"The Bijou Plage" in Juan les Pins

Written by Stella Haworth

From Reporter Issue 82

“My husband and I” have had the good fortune to eat at many royal restaurants over the years but on a Saturday in October we found a little bijou in Juan les Pins. First problem in the rain or on a hot day in July and August, how do you find a place to park? No problem – a voiturier sweeps your car away at the door and returns it like a rabbit out of a hat on your way home.

Rabbit is not on the menu but there are a few tempting meat dishes, Médaillon de Porc Panés, Tomates Fraîches au Pistou ou Tian d’Agneau à l’Huile de Truffles, but this is really a restaurant for fishophiles or vegetarians hankering for imaginative choices.

This is a 15 year old family business, on the beach with idyllic views towards the Lerins islands and the Cap d’Antibes, decorated with a maritime theme. You can sit in the main restaurant or on the covered terrace to admire the views and in summer there is a private beach with mattresses, parasols, pedaloes and a beach bar serving daily specialities. You are probably think I’m mad to talk about the beach in December but summer is not far away and this restaurant opens it facilities when the temperature permits. One for the diary for the warm weather

Back to the food. The menu is adapted every 4 – 6 weeks to keep abreast of changing seasons. This restaurant has a reputation for bouillabaisse and seafood platters - oysters, clams, langoustines, crab etc. There are Suggestions du Chef and a wide A la Carte plus the Menu Bijou (165 FF) and Menu Plaisir (280 FF), which offer a multitude of tempting choices for each course. Amuses Bouches, followed by entrées of Soupe de Moules au Saffron (creamy yellow mussel soup - indescribably delicious) , Cassolette de Coquillages au Lard, à l’Huile d’Olive et aux Citron (mixtures of shellfish with an extraordinary flavour). Next we tried the Assiette du Pêcheur au Jus de Bouillabaisse (people come for miles for this and you can really taste the flavours of each fish – mussels, turbot, John Dory etc. accompanied with rouille and croûtons) and the Délice de Gâteau d’Ecrevisses au Coulis Crustacés, Filet de Saint Pierre Grillé (a John Dory with an amazing selection of crunchy colourful vegetables). Nothing is frozen and fish is bought at the market on a daily basis. The presentation is immaculate, the plates are hot and the service is interested and attentive but not intrusive.

We had to confess to being beaten by the cheese board but you have to leave something for a return visit! After a pause we were ready to be intrigued by the desserts. The Chef Patissier has created treats for Chocolate lovers, Romantics, Fruit fanatics and even those on a diet. We enjoyed a Papillon plate (specially for us), where the fruit and sorbets were arranged in butterflies. Terrific.

During the week (Monday to Saturday) there is a lunch menu at 110 FF with an entrée, main course and dessert including some of the dishes mentioned above. Excellent value for money but you do need to book. This is a busy place.

I hope by now you are rushing out of the door down to Juan les Pins, but where to?? This gem of Juan is Bijou Plage.

© Stella Haworth

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