La Réserve de Nice - Fine Dining by the Sea

Fine dining can be incredibly diverse. That's not just about the cuisine. You have the location, the design of the building, the ambiance of the décor, and service that's often fit for royalty.

The experience is much more than just eating because you're hungry. It's the reason why you're willing to shell out sums that a cost accountant may disapprove of, but in your mind, you know you're getting your money's worth.

La Réserve is a restaurant in Nice, France that's worth exploring for the food, location and dining room decor. Before I go any further, I should state that the restaurant was featured in our Nice tour, but there was no financial consideration. We wanted an iconic Nice restaurant to tell the story of the city, and our local contact's recommendation was spot-on.

How so? First, let's dissect the location. The building housing the restaurant is on the edge of a cliff right on the Baie des Anges (Bay of Angels) along Boulevard Franck Pilatte, just east of Port Lympia. It's also two blocks away from Plage Des Bains Militaires, a secluded small beach that isn't the easiest to discover if you don't have previous knowledge of its location. If your final destination is Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat or Monaco, this is a good route to take.

What does a location like this get you? To answer that question, we have to consider the design of the dining area. It is called the Houseboat (I didn't know this at the time of our visit), likely because of the oversized windows with unobstructed views of the bay. Sitting here just looking at the gorgeous view is almost enough to fill you.

Now, I should say that there is no shortage of locations in Nice where you're treated to views that appear too good to be real (Parc de la Colline du Chateau, Promenade Des Anglais, Mont Boron, just to name a few) but the dining room at La Réserve will contend for one of the best.

What's more interesting about La Réserve is that the dining area (large windows and all) doesn't have the best views in the house. There is a small terrace on the same level, but the star of the show is the rooftop. It may not offer the full menu, but it's doubtful that you'll care, given the Mediterranean view you'll be treated to while sipping on cocktails and enjoying tapas and planchas.

It's views like these that have left me convinced that Nice is the right place for retirement. Keep in mind that the rooftop is only open during the warm months, but that's from May to October so there's a large enough window. For private events, La Réserve offers the Double Decker room that has a more cozy environment. Likely ideal for closing those all-important business deals.

I'm not going to claim there's anything particularly remarkable about the décor of the main dining room, but it is very tasteful, and if not for the bay views that overshadow it, all comers will appreciate it more. La Réserve first opened its doors in 1862. The Art Deco building has the French Riviera charm that perfectly complements the location and the cuisine on offer.

All this talk about the location, and it's easy to forget that this is a restaurant and we should talk about the cuisine. La Réserve specializes in French and Mediterranean cuisine. Chef Jerome Cotta, who learned his craft under chefs like Dominique Le Stand, Christophe Leroy, and Bruno Sohn, is in charge. He has a love for fishing and local produce and it shows in the dishes coming out of his kitchen.

As you would expect from any fine dining place, the presentation was pure art with creativity that makes you take one photograph after another. It's something even the sublime views can't draw your attention away from.

While Raquel got all the camera time, I was able to dig into the cuisine that was served without worrying about posture or camera angles. Remarkably good food perfectly complemented with Mediterranean weather (being a behind-the-scenes person has its perks). How does the food compare to a place like Michelin-starred Le Chantecler?

Sadly, I don't have an answer yet. Even though I stayed at the hotel, I was too busy to get an opportunity to dine at Le Negresco's flagship restaurant. Maybe that will change soon, but regardless, you can't go wrong with La Réserve. It also has something Le Chantecler doesn't have; sublime views of Baie des Anges from seemingly every angle.