Chez Bon

Chez bon, c’est bon! And the dozens of hungry Besançon residents waiting at the bar for their takeaway orders aren’t going to tell you otherwise. In this curious split-level space (one with an industrial feel, exposed pipes and metal furniture, the other with 18th-century woodwork), you’ll find some irrefutable arguments in its favor: serious dishes of the day (eg: chicken suprême with paprika, ratatouille and rice, €12.50), tarts and fresh salads using seasonal vegetables (broccoli, tomatoes, haricots verts, pomegranate, frisée lettuce, peppers, hazelnuts, €10.90) and a respectable set menu for €11.50. Which included a fennel-pear-Gorgonzola tart along with a creamy mascarpone mousse with berries and a hazelnut crumble topping, the day we went for lunch. To drink, there are some lovely freshly made juices (like celery, mint, cucumber, apple and lemon, €5), La Goutte du Seigneur, an organic Côtes-du-Rhône (€5 a glass) and banana-kiwi-style smoothies (€4.50). In the afternoon, they serve Mariage Frères teas (starting at €3.90) or hot chocolate with homemade whipped cream (€4.50), alongside innumerable homemade cakes, including an addictive lemon-raspberry-basil one (€5.50). À la carte €18-28. // G.D.