Les Illustres is a bistro restaurant in Capitole, Toulouse.
Les Illustres facing the Capitole on the arcaded side is the all-day bistro brasserie with daily dishes, varied specials and a privileged main-square terrace.
Signature dishes: Daily plat du jour, Saucisse de Toulouse, Confit de canard
Tip: The plat du jour at lunch is the canonical Toulousain working-day meal; pick the terrace under the arcades for shade.
Address: 16 Place du Capitole, 31000 Toulouse
Le Bibent on Toulouse's Place du Capitole is the 1861 Napoleon III brasserie revived in 2009 with chef Christian Constant, a national monument.
Signature: Cassoulet de Toulouse, Plateau de fruits de mer, Souffle au Grand Marnier
Tip: Book a window table to see the square; the lunch menu is the value play. Belle Epoque interior worth the price tag on its own.
Au Pois Gourmand on Rue Emile Heybrard is the modern French dining room in a 19th century brick villa on the Garonne, with a chef and a riverside terrace.
Signature: Tasting menu, Garonne-side terrace plates, Modern southwest classics
Tip: Book the terrace in summer for the Garonne sunset view; the lunch tasting menu is the value play at about half the dinner price.
Bistro Combustible in Saint-Etienne is the modern French room serving inventive plates like poached hake fillet, with a natural-leaning wine pairing list.
Signature: Poached hake fillet, Daily market plates, Natural wine pairings
Tip: Order the market menu; the wine list is small and well-edited toward natural growers from the Languedoc.
Mama Shelter Toulouse on Boulevard Lazare Carnot is the rooftop hotel restaurant with Guy Savoy supervising the menu, with a generous Sunday brunch buffet.
Signature: Sunday brunch buffet, Pizza Mama, Beef carpaccio
Tip: The rooftop terrace is the calmer spot at sunset; Sunday brunch books out a week ahead in good weather.
Le Bar Basque on Toulouse's Place Saint-Pierre is the Basque-accented bar with gourmet pintxos, sangria, regional ciders and a large summer garden terrace.
Signature: Pintxos basques, Sangria, Iberico ham plate
Tip: Order pintxos by the half-dozen and a glass of Irouleguy; the garden fills first in summer.
Restaurant Emile on Toulouse's pedestrian Place Saint-Georges has been the canonical cassoulet address since 1947, with chef Christophe Fasan in charge.
Signature: Cassoulet de Toulouse with confit duck, Magret de canard, Foie gras maison
Tip: Order the cassoulet pre-loaded with confit duck, not the all-pork version; ask for the second-floor terrace table on a warm evening.
Le Bibent on Toulouse's Place du Capitole is the 1861 Napoleon III brasserie revived in 2009 with chef Christian Constant, a national monument.
Signature: Cassoulet de Toulouse, Plateau de fruits de mer, Souffle au Grand Marnier
Tip: Book a window table to see the square; the lunch menu is the value play. Belle Epoque interior worth the price tag on its own.
