Le Café du Marché, sincere cuisine for a regular haunt
Among the many restaurants on rue François-Bonivard, one remains emblematic for local residents: the Café du Marché. With its blinds hiding the interior and a sign that reads “sold out” every lunchtime, you’d never expect to take a leap back in time once you step through the door. The bistro-style tables and vintage Swissair posters give the impression of being transported to a village restaurant, where glasses clink, conversations merry and laughter break out in a convivial atmosphere.
Eclectic clientele
The eclectic clientele is made up of regulars, each welcomed as if at home. The menu of the day, written on slates, includes pumpkin soup or a green salad to whet the appetite. We opt for the soup, ideal for chasing away winter ailments. Seasoned with a judicious blend of spices, the squashreveals its aromas and leaves a little spiciness at the back of the throat. The soup is served with seeded bread, which we don’t hesitate to soak.
With its traditional cuisine, the Café du Marché offers a wide variety of dishes: boletus risotto, veal onglet, beef tartare or roasted wolf fillet. We choose the venison stew with chestnuts and mushrooms, accompanied by mashed potatoes. Service is prompt despite the crowds, and the dish is not long in coming. The meat is tender, a symbol of perfect cooking, and rich in flavor, the sauce is powerful, and the mashed potatoes reveal a few pieces of potato, offering a texture reminiscent of homemade mashed potatoes from Sunday lunch at grandma’s house. A flawless dish that warms the heart and revives childhood memories.
Crème brulée
To finish, achocolate crème brûlée, covered with a beautiful crust of sugar, catches our attention. Although a little grainy, the taste is intense and we end the meal on ahigh note. This century-old establishment has nonetheless been rejuvenated over the last fifteen years under Laurent Lefèvre, offering a nostalgic interlude at every lunch or dinner.
