Le Pirate

I have been coming here as a child with my family since the early 60s when the Pirate was in his glory and the Frank Sinatra types frequented the place and you never knew what the bill was going to be, but it was usually a lot, but not always depending on the Pirate's whims. You could throw your chair in the fire, a donkey rode through the dining area and fireworks went off while a duo sang romantic Spanish tunes. The pirate would cut the top of the wine bottle off with a flourish of his cutlass and pour you a glass. Of course the food was great too. When we arrived in Menton we were told the restaurant had closed down and the property was for sale. We drove to the restaurant anyways and were thrilled to see it was still open by the Pirates son Ricardo who was closing up for the evening. And there was a menu with very reasonable prices. We made reservations for the following Friday for me and my teenage son and daughter. The location by the sea is unbeatable. We parked out front on the street in a reserved spot around 8:30. There was a couple there before us and we could see their shrimp and sardines (a specialty) were on the grill as we walked in.

We started with sardines and shrimp, both delicious. My son had the grilled duck leg that was fall off the bone delicious. My lobster was grilled to perfection with an accompaniment of nicely spiced grilled eggplant and red pepper in olive oil.

Our ice cream dessert was a perfect finish to a memorable evening even though we didn't throw our chairs into the fire.

Le Pirate is an institution, for many years the most famous 'boite' on the Riviera, owned by the late and ever shirtless Charles Viale. The photos that adorn the walls (Gunther Sachs carrying his trophy - Brigitte Bardot, Rainier and Grace, Agnelli, Alain Delon, Catherine Deneuve, Cocteau, Belmondo, Jane Fonda, Ingrid Bergman, Lauren Bacall, Gregory Peck, Nat King Cole, Gina Lollobrigida, Kirk Douglas - and Sinatra of course - and most have Charlie or his wife - who still runs the place - in them as well) are testament to its legendary star drawing power. Following his death, it's now 'just' a restaurant, but still with an aura that one could cut with one of Charlie's cutlasses.. Always thoroughly and wonderfully ramshackle, it looks like a pirate's lair but turns our seriously good food, cooked mostly on the enormous open fire always burning near the entrance. Crudites came dressed with just a sweet olive oil and the huge plate of sardines was so fresh and crisp that one could eat them whole. The grilled sea bass was large and perfect. All the food is freshly cooked and so the menu is short - and the wines surprisingly reasonable: a meal for three with a good bottle of rose was Eur 125. I first went there in 1964 and am amazed that it's still standing. Go before the place falls down!

Small restaurant. Not crowded. Very friendly and nice service. Love the fish and meat from the charcoal bbq! Nice location on the shore. Great music. Have been here twice and do not understand why people rather have a pizza at the Main Street.