La Fourchette

La Fourchette is a Provençal bistro at 17 Rue Racine in the old centre of Avignon, in the Vaucluse department of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France. It is a long-running local favourite for traditional southern French home cooking at moderate prices, with main courses and menus typically falling between EUR 30 and 45 (about $35-52) per person. The listed signature is daube provençale, the slow-braised beef stew cooked in red wine with herbs, orange peel and olives, which is one of the defining dishes of the region and is usually served with pasta, rice or creamy polenta. The menu is short and changes with the market, adding dishes such as stuffed vegetables, grilled fish, lamb and a seasonal tart for dessert. Wines are mostly regional, and a pichet or bottle of Côtes du Rhône, Luberon or Ventoux red is the usual match for the daube, while a chilled Provence rosé suits summer lunches. The dining room is small, close-set and lively, with a friendly, informal atmosphere; noise levels rise at peak times and tables are close together, so it suits relaxed conversation more than a hushed romantic dinner. Dress is casual. The restaurant typically serves lunch and dinner from Monday to Friday, though hours should be verified before visiting. Reservations are recommended because the room has limited seating and a loyal local following, and booking a few days ahead is sensible, with more notice in July during the Festival d'Avignon. Rue Racine lies a short walk from Place des Corps Saints and the Rue des Teinturiers area, so the bistro fits easily into an evening stroll through the quieter southern side of the old town. Visitors on a budget can look at the lunch formula, which typically offers a better value than dinner.