Le Goût du Jour

Le Goût du Jour is a French bistronomy restaurant at 20 Rue Saint-Étienne in the old town of Avignon, in the Vaucluse department of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France. Bistronomy describes a style of cooking that applies fine-dining technique and careful sourcing to relaxed, affordable bistro formats, and the restaurant follows that approach with a chalkboard-style menu that changes according to what the market offers. The listed signature is the market-driven plat du jour, which gives the restaurant its name, and a seasonal dessert closes the meal. Prices are moderate at about EUR 30 to 50 (roughly $35-58) per person, with lunch formulas typically cheaper than evening menus. Ingredients are expected to come largely from regional producers and from the covered Halles d'Avignon market, so spring menus emphasise asparagus and early vegetables, summer menus feature tomatoes, melon and herbs, and winter menus turn to root vegetables, slow-cooked meats and citrus desserts. The wine list is likely to favour small southern Rhône and Luberon producers, with glass pours suited to a lunch, and a Provence rosé is a natural summer choice. The dining room is informal and unfussy, with a friendly pace, a moderate noise level and casual dress. Service is typically lunch and dinner from Tuesday to Saturday, though hours should be verified before visiting. Reservations are recommended, particularly at weekends and during the Festival d'Avignon in July, when the old town's restaurants are busy; booking a few days ahead is generally enough in other months. Rue Saint-Étienne lies in the eastern part of the old centre, and the restaurant fits well into a day exploring the Palais des Papes, the Rocher des Doms and the Rue des Teinturiers.