Situated above the small town of Aime in the Tarentaise Valley, Auberge de Cassiel is a traditional French restaurant; a hidden gem that can be recommended to your guests, even if it is a little way out of town.

A 20 minute drive from La Plagne ski area in the village of La Côte d’Aime which is 860 metres above sea level the Auberge de Cassiel has wonderful views of Les Arcs. In the summer it is possible to sit outside on the terrace.

Our visit was on a rainy evening at the end of April but the exterior of the building and the well maintained gardens still had a huge impact. The beautiful white blossom tree majestically marks the terrace garden, as you make your way to the intimate internal restaurant.

Auberge de Cassiel outside

Friendly, genuine greetings make you instantly feel welcome and relaxed.

Seated, there is the chance to take in the decor; each individual wall hanging and ornament has a personal feel in a classic but contemporary Savoir style. Seasonal tulips and a basket full of Easter eggs sit on the small cash desk in the corner, by a gleaming coffee machine.

The indoor restaurant seats only 30, and has a certain ambience, created by the surroundings and the owners. Outside can seat 40; perfect for a sunny alpine lunch.

After a chat and a smile with whom I could only assume to be the owner/chef Jean-Pierre we were immediately offered an apéritif; a drink to stimulate the appetite, commonly served in France and Italy and ‘le menu’. That kept the group chatting happily, whilst making their choices from the well thought out menu; a la carte, a 3 course set menu for €30 or €40, or the specials menu.

Jean-Pierres’ jolly, idiosyncrastic personality is expressed in his waitering, with the odd French quip and a huge smile.

The food at Auberge de Cassiel

With our aperitifs came a chilled soup, heightening our senses for what was to come.

To start I took the gravadlax. Raw, cured salmon which was served as a fillet, a strip about 1cm in thickness instead of the usual thin slices. Soft in texture and delicious to taste the gravadlax came garnished with dill and a side salad of cauliflower and potato, which complimented the fish with a vinegar dressing.

The main I chose was veal au jus. Tender and served with the most fabulous gratin dauphinoise potato and seasonal vegetables.

For dessert? Génépi, an alpine flower, flavoured ice cream served in an edible chocolate dish.

During the meal Jean-Pierre consistently checked that the food was to our liking and if he could bring anything else to the table.

ChaletAgent loved Auberge de Cassiel and will certainly return this summer. Why not try it yourself?

We haven’t stayed at the Auberge de Cassiel, but they also offer Bed and Breakfast. There are 4 rooms to choose from.

Auberge means Inn in English. Cassiel, we think, must be a family name. Do you have an idea?