Marseille Food Hunt
Restaurant Quartier Libre Rather than strictly "Modern French," this is a fusion bistro run by a talented chef influenced by cuisines from multiple regions. The dishes, reminiscent of tapas in size, are fresh and exquisite. The menu, presented on a small blackboard (a good sign, in my experience!), changes daily. (young waiter) will explain each dish on the board, so even if you don’t speak French, you’re covered. Blind ordering works too—we cleaned every plate, and each dish left a lasting impression! (Too beautiful not to share twice!): Trout ceviche with leche de tigre—a Peruvian lime-based sauce used in ceviche, blended with ginger and cilantro. Refreshing, with hints of Cantonese-style ginger-scallion dip for salt-baked chicken. Stunning and delicious! 🐟 : Tagine meatballs with dried fruit. The beef meatballs hide apricot pieces (I mistook them for potatoes at first!). A common Moroccan-inspired touch—surprisingly refreshing. 🍖 : Pan-seared beef shoulder. More traditional but still tasty—perfectly cooked, tender, and well-seasoned. 🥩 & P6: Braised pork belly with radish and onsen egg. The rich broth, from slow-cooked pork, pairs beautifully with the runny egg—dip bread in it, and even Chinese palates will approve. (A friend said it tasted like homemade braised pork!) 🥚 : Yogurt onsen egg with chili oil! Unlikely combo, but magic: fragrant chili oil (not spicy) mixes with creamy egg, tasting like a cheesy dip—similar to Georgian boat-shaped pizza. We couldn’t stop dipping bread! 🌶️ : Lebanese pistachio panna cotta. Roasted pistachio crumbs and a drizzle of flower honey top the cool, silky panna cotta. Nutty, floral, creamy, and crunchy—mind-blowing. Worth a visit just for this! 🥜 : A solid but unremarkable cake with light whipped cream—not my favorite, but we tried it since the waiter said only a few were left. 🎂 Truly deserving of its 4.9 rating: food, service (great drink recommendations too), all near-perfect. The space is tiny, so book ahead! #FrenchCuisine #HiddenGems #FusionFood #AmateurFoodCritic #LocalEats #Marseille
