Mediterranean€€EuromédecineTue 10:00-19:00; Wed-Sat 10:00-22:00; closed Sunday and Monday
Soulenq turns a former plant nursery in Montpellier's Euromédecine quarter into a wood-fired bistro and 400-reference wine cave with a big terrace.
Tip: Buy any bottle from the cave and drink it at the table for 10 euros corkage; the name is Occitan for the harvest-end meal.
Steakhouse€€ÉcussonDaily 12:00-14:30 and 19:30-22:30
Chez Boris grills Fleur d'Aubrac beef on the Esplanade in Montpellier, tartares cut to order and an onglet à l'échalote that anchors the whole card.
Signature: Onglet à l'échalote, Parmentier de joue de bœuf à l'aligot
Tip: Open seven days facing the Esplanade; the 18 euro parmentier of beef cheek with aligot is the sleeper order.
Modern French€€ÉcussonTue-Sat 11:00-00:00; Sun 11:30-18:00; closed Monday
Faune feeds Montpellier's MO.CO. contemporary art museum on Rue de la République, seasonal plates and Sunday brunch in the collector's-house garden.
Tip: The Sunday brunch seats in the museum garden are the draw; on weekdays it runs straight through to midnight.
Italian€€ÉcussonOpen daily for lunch and dinner service
La Maison d'Anna is a family trattoria on Rue des Trésoriers de France in Montpellier, orecchiette and slow ragù cooked from recipes della nonna.
Tip: The dining room is tiny and the pasta is made in small batches, so book or arrive when the doors open.
Italian€€Saint-RochSun-Thu 12:00-14:00 and 19:00-22:00; Fri-Sat 12:00-14:30 and 19:00-22:30
La Mamma St Roch runs a mozzarella bar and wood-blistered pizzas near the station in Montpellier, imported Italian cheeses over gnocchi and pappardelle.
Tip: Start at the mozzarella bar before the pizzas; it is one of the few kitchens in the quarter serving every day.
French bistro€€ÉcussonTue-Sat 12:00-19:30, Wednesday until 22:30
Les Canons pairs a 150-bottle natural wine cellar with market bistro lunches near Saint-Pierre cathedral in Montpellier, most vegetables local and organic.
Tip: Lunch menus run 11 to 18 euros and any cellar bottle opens for 10 euros corkage; Wednesday is the late night.