South West Bistrot Ramblas is a gascon restaurant in Capitole, Toulouse.
South West Bistrot Ramblas on Allees Jean Jaures is the brick-vaulted southwestern bistro just east of Capitole, with brunch on Sunday and a long bar.
Signature dishes: Saucisse de Toulouse, Magret de canard, Cassoulet
Tip: Sunday brunch is the calmer service; lunch midweek for the plat du jour. Closed Saturday.
Address: 84 Allees Jean Jaures, 31000 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: 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.
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: 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.
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.
