Mountain Cuisine
Among the delights of the Portes du Soleil are the many mountain bars, cafes and restaurants. They range from simple huts serving drinks and light snacks to charming chalets with a full menu.
Most food found on the slopes is traditional local fare – cured & fresh meats, lake fish and cheese!
Specialty dishes include Tartiflette, Raclette and Fondue. All designed to keep you warm and give you energy.
There are a lot of good cafes / restaurants on the slopes – most specialise in mountain food. La Grand Terche has 2 restaurants at the top of the telecabine.
One of them, La Licorne does a special evening meal including torchlight descent (diners must be able to ski red runs easily).
Les Lindaret (tiny ski through village near Ardent) has a wonderful collection of small restaurants. They are all good but Les Marmottes, Pomme de Pin, Crémaillère and La Terrasse stand out.
Flo’s in Avoriaz on the slope down to the main chairlifts is recommended for generous portions of good traditional mountain food at reasonable prices. It’s always best to book in advance – on a cold day try to get a table in the window. (Beware of the ‘complimentary’ firewater).
La Vieux Chalet in Plaine Dranse is worth a visit for the good food and remarkable over-decoration (Beware of Babette!). Next door is la Crepy – large, friendly and good value.
Restaurant le Toupin at Lechereuse near Champery comes highly recommended. Book in high season (0041 24 479 15 48)
In St Jean d’Aulps station, L’Etabli is good for traditional mountain food and pizzas (book table in high season). Bar Enfanle and L’Avalanche are also popular for that first après ski drink.
St Jean d’Aulps has L’ Petit Coq has a simple, good menu, with more than the usual mountain food. Le National is fun with pizza, music and pool.
L’Auberge at La Biot is well off the tourist route. Specialities are the smoked salmon (home smoked and excellent) and the Marmite de Peschuer.
Morzine has La Etale– excellent food and slightly unusual 
range – can get very busy, so best to book for Friday or Saturday night. La Grange (450 75 96 40), where Chef Fabrice Broux, who trained with celebrated chef Paul Bocuse, prepares gourmet and Savoyarde specialties and serves them in an intimate setting that’s both elegant and rustic. Fixed-price menus range from €30–€50, the latter Broux’s Surprise Menu of six dishes based on the availability of fresh products at the market place.
Restaurant Le Clin D’Oeil (450 79 03 10) is a good choice for traditional regional foods as well as pizza. It’s tucked away in Le Bourg section of Morzine, behind the supermarket, next to the post office. A three-course menu is €15–€25.
Les Sapins (450 75 90 56) with a spectacular view of Lake Montriond is known for its home cooking. Roger Muffat, father of the owner, prepares everything himself including the dried meat and ham. A five-course meal is €18–€30.
Les Gets has good affordable meals at the Alpages Hotel (450 75 80 88) and Hotel Regina (450 75 80 44) where daily menus start at less than €15.
For a true alpine atmosphere and a grand view of Mont Blanc, lunch at Le Belvedere (450 79 81 52) at the top of the Mont Chéry gondola in Les Gets. Menu is about €12.
For a taste of Switzerland, enjoy a lunch of croute at Chez Gaby, in Champoussin, overlooking the Dents du Midi.