aixcentric

We recently had a visit from Une Fille Aixcentric with two little ones, a toddler and a baby in a buggy.  Prams these days seem to be bulkier than they used to be and I suddenly realised that lunch in my favourite haunts would be challenging.  Cafes in town of course squish as many tables and chairs as they can into their small spaces, and les toilettes are very small, often down spiral staircases or tucked away through the back. Where could 4 adults and two little ones have lunch without re-arranging all the furniture?  And does any café in centre ville offer a children’s menu?

We ended up in a boulangerie at the far end of Les Allées Provencales, Chez Augustine, which had lots of space so we could all sit around a table – large ground-floor loo too.  Counters with drinks, sandwiches, filled baguettes, slices of tart and pizza, cakes but also little pots of yoghurt and fresh fruit. That did the trick. There’s also the Maison Cangina at the top of the cours Mirabeau which has a space and a similar range of snacks, hot soup too.  Neither fulfilled my need of a children’s menu though.

Days later, I was passing La Table aux Saisons and bingo!  A proper children’s menu, with a freshly cooked meal.  I should have thought of this one as the couple who run it are young parents and obviously know the value of home-cooking.  This restaurant is in rue Lieutaud and has reliably good food. Last time I was there, they had a little desk for drawing and colouring too. 

Do send in any suggestions – I can make a permanent page for parents looking for a suitable place for lunch for their little ones.