OK, so you've decided to go on a self catering holiday. The kitchens of the gites at La Verrerie are both reasonably equipped. After all, I use them myself, and you should hear me whinge if I can't find something or when I find it its a cheap one that doesn't work properly.

But you don't want to sit at home every night do you?

The region features a range of restaurants from good budget grub to a Michelin Listed establishment that you really shouldn't miss if you like food at all. Especially at the price.

We quite like a nice meal out ourselves so we're gradually trying to try them all and we'll be reporting back here on the best and the rest. Only so far we've not found one we didn't like. We generally recon that to get bad food in France, you have to try really hard. And who would? If you like bad food, there's a McDonalds "drive through" in the carpark of Carrefour at Issoire. End of subject, back to the good stuff.

The following entries are in no particular order - we suggest you browse them all before making any decisions. Note that there are a few "take-away" offerings too!

Auberge de Margot - Usson

Distance from home - 20 mins drive

Website

Price of most expensive menu - €22 (as at June 07)

Telephone 0473 71 97 92

The Auberge is sited on the western slopes of Usson - which is the village on top of the puy (pointy hill) you have to drive around to get to the Gite from Issoire. It has fabulous views of the Allier valley and local farmland as well, on a clear day, of the entire chaine de puys. You can dine whislt you watch the sun set on all this glory from the Panoramic dining room or the terrace. It's also a great place for lunch, especially if you've been exploring the village or just worked up an appetite by climbing right to the statue on the hilltop. Friendly staff, family run, several menu choices available.  Advisable to book at popular times.

Pizza Matteo  - Sauxillanges - TAKE AWAY

Distance from home - 8 mins drive

Pizzas, €6 to €9 for a "Large" - reasonable meal for two or one if v.hungry.

Telephone 0666 16 74 75

WEDNESDAY evenings ONLY - 6pm until the pie bases run out, which is about 8:30 on an average night. The van parks in the square just down the hill from La Poste.

Note - this is a pizza van and only visits on Wednesday evenings. They're a popular option with the locals so tend to get quite busy. Suggest you phone down your order before leaving the house or, at least, be prepared to wait fifteen or twenty minutes for it to be made. It will, on completion, however, be an excellent pizza and piping hot, though if you like it to still be hot when you eat it we advise firing up the oven before you leave to fetch it, and giving it five minutes to re-heat when you get back. Don't be put off by the naff disney-inspired pizza names, the pies are good! Perhaps not quite as good as Orbeil's van (see below), but then that has a wood-fired oven and I'm biased, I like wood-fired pizza!  And it's less than half as far away as Orbeil.

Restaurant de la Marie - Sauxillanges

Distance from home - 10 mins drive

They don't have their own website but feature on many.

Price of most expensive menu - €50 (five courses) (as at June 07)

Telephone 0473 96 80 32

This is one of the area's hidden gems! One of seven famous local lady chefs, Madam Fontbonne doesn't cook meals, she creates menus which are carefully planned to fit together to make an entire meal from amuse to coffee where each course complements the previous one. Unless there's something you *really* don't like, we strongly advice that you choose a Menu and don't make up your own a la carte coz your choice won't be as good as hers!!! And the full five course menu is not to extreme as none of the courses will overwhelm you quantity wise. When you've tried it, you'll understand why this restaurant is Michelin Guide listed!

Auberge de Civadoux - Civadoux.

Tiny family run restaunrant, with only four or five tables, and a short but excellent menu.

Chez Marthe - Condat-les-Montboissier.

An excellent local "cantine". From the days when visiting farm workers would need a good meal at the end of the day. There's no menu. You sit down, Marthe brings food. Good food. Lots of it. You won't leave hungry. Or poor, typically €10 a head. Book ahead - if she doesn't know someone's coming she doesn't buy in food and won't open. 

Bar St Thomas - St Genès la Tourette

Nice little bar/restaurant run by English folk. "pub grub" french style, right in the middle of this quiet village. "Menu" price typically €14. 04 73 71 28 31. St Genes is about 15 mins drive, go down towards Sauxillanges then take the Civadoux road.

Le Relais de la Fontain - Echandelys.

Le Relais is our "local" for a night out with beer, darts, etc., and where we go to watch important rugby matches during the world cup, during 2007. Very friendly staff, Marianne speaks pretty good english. It's "pub grub", but french pub, so no gristle-burgers, but a pretty good lasagne and salad or steak and fries. Can be a gathering place for the "ex-pats" in the area, brits, south africans, dutch, belgians (the Auvergne is popular!)

Escagot D'Or - Place de la Republique - Issore

Not tried it yet - but on the "What Folk Said" page it has been recommended. It's on the list to try.

Le Relax - Issoire

Very nice restaurant in a quiet looking back street on the Perrier side of Issoire, the food is excellent . As they only have about six tables, it's worth booking at the "Popular" end of the week.

Don Camillo - Place de la Republique - Issoire

Excellent pizzaria, great salads, pizzas and cazones. Be hungry.

Courpaille - Issoire.

At the back of the Carrefour by the motorway junction, accessed via the Carrefour carpark or the Ibis hotel. It's a chain - but one of our favourites. If we're arriving late after doing the trip in one day, we'll generally stop of here for a good steak. Meat is cooked on the open grill in the middle of the dining area. You are in France so steaks are not overcooked, and they know how to identify a good piece of meat.

If you have a review of one of these restaurants, or others in the area, please email them to me for inclusion! We'll add more info on these, and info on other eateries as and when we have tried them!!!