Brunel

Brunel is a Provençal restaurant at 46 Rue de la Balance in the old centre of Avignon, in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France. Rue de la Balance is a narrow street just below the Palais des Papes and close to Place du Palais, a position that puts the restaurant in the most visited part of the city while still on a lane away from the main squares. The kitchen focuses on traditional Provençal cooking, with daube and Provençal lamb listed as signatures. The daube is the region's slow-braised beef stew, cooked in red wine with herbs and often orange zest, and is usually served with pasta, rice or potatoes; the lamb tends to be roasted or braised with thyme, rosemary and garlic, echoing the flavours of the surrounding Alpilles and Luberon hills. Seasonal side dishes might include ratatouille, tian of vegetables, tapenade and aïoli, and desserts commonly feature local fruit. Prices are moderate at around EUR 35 to 55 (about $40-63) per person depending on the menu chosen. Wine is mostly regional, and a Côtes du Rhône, Ventoux or Luberon red is the traditional accompaniment to the daube, with a chilled rosé or white for lighter plates. The room is warm and unpretentious, with a moderate noise level and casual dress, and in warm weather tables outside on the lane add to the atmosphere. Service is typically lunch and dinner from Tuesday to Saturday, but hours should be verified before visiting. Reservations are recommended, particularly in July during the Festival d'Avignon and in the busy months of May to September, when the streets around the papal palace are crowded. Booking a few days ahead is usually sufficient outside peak periods. Visitors can pair a meal here with a visit to the Palais des Papes and the Pont Saint-Bénézet, both a short walk away.