Mojo Bar Restaurant

Mojo

31 Rue de la Guisane, La Salle les Alps, Villeneuve
Tel: 04 92 24 83 93
Opening hours: Sun-Fri: 4pm-1am. Sat: noon-1am (lunch served

There is so much you’ll want to choose from the Mojo menu that’ll you’ll have to go back just to satisfy your taste buds. There is something for everyone – at least thrice in the week. From meaty and hearty to vegetarian and delicate it’s all here.

Truly international is the vibe Mel and Tim, the hardest working couple in the valley, have achieved in this intimate eatery in the quaint La Salle street. The mix of the clientele is as eclectic as the menu. Thais, Swedes, French and even the odd English can be found cheek by jowl on and off the menu on any given night.

Some favourite starters would be the falafels, (€7.50) which come with salad and pita with a spiced dip, the fish cakes (€7.50) with all the trimmings are their equal, the melted goats cheese could easily be served at the end of the meal as the cheese course – keeping your options open.

The warm Thai chicken salad should not be missed, it is a meal unto itself, this and the Mojo salad, with bacon, blue-cheese and chicken (both €12.50), are perfect later in the season when the sun-deck can really be appreciated or on Saturday for lunch.

The mains are excellent, the Thai green (€14.50) comes in variety of forms, chicken, prawn or vegetarian. The lamb shank (€15.50) is as good as ever and perfect after a full day on the pistes. The mountain favourite of tartiflette (€14.50) also comes with a vegetarian option – just as tasty just not as meaty. I had the burger (€12.50) this trip and was almost defeated by the generous chips and salad that came with it.

The set menus are great value and the sum of the parts is greater than the whole. €18.50 gets you a starter, main and pudding. With the €23.50 option a heartier selection of victuals is available. Both great in value and taste.

Puddings – oh you have to leave room for these (I didn’t but still managed a go). These are proper classics, cheesecake (€7), crème brule (€6), apple crumble (€7). Any one of these is delicious, but you should take advantage of the café gourmand (coffee with three taster-size puddings) – perfect at any time of the day and at €7.50 perfect for a post-ski pick me up or a later rounding off to the meal. Gourmand means greedy pig in French, well slap me sideways and call me porky in that case. It’s also available with tea if that’s your bag.

This is a small restaurant and has developed a very good reputation so it is very advisable to book on any night of the week. Chef Dan is back after a few seasons away and he is drawing a regular crowd of appreciators who say the food is better than ever.

You can have starters and snacks at the bar from 4pm, and dining starts after happy hour at 6pm, with food served till 11pm. But really do book, you’ll thank me.

There is also a tea-time hot drink and a muffin for Eur4.5, from 4pm, lovely after a few pistes.

Fergus Rainbow February 2012

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