagine how this place warrants all the rave reviews... honestly, this was the most disappointing and mediocre food we have experienced in the last 3 trips to France. Limited menu of hot and heavy dishes even in the summertime... the only fish on the menu was a dried cod or "stockfish" stew. The other options of daube de boeuf or tripe being equally unappealing while packed elbow-to-elbow in the tiny restaurant on a hot night, so I ordered the beignets de fleur de courgette as a starter-- normally one of my favorites but found their version to have a thick and tough tempura batter, slightly greasy like deep fried state fair food. Gave up and settled for a totally bland pizza that had a crust like Totino's frozen pizza. My dining companions did not fare much better. Service was brusque or indifferent at best. Everyone was amazed at how disappointing this place was given all the hype about their Michelin-starred chef.

I visited Nice in the summer of 2009 with my friend, who is quite an gastronome and has high standards for the food he eats, so it wasn't always so simple to pick a restaurant for dinner. We ended up in La Merenda quite randomly, having checked it and its menu in the daytime. The restaurant was really small, maybe six small tables and maximum of 20 square-meters, with an open kitchen and a clientele of older locals and tourists who clearly knew where they were sitting. The food was heaven. Many have complimented the Pates au pistou, which my friend ate and praised it to be the best he has had, and the beef-stew, which was cooked soft for hours and was quite delicious in its almost puritanic simplicity. I also ate the ratatouille, which probably was the softest and the most aromatic of all the ratatouille in the world. We didn't have dessert, but the good strong wine allowed us to sit there for a while and enjoy the warm authentic atmosphere of a French restaurant. For two of us the dinner came up to 80 euros, but it was definitely worth it.