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Restaurant "La Coast", (formerly La Voile d'Azur)
Port de Villefranche, Alpes-Maritime
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A Seafood Restaurant In Villefranche-sur-Mer
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Peter and Linda D'Aprix 2001
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Opened in April, 2001 overlooking the fishing harbor of Villefranche on the French Riviera, "Restaurant La Voile d'Azur" has changed it's name to "La Coast" under the new owners of the Chateau la Chèvre d’Or. It is still all about the sea with its magnificent sail covered terrace that overlooks both the bay of St. Jean-Cap-Ferrat and its old fishing harbor from its prime position above the Maritime building. The building may be new but next to the entrance of the restaurant is where the fishermen mend their nets in the centuries old way. In keeping with its location, the thrust of the cuisine is of the freshest produce of the sea.
The chef used to be straight from the kitchens of the restaurant "La Chèvre d’Or" up in Eze-village but there is no new information for us on who is doing the cooking. Sorry, we have asked.
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The smoked salmon with the fishing port in the background.
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The bay, the waterfront and the fishing harbor of Villefranche-sur-Mer. Yellow arrow shows location of the "La Voile d'Asur".
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Fisherman mending his nets next to the entrance of the restaurant.
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Jib covered terrace as the evening descends on the port and the bay.
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Click photos with blue borders to see larger version.
Peter D'Aprix © 2001
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We are assured that while the menu has changed from the two visits we made, it is still the same style and features mainly fish and other sea food. Our meal in 2002 started with a delicious palate teaser, a shot-glass containing a rich, fresh tomato purée capped with an even richer white cheese and just to get the taste buds a twitter a zing of pimento powder.
The evening was gorgeous with the light slowly fading over the bay and the neclaces of harbor and village lights slowly winking on as the light faded into night as the smoked salmon on a bed of caviar and crispy, finely jullienned hash browned potatoes. The eggplant with herbed ricotta turned out to be paper thin eggplant in a roll stuffed with scads of ricotta; a house specialty which to our taste was too light on the eggplant and too heavy on the ricotta.
But the brochette of tuna on soy sprouts which were more like a light pasta with ginger sauce was superb as was the rabbit presented as a roll set on top of four light French fries (actually potato purée mixed with cheese, formed into strands and deep fried). The desserts of sweet, fresh strawberries in a mint soup was refreshing and the chocolate biscuit that is really a mini cake was rich and hot with a chocolate sauce center served with a mint sorbet finished the meal very nicely.
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Warm welcome from the Maitre d'hotel.
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Tuna Brochette on a bed of soy bean sprouts.
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Fishing boats pulled up on the slip in front of the restaurant building.
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The heart and soul of the restaurant is its teak outside deck and matching teak tables and chairs. It is reminiscent of the fan tail of a luxury yacht with white awnings made in the shape of jibs and even wrapped around horizontal stays with the spring loaded rollers of sailing boats to furl them. On hot days, the shade created will suck in cooling sea breezes. The half circle terrace is on two levels both on the second floor giving a 270º panoramic view from the fishing harbor and water front with the hillside rising straight up from the shore around the bay with its brilliant white yachts at anchor to the horizon out to sea, finally wrapping around to the ancient fort with its sea wall and overhanging guard towers.
Even on cool, rainy days like the day we were first there in 2001, the interior with its two levels is welcoming. Paneled in dark wood with navy blue pointing and blond wood flooring, from the model sailing ships and water color prints of fishing boats on the walls to the quarter deck guard railings and ships' lantern lighting, the restaurant oozes the nautical. All this done with a clean modern touch rather than a corny "ol' salt" effort.
This is already a very popular place so in high season especially, be sure to make a reservation.
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Chef de Cuisine with the fishing port in the bakground.
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Waterfront from the Marine building.
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Tomato purée "cocktail" as a palate teaser.
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Chateau de Cremat, Bellet Rosé, on of the best and thee smallest wwine regions in France
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Restaurant La Coast
Place Wilson (Fishing Harbor)
06230 Villefranche-sur-Mer
France.
tel: 33-(0)4.93.01.74.09.
fax: 33-(0)4.93.01.75.08.
How to Get There
When you get to Villefranche, follow the signs to "La Chapelle" which is at the fishing and yacht harbor. The old fort is down there too. When you get to the bottom of the winding road, turn into the first ca rpark to the right, just between the walls of the old fort and the new Maritime two story building. The entrance to the restaurant is midway along the side of the building facing the car park. It is on the second floor so you will have to walk up the stairs. It is the first door you come to.
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