Restaurant Reviews in Tignes — 6 of Our Favourites

Having attempted to go on a Saturday night, we were informed that it was fully booked (rare in Tignes for a Saturday night) and that tables were available by phone reservation only. Having made a reservation for the following night, our party of two headed down there with high hopes, having heard many excellent reviews.

A small restaurant, (we estimated that it could seat between 50-60 at a time) it is incredibly cosy with a roaring fireplace and gorgeous rustic French décor. The ambience inside is lovely and the staff are incredibly attentive and all speak excellent English. The family portraits hanging on the wall, old milk pails are used to serve water and the large wine rack found in the back of the restaurant all add to it’s friendly French charm.

The specials menus, featuring the starters and entrées are hand written on large chalk boards, which are brought over, propped up next to you and translated for you by the staff. Featuring traditional French cuisine such as Catalan snails and Foie Gras, the starters range in price from €9-19, the entrées from €17-56 (€56 for a 2 person plate).

Smaller chalk boards with the Savoyard faire which is always on offer at La Ferme are left on each table and feature firm classics such as Tartiflette, Fondue, Cidre Fondue and Raclette, range from €19-25 per person, prices which we felt after eating, were incredibly reasonable given the superb quality of the food!

The creamy parsnip soup my fellow diner sampled came in a charming serving bowl for her to spoon out at her own pace, and was heralded as a triumph, a rich thick soup which was not reliant on large amounts of cream. My foie gras wrapped in cabbage with a creamy peppery sauce was to die for, both visually and in it’s taste.

For our main course we were never in any doubt that in this amazing restaurant where they make their own cheeses in the summer months (between May and October the farm is filled with their dairy cows) that we should opt for the homemade fondue. The Beaufort and Comte blend of delicious bubbling cheese was accompanied by a generous selection of Charcuterie, featuring Parma ham, Jambon and Salami as well as crusty homemade bread, and a crispy green salad. Upon discussing my gluten intolerance the serving staff were more than happy to provide me with apple chunks to substitute the bread, so that I could still scoop up large amounts of cheese with each dip of my spork.

I do not need to give this fondue any higher praise other than to say it was easily the most delicious meal I have had in Tignes this winter. Creamy, gooey cheese parcels were whipped up at a rapid pace with a variety of our accompaniments and when we had scraped it all from the bottom, we were both incredibly full but also wished it could have gone on forever!

Upon questioning our server about the rumour we had heard that they sometimes refill the fondue for free, we discovered this rumour is indeed true - If you have used up all your charcuterie and have got on particularly well with the staff they may well offer you a small cheese top up!

The extensive wine list offers many local and regional wines and champagnes to accompany your meal, ranging from €22-116. We sampled a delicious Rosè and were not disappointed.

With everything on the menu homemade, from the cheeses to the breads to the desserts, and a small farm shop selling their summer produce such as Reblochon, Raclette, Tomme, jams and alcohol, La Ferme should be top of any food lovers list. I for one, cannot wait to go back!

This welcoming and chic little restaurant has definitely skyrocketed to the top of our list of awesome places to dine, be it with family, friends or date in tow.

As you arrive, walking in past an old French bakery cart and old-fashioned radio it gives you a hint as to the quirky décor and cosy atmosphere found inside. To start we sat at the bar by the huge open fireplace opposite an old fashion popcorn machine that provides the bar snacks. The thought that has gone into the décor creating the perfect ambience is immediately apparent. You can find Motown pictures, old wooden farm wheels, intriguing crockery and glassware all around the restaurant giving it that shabby yet ‘chic’ quality.

Before, sitting down we decided to sample the extensive cocktail range which offered classics such as Mojitos and Daiquiris to more rare and experimental cocktails. An amazing take on a classic White Russian was sampled and greatly enjoyed! On the more exotic side, bacon infused bourbon can be found which ties in nicely with the name of the restaurant, which in English means ‘The Pig’s Tail’. The bar staff were so welcoming and even offered to veer off the cocktail menu and specially concocted a favourite of one of our party; the Tequila Sunrise.

The food was absolutely delicious and cooked to perfection. As well as rich dishes such as the incredible Venison with blackcurrant jus, you can find some English classics on the menu such as the Braised beef cheek with smoked mash to French traditional dishes and trimmings such as Foie gras and Catalan snails. The menu also offers pigs tails as a starter and bacon infused flavours, again continuing with the subtle theme of the restaurant. With complementary home made bread, herb infused butter and plentiful side dishes, the food was so beautifully presented it was almost too beautiful to eat!

The lovely staff easily offered us great reviews and assistance as to what was on the menu and did everything to ensure we had a fantastic evening. One of our party is also gluten free and after ordering the duck burger without the bun the staff offered an exceedingly tasty gluten free option which is very difficult to find up in the mountains!

On asking our party about the evening one commented that ‘the duck burger was very yummy! I love the crockery too. It is clear to see a lot of thought has gone into presentation on every level.’ Another mentioned that the staff ‘were very hospitable which created the perfect environment for a laid back evening with top-notch friends’. Whilst the third summed the evening up perfectly in our opinion, ‘the most delicious food, amazing atmosphere and tasty cocktails. Quirky and super cool. Alice in Wonderland gourmet dining!’

La Queue de Cochon is also great for laid back drinks with friends or after work. With happy hour ‘teapot’ cocktails for €13, between 16:00-18:00 and then later on between 22.30 and 23.30 and late night gourmet hot dog deals until midnight, they definitely cater to those of us who aren't able to capitalise on the regular après happy hours found around resort.

It is worth mentioning their drinks deals throughout the week, including an evening of funk, disco and soul and two ‘Old Fashions’ for €12 on a Friday night during the ‘Gentleman’s Club’ with DJ Lindo, ‘Tea for Two’ on teapots on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s as well as Gin Night on a Wednesday, La Queue de Cochon is definitely our new port of call when needing an unwind from work or a hard day on the hill.

To keep things simple, the menu is focused around salads, burgers and wraps and the decor is simple and functional. The bar is friendly and has some big screen TV's playing the latest ski films, so even if the weather is bad you can hide inside and relax with some entertainment in the background.

I'm currently trying to stick to a light fitness regime so I really shouldn't have chosen the cheese & bacon burger, but the small print claiming that it was made from lean steak was just enough for me to cave in to temptation. I was very pleased with the home-made and very tasty burger that I was served and it even came with a tiny little side salad to make sure all the boxes were ticked.

Considering the 'front and centre' location, the restaurant offers decent value for money and I would be more than happy to come back and try some of the other options.