Chef Nicolas Brousse€32-55Book 1 week ahead
Cartouches on Rue Pierre Paul Riquet in Saint-Aubin is Nicolas Brousse's Bib Gourmand bistronomic room with a weekly-changing menu and a Languedoc wine list.
Tip: Closed Wednesday lunch; book ahead in Saint-Aubin's calmer side. Two toques from Gault Millau and a Bib Gourmand from Michelin.
Chef Maxime Drouin€20-23 lunch, €38-55 dinnerBook 1 week ahead
Chez Loustic on Rue Reclusane in Saint-Cyprien is the Michelin Bib Gourmand bistro with a daily-changing market menu, €20 lunch formule and natural wines.
Tip: The €20 lunch formule (entree + plat OR plat + dessert) Tuesday to Friday is the canonical entry; €23 for all three.
€17Book Same-day ahead
Les Antipodes at Pont Saint-Pierre is chef Guillaume Momboisse's takeaway offshoot of Sept, with a weekly tasting menu for €17 sold over the counter.
Tip: Walk-in only, place an order before noon Tuesday to Saturday for that day's tasting; menu changes weekly.
€42-95Book 2 weeks ahead
Le Cantou in a farmhouse on Rue Velasquez near Toulouse airport is the wooded-park dining room with refined, seasonal southwestern French cooking nightly.
Tip: Book the garden terrace in summer; a 15 minute drive west of the centre but the garden setting is part of the value.
Chef Eric Cellier€55-90Book 2 weeks ahead
Restaurant Metropolitan on Place Auguste Lafourcade is the Eric Cellier dining room, with seasonal southwest tasting menus and a Michelin Selected status.
Tip: The lunch menu under €40 is the value entry; pair with the Languedoc-Roussillon wines on the short by-the-glass list.
Chef Stephane Tournie€38-55Book 1 week ahead
Le Comptoir Tournie is Stephane Tournie's casual sister room to Les Jardins de l'Opera on Place du Capitole. Reservations recommended in season.
Tip: Cheaper sister room to the starred Les Jardins; lunch is the value entry. Same kitchen team, simpler plates.