Any ski instructor worth their salted fries knows all the best places to eat on the hill. We asked some of the best to tell us about their go to culinary temples. Mediocre slope side venues with one special dish or something you can't quite put your finger on, won't cut it for this list. Our team of experts know that a truly awesome venue for your holiday's blue ribbon lunch has got to have it all. The average mountain restaurant scores 11/25 on our scale, read why our experts settle for nothing less than scores in the 20's.
CRAIG HALLIDAY - BASS DIRECTOR - VAL D'ISERE
My favourite restaurant has to be Eidelwiess in the La Fornet area of Val d’Isere. The food and drink are excellent throughout but if I had to pick one dish it would be the pork fillet in glazed honey sauce. It's not just the food or the service that makes Eidelwiess stand out but the amazing views it has of Val d’Isere and especially the Face du Bellvarde. Eidelweiss is accessible via the Mangard blue run in La Fornet and as an added bonus is close to some of Val d’Isere’s most famous off piste area’s.
BASS RATING = 21/25
Views = *****
Food = *****
Price = ***
Service = ****
Atmosphere = ****
HUGH MONNEY - BASS FOUNDER - LES GETS
La Grande Ourse, Mt Chéry, Les Gets
Spectacular view of the Mt Blanc Massif, plus great food, plus very friendly hosts, plus great live music! A regular lunch stop.
Hugh has been helping skiers get the most out of their skiing in Les Gets since the early 90's, so if he recommends somewhere, I'm going to try it.
BASS RATING = 21/25
Views = *****
Food = ****
Price = ****
Service = *****
Atmosphere = ***
ELLIOT STONE - BASS INSTRUCTOR - VAL D'ISERE & TIGNES
My favourite restaurant has to be - Tete De Solaise in Val D’Isere. All meals are incredible but the one which sticks out is the cheese/meat board. The restaurant has the best views in the Val with a great sun deck which has live music most days of the week.
BASS RATING = 21/25
Views = *****
Food = *****
Price = ***
Service = ****
Atmosphere = ****
JOE CAIN - DIRECTOR - TIGNES
Best restaurant, The Corner, Tignes Val Claret. Pie, chips and peas. You won’t find a better pie in France.
In fact they would beat most pies in the U.K. especially the beef pie yum. Prices are good too.
BASS RATING = 20/25
Views = ***
Food = ****
Price = *****
Service = *****
Atmosphere = ***
DAVE HUDSON - BASS INSTRUCTOR - VAL D'ISERE & TIGNES
My top choice has to be Lo Soli at the top of the Chaudanne chair out of Tignes Le Lac. The steak is the best and the views are unbeatable. I love the sun hats and its the best place for a BASS team lunch.
BASS RATING = 22/25
Views = *****
Food = ****
Price = ****
Service = *****
Atmosphere = ****
ANDY LOCKERBIE - BASS INSTRUCTOR - ALL RESORTS
Tuxerfernerhaus (Hintertux, Austria) Daily special, great quality and value for money. I've run many instructor training courses on the glacier, and what you need is big portions and fast service that won't break the bank.
BASS RATING = 20/25
Views = ****
Food = ****
Price = *****
Service = ****
Atmosphere = ***
SAM CAIN - BASS COORDINATOR - ALL RESORTS
Favourite mountain restaurant: La Sachette in Les Brevieres, Tignes. When it’s cold and windy up top it’s nice to ski down through the trees. Cosy inside with lovely food, especially the chips and special house mayonnaise.
BASS RATING = 20/25
Views = ****
Food = ****
Price = ****
Service = ****
Atmosphere = ****
STEVE RICKETTS - BASS MANAGING DIRECTOR - ALL RESORTS
La Ferme de Reberty. I found this little gem hidden away in Reberty, just above Les Menuires in the 3 Valleys. My family loved their lunch there so much, we went back at night. If you want to do the same, book in advance as they are always full on the night. A good selection of staple dishes, and some house specialities to die for, including the cafe gourmand for desert. Great on a sunny day and very friendly service.
BASS RATING = 21/25
Views = ****
Food = *****
Price = ****
Service = ****
Atmosphere = ****
CRAIG CONKIE - BASS 3 VALLEYS DIRECTOR - MERIBEL
For me it would have to be La Folie Douce, Meribel. It's the best of this chain and offers excellent food at the self-service. A 2 or 3 course menu is good value and it doesn't take too long to get your food. The decor is chic with sofas or cowhide seats around an assortment of tabes. If you eat too much, you can always bin the skiing and spend the afternoon dancing on the tables at the party outside.
BASS RATING = 20/25
Views = ****
Food = ****
Price = ****
Service = ***
Atmosphere = *****
MIKE CRAWFORD - BASS DIRECTOR AND INSTRUCTOR - MERIBEL
You can't beat an afternoon at the Le Cap Horn, above the Altiport in Courchevel. Great food, great service and the party goes on all afternoon. So many times have I had to fly my guest back to Meribel because they have stayed until the lifts have closed.
BASS RATING = 21/25
Views = ****
Food = *****
Price = ***
Service = ****
Atmosphere = *****
So there you have it, our experts' top 10 places to have lunch on the mountain. It's worth remembering that you can trust your BASS instructor to show you the best restaurant as well as the best slopes. Book early, it's easy to see why BASS instructors are in great demand.