Chez Vincent & Nicolas

Strange – isn’t it? – that people who claim to be cool and zen and to love everybody usually love nobody at all except themselves and people exactly like them.

I’ve noticed this often … but (I’m coming to the point) it’s not the case here. Chez Vincent & Nicolas manages somehow to be cool and cosy and aware that customers need care. It’s a rare enough trick to be worthy of mention.

Tucked away between two titchy side-streets at the foot of the old town, the place has a lovely terrace, old-fashioned sort of frontage and then a funky lounge-style bar once you’re inside.

Sleek regulars

Naturally, the mojitos are first-rate. This draws in some pretty sleek regulars. Beyond, there’s a fine, stone-vaulted dining room – but I’d opt for the terrace, if the weather’s fit.

There you may tackle some well-worked and imaginative cooking – nothing outrageous, but nothing dull, either. Veal chop in lemon or sage, or the keynote hamburger with foie gras are dishes which you might remember. So is the raspberry millefeuille. What might stick in the mind most, though, is the excellent welcome, at once cool and warm. These guys should give lessons.