We all know how important it is to eat properly when you’re on the mountain, especially in an area as big as the Portes Du Soleil, you don’t want to be stuck 30 kilometers from home with a rumbling tummy!
And with 90 on piste restaurants to choose from, you could end up somewhere charging you a small fortune for a substandard tartiflette. So to help we thought we would put together a list (in no particular order) of our favourite places to stop for lunch to help you on your way.
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1. Plaine Dranse Self Service Restaurant
A favourite with the Chatel locals, the Plaine Dranse is a great place to stop for a hearty bowl of pasta or a reasonably priced Plat du Jour.
The large sun deck out the front and the location at the top of the Pierre Longue lift in the Plaine Dranse village makes it a great meeting place for those riding in the Chatel area.
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2. Le Lapisa
This restaurant is hidden away in the Ripaille area of Champery with beautiful views of the Dents Du Midi and the Dents Blanche. The menu ranges from 5 euro sandwiches to 23 euros for fondue, which can be eaten in the next door igloo should you wish!
Depending on the weather you will often find the owner pulling his clients back up to the main pistes behind his snowmobile, always a bit of an experience.
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3. Changabang
Right by the Prodain cable car in Avoriaz, Changabang is, in our opinion, the best place for burgers in the Portes Du Soleil. Reasonably priced and with curly fries an option it is always a well deserved treat.
One word of warning, the veggie burger is actually an egg in a bun so may not be the thing to go for (unless you want an egg in the bun) but for meat eaters who want a bit of a kick, the jalapeno burger rocks!
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4. La Terrasse
Most of the restaurants in Goat Village, underneath the Ardent Cable in Linderets, serve good food at a reasonable price (beware the large portions) and on a sunny day you should be happy in which ever one you can get a nice table at. We’ve picked La Terrasse partly because of the beautiful views and partly because of the ‘groll’.
This is a traditional Savoyard clay pot with 6 spouts which is passed around the table until it is finished. We are uncertain of what is actually in the drink but if you’ve got more riding to do don’t have too much!
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5. On a Nice Rock
Our fifth choice obviously isn’t actually a restaurant but the option of taking a packed lunch and choosing when and where you stop is often underrated. Certainly more appealling on sunny days when you can take in the views, it can be a very enjoyable and economical way to eat your lunch.
Chalet Le Cret can provide you with packed lunch (with notice) which may include for example, a large sandwich, drink carton, fruit, granola or chocolate bar for only 5 euros per person. For those who crave a high carb / low fat option then we also make a sushi box complete with wasabi, pickled ginger and soy for just 7 euros. All you need is a small backpack to carry it in!