The fieriest joint in all of Montpellier! After working as a somm’ in one of the best Parisian enotecas (Ô Château), Quebec-native Alexandre Savoie headed south to open up this restaurant/wine shop filled with big communal tables, an open kitchen and shelves stocked with 500 bottles of wine. Dig into the menu featuring fish and meat grilled over the wood fire, like wagyu brisket, chuck steak, pork loin, ribs, prawns…. or, do like we did the other night and order some beautiful brined smoked brisket with puréed eggplant and pickled carrots; which was preceded by some smoked tuna tataki (that was a little too salty) over a bed of arugula and passion fruit seeds; and followed by a chocolate lava cake. It’s also worth noting that there are some mouthwatering sandwiches made on homemade bread (eg: smoked black Angus beef and coleslaw, shredded pork with pickles and BBQ sauce) and a dish of the day served at lunch during the week. One last piece of advice: come with a group of friends and order a big cut of meat for the table! // G.LeP.

FEELING THIRSTY? Treasures abound: an oxidized Côtes-du-Jura from Guillaume Overnoy (€6 a glass), a Gard rosé from Le Clos des Grillons (€25 a bottle), a Peloponnese Roditis white from the Tetramythos estate (€26), a Bordeaux-Clairet from the Château le Puy (€50), a Saumur red from Guiberteau (€65)…

PRICE: Sandwiches €10-12, dish of the day €12, set menus €16-20 (weekday lunch), à la carte €32-41.