This Gard restaurant is included in the ranking of “best restaurants in France”

It is not the best known restaurant in Nimesbut he is clearly finding his place in the sun. He ? The best foodin the hypercenter of the capital of Gard, has been open since summer 2022. Very recently, the establishment had the honor of joining the ranking of “best restaurants in France”, according to the restaurant reservation site online The Fork. A nice reward for this young restaurant particularly appreciated by its customers.

Customers have their say

Unlike the prestigious Gault & Millau et Guide Michelinthe distinction obtained by this discreet culinary establishment came from its own customers. In fact, those responsible for the website based themselves on reviews and ratings given by customers to establish this listing.

” From thirty months that my restaurant is open, I look at these kinds of sites online irregularly, but it’s been very happy to be there
», confides Franck L’Houtellier, joined by Actu.fr.

The hyperactive fifty-year-old remembers that his establishment was “already number 1 on The Fork in Nîmes” in September last year. Second in the ranking was none other than Menna, a restaurant which has since obtained a star in the Michelin Guide. “It’s flattering and encouraging for us to obtain these results from our own customers,” says the restaurateur.

I kept Italy, but I transformed the former well-rated grocery bar into a restaurant where you can enjoy good products coming directly from Liguria and Emilia-Romagna. I know what I’m talking about. I myself go to buy them several times a year in Italy!

A story of friendship…

Originally, the place was a simple transalpine grocery storeopened in 2017 and well known to the people of Nîmes. The former managers gradually switched to a concept of “shop, bar and place for tasting Italian products”.

It was in January 2022 that Franck L’Houtellier bought the place and transformed it into an authentic Italian restaurant.

“Cibissimi is everything except a traditional Italian restaurant. I opened in August 2022 after 5 months of intensive work
. I want to make it a place that is anything but stuffy. With the cook and the waiter we became friends. We talk with our customers. We take the time, in a relaxed atmosphere ».

At Cibissimi, I developed the concept of Piadine, this culinary specialty from Emilia Romagna. Customers love it. We offer them a la carte every day.

The three comrades are not interchangeable but get along wonderfully. The boss himself goes out of his way to improve the day-to-day running of his restaurant.

“We are open from Tuesday to Saturdaynoon and evening. During the festival at the Arènes and Féria, we open the Sunday in addition . On weekends, I am in the kitchen with my chef and during the week, I help more with the room service. So, we constantly work together,” explains the boss, specifying in passing that “this operation allows me to see what works welland possible areas for improvement.

And healthy products!

On the plate, customers will not find Milanese escalope. A dish that is purely transalpine but boycotted by the boss. An assumed choice.

“We find cutlets like that everywhere. I want to offer my customers rare things such as a tartare revisited in my own way, pastaof the tellines snackées of the vegetarian salads
and jokes», Lists this fine connoisseur of transalpine gastronomy.

Cibissimi is truly Italy on the plate and a family atmosphere in the restaurant!

Let gourmets rest assured. If they don’t know piadines, Franck l’Houtellier is an expert on this subject.

“It is a specialty from Emilia-Romagna, made with wheat or olive oil that is slowly folded. And, so, inside this pancake, you can put almost all the accompaniments you want. At Cibissimi, we offer nearly 30 different», explains the boss.

These probably contributed to the success of The best food. A success now coupled with undeniable popular success.

Cibissimi. 10, rue de la Madeleine in Nîmes (Gard). Open Tuesday to Saturday in winter. Such. 04 66 05 86 70. 16 people maximum inside. Reservations strongly recommended.

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