Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Le Rossini
FRENCH €€€
( 22 342 44; Rue Ramanantsoa; mains Ar15,000-22,000) You might not expect a visit
to Madagascar to widen your knowledge of France, but this rarefied dining room should at
least educate your palate: it specialises in cuisine from the southwest Périgord region using
lots of duck and foie gras, all raised and prepared locally. If the weather is good, dining is
possible on the 1st-floor terrace. Booking is recommended.
Villa Isoraka
INTERNATIONAL €€
(Rue Raveloary; mains Ar9000-15,500) In a gorgeous private mansion reminiscent of
wealthy Parisian suburbs, Villa Isoraka has opened an original restaurant. By day, it serves
mostly the local business clientele in the garden or in the lovely dining rooms with tinted-
glass windows, but at night it becomes a trendy restaurant-cum-wine bar. The food is good
(aneclecticmixofFrenchandTex-Mex),althoughit'sreallyfortheatmospherethatpeople
come to the villa.
La Boussole
INTERNATIONAL €€€
(21 Rue Dr Villette; mains Ar15,000-22,000; lunch & dinner Mon-Fri, dinner Sat &
Sun; ) The 'Compass', an attractive, lively bar-restaurant, has funky decor, and live
bands on Thursdays. The restaurant serves mainly French brasserie-style dishes that are
overpriced, while the bar whips out more prosaic snacks such as burgers and the like.
Chez Mariette
MALAGASY €€€
( 22 216 02; 11 Rue Joel Rakotomalala; set menu Ar44,000; dinner) Superchef Mari-
ette Andrianjaka has cooked for notables as diverse as Paloma Picasso and Prince Albert
of Mon-aco during her long career, and has even had a collection of her recipes published
by Unesco. These days she entertains guests in her 19th-century villa, preparing elaborate
12-course set meals based on
haifi
cuisine - the traditional banquets once served to Merina
royalty. The service and the atmosphere are stuffy, but the food is good and the portions
gargantuan (skip lunch); drinks are extra. Advance reservation is required. Chez Mariette
is up in the Haute-Ville - taxis know where to find it.
Shoprite
SUPERMARKET €
(Ave Andrianampoinimerina;
8.30am-7.30pm Mon-Sat, to 3pm Sun) Well-stocked su-
permarket.
