Le Numero 3, a village bistro in Bedarrides

A bistro tucked along the Ouveze in Bedarrides. Simple cooking, made with whatever the market offers that day.

If the Imperial Bus Diner is best kept for dinner, Le Numero 3 belongs to lunchtime. It is a village bistro on the banks of the Ouveze, with a terrace facing the river and a menu that shifts with whatever turns up at the market.

The setting

Le Numero 3 sits at an old Bedarrides address, right across from the Ouveze. The terrace opens directly onto the river, which makes it one of the finest tables around in summer, more for the location than the cooking itself. In winter, things move into a warm little dining room, round tables packed close together, a short chalkboard renewed every week.

The cooking

This is straightforward Provencal bistro fare: grilled meats, seasonal vegetables, the odd fish when the catch allows. Desserts are made in-house. The menu stays short because it follows the market. Plates come out generous. Service is quick at lunch and eases up in the evening.

When to go

For a weekday lunch, it hits the mark: fast, good, no fuss. The set menu (starter and main, or main and dessert) is the easiest call. In the evenings during July and August, booking is wise since the terrace is small and fills up quickly. Families with children fit right in. Closed Sunday evening and Monday.

• Speciality: grilled meats, market-driven cooking
• Terrace: on the banks of the Ouveze
• Service: lunch and dinner, closed Sun. evening and Mon.
• Reservation: recommended in the evening during peak season