Great food, low prices: best Bib Gourmand spots in Clermont-Ferrand, France

The Chef: The owner and chef of L'Ecureuil, Benoît Piedpremier earned a Bib Gourmand in 2013, just two years after opening the restaurant. With his culinary skills honed at such prestigious gastronomic establishments as the Royal Monceau in Paris, he has a strong commitment to market-fresh cooking.

Price: starter, main course, and dessert is 17.90 EUR

Located just a few meters away from the courthouse in the center of Clermont-Ferrand, L'Ecureuil offers a blend of diverse flavors from the Mediterranean, Piedmont, and Auvergne regions. The interior echoes the vibe of country chic, with charming brick walls, light brown chairs, artwork of local artists and cute squirrel figurines paying homage to the restaurant's name.

The lunch menu presents simple, yet scrumptious fare, whereas the evening menu features a more portioned and intriguing selection. You can go for such delights as skrei cod rillettes with citrus fruits, gravelax salmon with beetroot, duck breast from the Limagne estate with shiitake, or homemade terrine with pork. In addition, L'Ecureuil provides an impressive list of champagnes, cocktails, and wines sourced from the renowned vineyards of Gascony, Burgundy, Rhône, Bordeaux, and beyond.

The Chefs: Michael Hazlewood and Manon Descombats took over the leadership of Le Saint Eutrope, after its founder Harry Lester left. The duo, who used to work with Lester, inject fresh life into the restaurant with careful use of local produce and tweaks to the existing fare.

Price: three-course menu is 25 EUR

Renowned for its retro charm, budget-friendly prices, and an extensive selection of natural wines, Le Saint Eutrope is a culinary treasure located in the heart of Clermont-Ferrand not far from the tremendous black Gothic cathedral. You can opt to have your meals in the dining room with the recently refreshed decor or outside on an enchanting terrace in the lovely narrow Saint Eutrope street.

The ever-changing menu highlights the best local produce, with such options as chicken and pork terrine, clam pasta, mushroom gnocchi, crispy duck hand rolls, tarragon veal neck, duck heart with kimchi, or bao. Their list of dessert offerings tempts with such delights as tarte tatin, sorbet clementine, chocolate tarte, and pistachio gelato. Despite the straightforward presentation, each dish showcases the fine craftsmanship of the inventive chefs.

The Chef: Géraldine Laubrières is the esteemed chef at Auberge de la Baraque. She has an impressive culinary background, having refined her skills at prestigious establishments such as Mas de Tourteron, Domaine des Hauts de Loire, Bernard Loiseau, and under the guidance of renowned chef Gordon Ramsay at Pétrus in London.

Price: three-course menu starts at 25 EUR

Standing practically at the foot of Puy-de-Dôme in the volcano area of Clermont-Ferrand, Auberge de la Baraque is an exquisite culinary gem for gastronomy lovers. While the exterior of the restaurant may appear austere, the inner decor is classic and elegant, featuring warm hues, sumptuous chandeliers, carpets on the floor and art deco paintings on the walls.

Auberge de la Baraque offers quality contemporary cuisine that is both simple and refined, involving fresh local ingredients and reasonable prices. The menu includes such delicacies as caramelized endive, lobster and prawn ravioli, seared turbot back, asparagus and morels, or roasted squab in its juice. End your exquisite meal on a sweet note with a dessert like pavlova with red fruits, strawberry or coconut sorbet, and hot lemon soufflé.

The Chef: The recipient of the Gault & Millau Young Talent 2017 award, Sylvain Revelant is the current head chef at Le Chardonnay. He is known for his seasonal bistronomic cuisine and surprising cooking methods.

Price: starter, main course, and dessert is 38 EUR

Well-known for his passion and charm, Hugues Maisonneuve runs Le Chardonnay, a trendy bistro located in the heart of the historic center of Clermont-Ferrand. Wooden furniture, vintage mirrors, and huge panoramic windows grace the interior, while outside, guests can dine on a picturesque patio, just steps away from the town hall.

A menu of market-fresh, seasonal fare offers such delights as langoustines with peppered shellfish juice, duck tartare with sake, leg of lamb with french peas, or Auvergne pork filet mignon with grilled asparagus. Le Chardonnay also captivates with its iconic bar – the region's first wine bar that opened in the early 90s – where the regularly updated selection of fine wines pairs flawlessly with available exquisite fare.

The Chef: Born in North Vietnam and trained at the Lycée Hôtelier de Chamalières in France, Manh Ha Doan is renowned for his vibrant bistronomic cuisine with notes of his native Asia. He uses seasonal products to create constantly changing menus and does not have a signature dish, choosing to cook based on his instincts and current desires.

Price: “Entre deux Terres” menu is 36 EUR
“Le 62” menu is 49 EUR

Located at the end of Fontgiève street, Le 62 is an upscale restaurant serving a fusion of French and Southeast Asian cuisine. Its sophisticated yet unpretentious ambience is heightened by green hues and wooden tables underneath a charming vaulted ceiling.

The establishment allows you to select between two tasting menus offering harmoniously flavored dishes such as octopus cooked in court broth, Aveyron pork loin with citrus sauce vierge, guinea fowl and its fine stuffing with black garlic mousseline, or gravlax trout with sour onion cream. You can savor your exquisite meal on the lovely patio adorned with climbing ivy and light garlands whenever the weather is fair, situated away from the hustle and bustle in a courtyard behind Le 62.

If you enjoyed our selection, be sure to also take a look at our other food lover's guides that feature the top 5 Bib Gourmand restaurants in Annecy, top 3 Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurants in Le Havre, and delectable experiences in Épernay, as highlighted in our Michelin Bib Gourmand: Champagne & best food guide.