Bloomer

If the neighborhoods around train stations are often fairly depressing, Bloomer is here to change that! The spot in question? It’s run by partners James Bloomer (an Englishman who’s worked in a lot of London pubs) and Pierre Marcolin (who left his previous job in aeronautics), along with chef Paul Belison (who used to work at Alexia Duchêne’s Datsha in Paris and Anthony Orjollet’s Elements in Bidart). Their credo? “Drink, eat, drink!” In their bright café/restaurant that’s open from morning till night (a long bar, a leather banquette, a semi-open kitchen and a more intimate back dining room), Annecy’s finest jostle for a table. The day we went for lunch, we savored all of the following: a colorful millefeuille-style zucchini terrine with curried sabayon and a sprinkling of locally grown edible flowers – or incredibly tender line-caught tuna with a blood-red beetroot reduction; followed by a smash burger with cheese and chunky fries; or an open eggplant and zucchini ravioli drizzled in peppercorn sauce; and to round it all out, a bitter dark chocolate ganache with sugar-drenched raspberries, served with two spoons. // Sofia Sétif 

FEELING THIRSTY? : A lovely pan-European collection of natural wines (glasses €6-10), with a sharp regional selection (Cotillon des Dames, a skin-contact Savoie wine from Péron at €69 a bottle), a few labels from their neighbors in Switzerland (sylvaner and riesling from the Domaine de Beudon in the Valais at €71) or Amphora XXI, a Puglia red from Cristiano Guttarolo at €49. Cocktails €12, kombucha €6 and drip coffee from Le Panier à Café in Villaz €2. 
PRICE: : Set menu €24-27 (lunch), plates €9-24 (dinner).