On a rainy autumn weekday evening, feeling low due to a multitude of events, I needed to think about something else, to escape for an evening. And who better than friends to do that with. So, I called the one who I was sure could provide what I was looking for. Being new in Nice, I didn’t know of any nice place to go, so I let myself be guided…
The meeting was set for 9 PM at the Palace of Justice square. Arriving early in old Nice, I took a detour through Karpédie’M, a very nice cocktail bar located near Rosseti Square, on Benoît Bunico Street. The wait was warm in this welcoming place where the hostess was available and attentive to the comfort of her guests. But time passed and I hurried to finish my drink and join my companion for the evening.
I found her as planned (despite her slight delay but hey, she’s a girl, what do you expect!!!) and after some initial small talk she asked if I knew where I wanted to go. Having decided not to decide, I let her make the choice. This was followed by a brisk walk under the rain, which started to fall again, through the alleyways of this always pleasant old Nice. We eventually stopped in front of a restaurant, located on Central Street a few steps from Rosseti Square and…from Karpédie’M, if I had known!
“Le 22 septembre,” thus, is one of those restaurants which doesn’t look like much from the outside but hides a great charm. Welcomed very kindly by the young waitress, we took our seats wherever we wanted in this oh so welcoming place. It was a quiet Thursday evening which I didn’t mind. Something piqued my curiosity: why “22 September”? The name intrigued me. I asked the chef who explained that it was in memory of a beautiful song by Georges Brassens. The menu was indeed illustrated with some well-chosen phrases. Pleased to have satisfied my curiosity, it was time to get serious.
The waitress quickly offered us an aperitif that we bravely tasted. The setting was simple, no frills. Simple but quality traditional cuisine like the lime salmon escalope, the three-pepper steak – served with fried potatoes and spinach flan: delicious – and the very famous camembert fritter (which lives up to its reputation, believe me). And what about the dessert and the profiteroles… The crowd had joined us over the evening and I hadn’t even noticed, captivated by my plate and the eyes of the one who had introduced me to this magnificent place.
Open for 16 years, the owner hasn’t succumbed to the unfortunate habits of the region. The prices are truly affordable for most of us, ranging from 10 to 13 euros for dishes and 13 to 16 euros for menus.
In short, a pleasant place for those who want to immerse themselves in its spirit. We are far from the glitz and glamour typically found on the French Riviera and it feels good to change the setting and return to some values of conviviality. A nice little evening very motivating before returning to the whirlwind of life…
Definitely to be done again.
Le 22 Septembre
3, Rue Centrale
06300 Vieux-Nice
www.le22septembre.com
Tel: 04 93 80 87 90
Fax: 04 93 84 04 94
Sébastien Griffet
