Le Comptoir de Mathilde is a bistro restaurant in Capitole, Toulouse.
Le Comptoir de Mathilde on Rue Jean-Antoine de Baif near Capitole is a small all-day counter for cheese boards. Reservations recommended in season.
Signature dishes: Daily plat du jour, Cheese plate, Charcuterie board
Tip: Open continuously through the afternoon; cheese boards from €12 are the canonical order between services.
Address: 15 Rue Jean-Antoine de Baif, 31000 Toulouse
Le Bon Vivre on Place Wilson is the all-day southwestern brasserie with continuous service, a covered terrace and a deep Lauragais cassoulet menu.
Signature: Cassoulet, Saucisse de Toulouse, Confit de canard
Tip: Walk-in friendly; the cassoulet with duck plus sausage is the canonical order. Open Sunday, which most of the centre is not.
May on Rue Pharaon in Carmes is the small Vietnamese kitchen with banh mi to order, slow-simmered bun bo Hue and fresh spring rolls served on lacquer trays.
Signature: Banh mi, Bun bo Hue, Spring rolls
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday; the lunch banh mi plus iced jasmine tea at €13 is the daily favourite.
Le J'Go on Place Victor Hugo is the southwestern French bistro and wine bar built around Cochon noir de Bigorre, market-facing terrace and Gers bottles.
Signature: Cochon noir de Bigorre, Saucisse de Toulouse grilled with white beans, Plat du jour
Tip: Solo lunch best at the bar; the saucisse de Toulouse grilled with white beans is the canonical order.
La Cave au Cassoulet on Rue Peyrolieres in Carmes is an unfussy cassoulet specialist with confit duck, sausage and beans baked in clay cassoles.
Signature: Cassoulet de Toulouse, Confit de canard, Magret de canard
Tip: Smaller than the celebrated cassoulet rooms; the cassole is single-serve, do not order a starter if you intend to finish it.
Le Bon Vivre on Place Wilson is the all-day southwestern brasserie with continuous service, a covered terrace and a deep Lauragais cassoulet menu.
Signature: Cassoulet, Saucisse de Toulouse, Confit de canard
Tip: Walk-in friendly; the cassoulet with duck plus sausage is the canonical order. Open Sunday, which most of the centre is not.
Il Paradiso on Rue de la Pleau in Carmes is the family Italian trattoria with hand-rolled pastas, a wood-fired pizza oven and a small natural wine list.
Signature: Hand-rolled pastas, Wood-fired pizza, Tiramisu
Tip: The lunch pasta of the day at €13 is the value entry; book ahead for Friday and Saturday dinners.
Fufu Toulouse on Rue de Metz is the small ramen counter with thick tonkotsu broth and gyoza turned to order, opened by the team behind a Paris noodle shop.
Signature: Tonkotsu ramen, Gyoza, Donburi bowls
Tip: Lines start at 12:15; the takeaway window is the easier midday route if the indoor counter is full.
