La Fruitiere
La Fruitiere is a very popular mountain restaurant, it’s fabulous reputation has been hard earned through the quality of the food and the service of the staff. On a busy day, of which there are many, the turn over is quick but you never feel rushed. La Fruitiere is geared towards an efficient service. There are plenty of staff, noticeable by their blue boiler-suit uniforms, equipped with electronic order gadgets, so the service is rapid. The result is you can get back to your skiing, or satisfy your appetite, quickly. If you want to be sure of a table you are well-advised to book beforehand.
Indoors the restaurant is styled on an old dairy. Outside, on the terrace, it’s a veritable sun trap for most of the afternoon, where you can watch the antics of the next door Folie Douche crowd, take in the magnificent scenery or just sit and talk. If the air is slightly chilly there are some huge overcoats which you can fit over your ski gear, they’ve thought of everything.
The food is fantastic for a no-nonsense classic tuck-in, whether you are tempted by huge bowls of fresh pasta, grilled steaks, or great wedges of chocolate cake. Even the bread is good and the salads are tossed together from fresh herb leaves - without being drenched in white mayonnaise sauce which is a refreshing change to the usual mountain fare. Lunch is available from 12:00-15:30. Whilst you do pay for the privilege of eating here it doesn't seem much more expensive than most of the alternatives. This really is one of my top rated mountain restaurants
Le Signal
Established in 1973 and made possible by the construction of the Fornet cable car, at 2330 meters above sea level, the building used to be a refuge. Brigitte, the patron, since 1999 has developed Le Signal into the standout venue it is today. Thanks to a complete renovation in 2006, Le Signal took on a new lease of life. Le Signal has been voted "Best Mountain Restaurant" at the European Snow Awards by the Telegraph, an accolade it has scooped twice, in 2008 and again in 2015. In 2015 Le Signal was voted best mountain restaurant in the World Snow Awards 2015. The restaurant is located on the 1st floor and offers dishes cooked with local products. There’s a self service area offering traditional products from the Savoie region. The self service is famous for its wide range of fresh soups.
The Signal Room on the rooftop is a fabulous place to take in panoramic 360° views of Val d'Isère. The Signal Rooftop Room offers afternoon live DJ sets throughout the season. You can also organize your birthday or wedding events here, it’s worth it for the novelty alone. At the new outdoor kiosk you can try out a selection of 25 beers from all over the world and crepes are served all the afternoon. If you would prefer to eat on the terrace you can do so, the views are immense. Savoyard snacks are served between 9.30-12.00am Lunch from 11.45am-2.45pm and Apres ski 2.30-5.00pm.
La Peau de Vache
I love this cosy little bolt hole, and it’s not to be missed. Take the Bellevarde ski lift to access this gem of a mountain restaurant. The views are awesome, in the true sense of the word and the food is delicious. I’ve been here a few times and never been disappointed. Most of the times I’ve been, the weather conditions have been snowy which only adds to the interior cosiness of the venue, helped in no small measure by the candle lit ambience. On the one occasion it was sunny we sat outside in the sunshine. It’s pretty obvious that the owner loves his restaurant and wants to make sure you love it too, which isn’t hard. The staff fall over themselves to be helpful and friendly without overdoing it. It’s not fine dining by any means but the food is filling and satisfying, just what you need to fuel the afternoon on the piste. I’m really struggling to find any negatives here. Try it, and see for yourself.
La Tete de Solaise
Located at the top of the Solaise chair a cable car in Val d'isere, this busy mountain restaurant is a great place for a lunch stop or maybe just a drink. It’s in a great location just off a ski lift and with the capsules lift station right next to it you don't have to ski there or ski down if you’ve got carried away and drunk a little more than you should have and don’t fancy skiing back to town. There’s an indoor restaurant, Pizzeria, bar and a self service area. There’s a large outside terrace with a bar in a tent serving a range of drinks from vin chaud and hot chocolate to beer and wine and it’s buzzing here and a great place to catch some rays and take in the tremendous views.
The restaurant is also located on the terrace inside a tent allowing you to dine on a good or bad weather day with exceptional panoramic mountain views. The menu is varied and there’s something for everyone. The service is adequate for a large venue and I have no complaints on that score. This restaurant would be ideal for large groups as it’s very spacious.
The Self service offers traditional French food and snacks with tartiflette, hamburgers and grills making up the menu. The Pizzeria menu can be enjoyed outside on the terrace in the sunshine or inside the cosy interior, the perfect meal for a quick mountain lunch. I have one reservation and that’s the toilets, they are down a steep flights of stairs which some might find a little tough going. But it’s not a deal breaker by any means.