L'Air de Famille is a bistro restaurant in Capitole, Toulouse.
L'Air de Famille on Rue Jules Chalande between Capitole and Saint-Sernin is the traditional French dining room with vintage posters and market plates.
Signature dishes: Mediterranean tuna, Quercy lamb, Southwest duck
Tip: Lunch only Tuesday to Saturday, dinner only Thursday to Saturday; book the back tables for quiet service.
Address: 6 Rue Jules Chalande, 31000 Toulouse
Brasserie de l'Opera at the Grand Hotel de l'Opera on Place du Capitole is the seven-days-a-week brasserie classic, with a market-driven southwest menu.
Signature: Plateau de fruits de mer, Steak frites, Cassoulet
Tip: Best for a long lunch on Sunday when smaller bistros are closed; sit at the terrace facing the Capitole.
Brasserie Les Beaux-Arts on Quai de la Daurade is the Flo group seafood brasserie facing Pont Neuf, with a Belle Epoque interior and Garonne terrace.
Signature: Plateau de fruits de mer, Sole meuniere, Bouillabaisse
Tip: Reserve a riverfront terrace table at sunset for the Pont Neuf view; the plateau de fruits de mer is the canonical order.
Aux Pieds Sous La Table near Saint-Sernin in Compans-Caffarelli is the 100 percent homemade short-supply-chain bistro with daily-changing lunch menus.
Signature: Short-circuit lamb, Daily market plates, Organic seasonal vegetables
Tip: The lunch menu changes every day; book ahead. Closed Sunday and Monday.
Le Magret on the first floor of the Marche Victor Hugo is the upstairs market restaurant since 1988, drawing from the butcher counters two floors below.
Signature: Magret de canard, Saucisse de Toulouse, Cassoulet
Tip: Lunch only, finish by 13:30; this is the canonical market-upstairs lunch with a working-day crowd of producers and office staff.
L'Imperiale on the first floor of the Marche Victor Hugo is the family restaurant opened 1985, traditional southwest cuisine and a plancha for grilled fish.
Signature: Plancha grilled fish, Plancha grilled meats, Southwest plates
Tip: Lunch only, 12:00 to 14:00; a calmer alternative to Le Magret two doors down, with the same market-driven menu.
Le Ksar on Rue Perchepinte near the Saint-Etienne cathedral is the Moroccan room widely credited with the best couscous in Toulouse, with mint tea closer.
Signature: Couscous royal, Tagine d'agneau aux pruneaux, Pastilla
Tip: The couscous royal feeds two easily; the tagine d'agneau aux pruneaux is the second-best order. Book on a Friday.
Brasserie de l'Opera at the Grand Hotel de l'Opera on Place du Capitole is the seven-days-a-week brasserie classic, with a market-driven southwest menu.
Signature: Plateau de fruits de mer, Steak frites, Cassoulet
Tip: Best for a long lunch on Sunday when smaller bistros are closed; sit at the terrace facing the Capitole.
