Il Etait une Fois — Restaurant in Aix-en-Provence

We had a memorable dinner at Il Était Une Fois, where every detail felt thoughtfully orchestrated - from the ambiance to the plating. The evening began with lavender gin and tonics, delicately fragrant and just the right amount of floral. A small pastry with olive tapenade served as the amuse-bouche - simple and savory, a perfect nod to the region.

We shared the asparagus velouté to start, which was light yet velvety, fresh and spring-like in flavor. For mains, I chose the fish - cooked to perfection with a balance that felt effortless. Nigel’s lamb was hearty and deeply satisfying, evoking the richness of a stew simmered all day. Tasting both together was a revelation.

Dessert was a Mille-feuille, impossibly crisp and creamy. We paired the meal with a lovely Burgundy rosé that held its own across courses.

The only misstep was ours… We poured the wine ourselves early on, unintentionally signaling the waiter to step back from service. He obliged, perhaps a touch too much. We hope to redeem ourselves on our return visit this weekend with a friend.

The ambiance was exactly what we hoped for: cozy, quiet, and intimate. A perfect evening, and a new...

We had a great experience here on a Monday night. I was grateful I was able to get a reservation here when I realized a lot of restaurants are closed on Mondays. We were fortunate to sit in the small dining area in the front which ended up feeling like an intimate dinner party of English speakers from different parts of the world. I enjoyed the lavender and gin cocktail and the crispy pulled lamb dish was delicious and unique. It was very tender and has a crisp at the same time. Not something I usually come across when seeing lamb. I usually go for lighter fare and almost wish I did go with the fish by the time I was finished. Still it felt not too heavy. We ended with the Mille Feuille to share which was amazingly done. My husband loved his melange of vegetarian sides which they had made for him as an entree based on his vegetarian request. All in all, I would try the chicken as the other guests seem to really love it saying the vegetables complemented the chicken wonderfully. and that they heard the fish was the best. I wish I had more time in Aix to try it all! So happy I booked this place online before we arrived to France....

Superb meal, exciting food and flavours beautifully presented and expertly served by professional, knowledgeable friendly staff. My vegetarian starter of "L'oeuf parfait" was just that, perfect! So delicious and creative: poached egg in a potato and sage mouseline, crispy baby corn, it really was pure pleasure to the palet. My mushroom Risoto was also exciting and served with a saboyon which added a sour element to the overall taste. The duck was superb. My desert of Ile Flotante rekindled childhood memories of this French classic was served, as it should, with the most delicious crème Anglaise and toasted Pecan nuts. The Mirabelle tarte was equally delicious with its crumbly case of pate sablée and crème pâtissier. An absolute must, please reserve, prices are very reasonable too. I understand from reading the excellent and deserved reviews that the menu changes regularly which makes the place all the more exciting. A true find. Highly...