Restaurant Le Righi
1, place du Fort
06500 Sainte Agnès France
Tél: 04 92 10 90 88
Superb panoramic view over Menton
View over the coast from Italy to Cap Martin in France
Saint Agnès is the highest coastal village in Europe sitting at 800 metres and is listed by the “Les plus beaux villages de France” (the most beautiful villages of France) organisation. It is quite a drive to get there from Menton: the mountain road is pretty narrow in some parts but at least the view is breathtaking. Just be sure you do not have vertigo. In winter time at night I would not like to drive there, it is easy to miss a corner 😉 The village is 15 minute drive from the casino in Menton.
To go to Le Righi restaurant you have to pass by the village and park your car in front of the panoramical view next to the Fort, now a museum, of the Maginot line (actually it is called the Alpine line in this area). Who would have thought about a restaurant there? Le Righi has two panoramic terrasses offering an exceptional view over the coast. We are above Menton and we can see the coast from Italy to Cap Martin.
It is a family oriented restaurant where pets are welcome. The owners have a big dog near the entrance and there were some clients with a dog sitting next to us. The menu is simple, with a few prix fixe menus and we chose a 3 course menu at 20 euros and a 4 course menu (different choice of meals and the cheese added compared to the 20 euros menu) at 25 euros. We also ordered a grapefruit juice (2.50 euros) and a glass of red wine (3.50 euros).
A glass of wine & grapefruit juice
Pâté de foie gras
Vegetarian ravioli
The foie gras, served with a little salad with tomatos and some toasts, was average in portion and in taste. I have had a lot larger slices of foie gras on a 25 euros menu. The ravioli was decent – and nicely cooked al dente. I took the meat-stuffed variety over vegetarian, which was perhaps a bit of a mistake as it wasn’t briliantly paired with the butter sauce and parmesan cheese. Overall, a little bit average and not something I’d be in a great hurry to have again.
Gigot d'agneau (lamb)
Baked trout
The baked trout, which came with a white sauce seasoned (I think) with a form of spinich, was difficult to fault : it was nicely cooked, with a crispy skin. But somehow it just lacked anything special, so overall was an OK dish but not something I’d be rushing back to have again. It came with some nicley baked potato slices and some grilled mushrooms. As a general observation, the meal was rather like something one might cook at home, lacking that something special that makes food an event. The gigot d’agneau (lamb) was served with potatos, carrots, aubergines and mushrooms. It was good and healthy but nothing exceptional, unlike the view!
The desserts
Apple pie
Chocolate cake, lemon tart, ice cream
Dessert was a very generous slice of apple pie, served with vanilla icecream and chantilly cream. The waiter did take some time to explain that the pie wasn’t up to their usual standard today, being a little undercooked (so I had plenty opportunity to choose something else). Actually it was OK – indeed, a little undercooked and consequently a bit heavy. But considering I was well warned about that, I don’t feel it is anything to complain about (everyone has their off days). Undercooked or not, actually it was quite good and not at all oversweetened. The chocolate cake and the lemon tart were fine.
Cost and conclusion: It was 51 euros. The food overall was OK, but not fantastic. It does not offer a very good value for money compared to Le Vauban in Antibes for example. The service was very friendly. This is a restaurant to which one goes for the view and pleasant surroundings, far more than for the food. And for the excellent view, it does get top marks – difficult to fault. If you’re in the area, that view and a bite to eat are worth stopping in for.
More photos:
le Righi is the tiny orange dot in the centre, at the right of the village of Sainte Agnès
Between the two on top there are the ruins of the medieval castle.
The restaurant is at the right. The bunker is part of the Ligne Maginot and can be visited
