La Grotte Restaurant

La Grotte
4 Place de l’Aravet
05240, La Salle les Alpes
Tel: 04 92 24 96 53

Opening hours 0830-0200.

Full kitchen 0830-1500, quick bites 0830-1800, pukka pies till close.

Happy Hours: 3pm-5pm, 9pm-11pm.

The Grotte is just at the bottom of the Mickey run where the Aravet bubble starts in Villeneuve and is probably more famed for its night-time beer-laryness, but patron Steve Boro has given the place a more international aspect as well as expanding the appeal for everyone from the wee ones to families, especially during daylight hours.

There are three distinct areas to eat in: the bar; the lounge, which is very comfortable and sheltered from the elements as well as the bar. There is also a sun-deck with view of the pistes so you can work out where you’re going to work off the calories afterwards.

This year’s lunch menu is excellent value and chef Graham is turning out a variety of daily specials with tastes from around the world.

There is a solid menu of mountain fare – such as tartiflette (€8), all day breakfasts (€7 up), pies with chips, peas and gravy (€8), fish and chips (€9) and it would be hard to argue with probably the most substantial burger on the mountain (€9), with a bunch of chips and salad. There is a plat du jour at €8 – I had a chicken curry which was excellent and this changes daily.

The sets for the day are new this season and are great value. You can have plat du jour or steak chips with starter and coffee for €10.

The main course salad at €8 salad is big enough for a real man (that eats salad). This changes often and could be Moroccan, French or Italian to name but a few, substantial is the word.

Of special value is the kids meal – a steal at €4.

For a mid-ski break a cake and a hot drink is €3.50 all day – and includes vin chaud, a perfect sized pick me up before a couple more runs down the mountain.

After 3pm the menu changes to Quick Bites, sandwiches, nachos and chips, these are served as an après ski treat up until 6pm, after which pukka pies are served till close, €6.50 will get you one of those and a pint – well worth it.

When the sun goes down the Grotte returns to type with a very international line-up of post sunset happenings that change every night, from Moustache Mondays with DJ Cheesey Choons slappin’ down the retro-vinyl and regular French band Consortium on Wednesdays and an open mike night on Thursday.

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