La Cave Valaisanne

La Cave Valaisanne is a regional restaurant at Boulevard Georges-Favon 23, between Plainpalais and the Old Town in Geneva, Switzerland. It specialises in the cuisine and wines of the canton of Valais, the Alpine region in the south-west of the country, and works as a cellar-style address where cheese dishes and local bottles are the focus. The signature dishes are raclette, in which melted Valais cheese is scraped over potatoes and served with pickles and onions; cheese fondue; and the assiette valaisanne, a platter of dried beef, ham and cured meats typical of Valais, usually served with rye bread and cheese. These are cold-weather dishes that suit the autumn and winter seasons, though they are served throughout the year. The room is rustic and convivial, with the feel of a mountain wine cellar, and it is generally friendly and moderately noisy. The dress code is casual. The wine programme is a major draw: Valais wines are poured by the glass, and the region's varieties, such as Fendant (Chasselas), Petite Arvine, Johannisberg and Dôle, are well represented. These wines are rarely exported, so the restaurant gives visitors a chance to sample bottles seldom found outside Switzerland. Prices are moderate (rated $$), with a raclette or fondue typically around CHF 25 to 40. The restaurant typically opens Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner, though hours should be checked. Reservations are recommended in winter, when cheese dishes are in the greatest demand, and booking a few days ahead is sensible for Friday and Saturday evenings. The boulevard location is within walking distance of the Old Town, Plainpalais and the Rhône.