Simone
Graslin, Nantes
Restaurant in Nantes, France
Book with PearlThe Read
Dress
Casual
Why go
Book Simone for an easy, central Nantes meal when convenience matters more than a heavily defined concept. The restaurant is a better fit for a relaxed lunch or dinner than for a wine-led destination booking or special-occasion splurge. Cross-shop Song, Saveurs & Sens for clearer cuisine direction and La Cigale for a stronger ambience play.
About Simone
Simone is a Nantes restaurant with a casual dress code and lunch and dinner service from Tuesday through Saturday. It is closed on Monday and Sunday.
The main point is simple: Simone works best as a straightforward neighborhood meal rather than a destination built around a chef profile, awards, or a formal tasting-menu experience. The safest way to assess it is through the practical details that are available.
Consider it for a simple Nantes meal, not for a trophy dinner
The strongest reason to choose this restaurant is its schedule. Simone has lunch and dinner hours listed Tuesday through Saturday, with later evening hours toward the end of the week. The room, plate details, menu format, service style are not specified, so the smarter expectation is a straightforward restaurant visit rather than a clearly defined tasting-menu, chef-led, or drinks-driven destination.
For diners comparing options, keep the brief simple. Do not choose Simone on the basis of an assumed cuisine, cellar, chef name, award, or price point. If those details matter, compare it with other dining options in Nantes or with alternatives such as Song, Saveurs & Sens, La Cigale, Pilgrim..Et la Fourmi, or La Passagère.
First-timer fit: useful, casual, low pressure
First-time visitors should treat Simone as a practical Nantes pick: suitable to consider for lunch or dinner when the priority is a casual dress code and a confirmed service window. It is less useful for diners who need a clearly defined cuisine, a known chef, a published price signal, or a special-occasion hook before committing.
If the meal is for a date, a catch-up, or a plan built around conversation, Simone may fit the brief. For a more specific comparison, use the broader Nantes dining set and the named alternatives above, keeping in mind that Simone's hours and casual dress code are the clearest planning details.
Planning details
- Location
- 2 Rue Suffren, 44000 Nantes, France
- Website
- bistrosimonenantes.com
- Phone
- +33240335213
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Simone presents a contemporary, ingredient-first approach that favors provenance over performance. The cooking reads modern and considered: plates are shaped around Loire Valley market gardens, freshwater catches and Atlantic fish rather than theatrical technique. Because the room sits inside Nantes’ walkable dining core, the service and pacing lean toward a relaxed, quietly sophisticated rhythm rather than loud showmanship. The result is a charismatic address that feels both urban and locally rooted—an approachable, polished spot where the region’s larder is the clearest design choice on the menu.
Best For
Simone is best for diners who appreciate seasonality and regional sourcing. It suits evening meals built around market-driven plates, and it comfortably hosts relaxed lunches when same-day fish and garden produce are on offer. The restaurant’s restrained, ingredient-led focus makes it an attractive option for intimate dinners where conversation and food share equal weight, and for visitors exploring Nantes’ culinary scene who want a taste of Loire Valley and nearby Atlantic producers without formal ceremony.
Ordering Tips
Emphasize the provenance when ordering: many dishes revolve around Loire Valley produce and Atlantic seafood, so ask what just arrived from local suppliers. The house signatures—Planche de Simone, Croque à la truffe and the Tartare de bar & Granny Smith—are natural starting points to understand the kitchen’s flavor profile. Because the menu responds to markets, invite the staff to recommend today’s standout fish or vegetable preparations and build your meal around those seasonal highlights.
Venue details
Ambiance
Warm, cozy atmosphere with neat decor, small separate spaces that reduce noise, ideal for peaceful meals.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Sourcing
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Casual
- Noise Level
- Quiet
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Standard
- Capacity
- Intimate
Signature Dishes
- Planche de Simone
- Croque à la truffe
- Tartare de bar & Granny Smith
Planning details
Location
Also consider
Also Consider
- ..Et la Fourmi, Notable alternative
- Pilgrim, Notable alternative
- Song, Saveurs & Sens, Asian Contemporary, €€
- La Cigale, Notable alternative
- La Passagère, Notable alternative
Restaurant context
How Simone compares in Nantes
Simone is the low-friction choice in this set: easier to treat as a practical lunch or dinner booking than as a high-stakes reservation. Song, Saveurs & Sens is clearer on value and direction because it has a defined Asian Contemporary format and a €€ price signal. Choose Song, Saveurs & Sens when cuisine specificity matters; choose Simone when the priority is a simpler central meal.
For ambience, La Cigale is the more obvious pick, especially for visitors who want the room to carry the occasion. Simone is better for a quieter decision: less about spectacle, more about a convenient table. Pilgrim and La Passagère are better cross-shops when the group wants a more deliberate restaurant choice and is willing to compare formats before booking.
..Et la Fourmi sits in the same Nantes alternative set for diners who cannot get the timing they want. The practical recommendation: start with Simone for ease, move to Song, Saveurs & Sens for a clearer €€ cuisine brief, pick La Cigale when the room matters as much as the meal.
Explore Nantes
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Simone guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Simone
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Price | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simone | Nantes | ; | ; | No published awards |
| ..Et la Fourmi | Nantes | ; | ; | No published awards |
| Pilgrim | Nantes | ; | ; | Michelin Guide France & Monaco 20262026 OAD Top Restaurants in Europe Recommended2025 OAD Top Restaurants in Europe Ranked · #3872025 Michelin Plate2024 OAD Top Restaurants in Europe Ranked · #3392024 Michelin Plate2023 OAD Top New Restaurants in Europe Recommended |
| Song, Saveurs & Sens | Nantes | Asian Contemporary | €€ | Michelin Guide France & Monaco 20262025 Michelin Plate2024 Michelin Plate |
| La Cigale | Nantes | ; | ; | 2026 Michelin Plate2025 San Francisco Chronicle Best New Bay Area Restaurants |
| La Passagère | Nantes | ; | ; | No published awards |
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How Simone Nantes compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Simone handle dietary restrictions?
Ask the venue directly before planning a visit if you have allergies or specific dietary needs.
Is Simone good for a special occasion?
Simone is best assessed as a casual-dress-code Nantes option with lunch and dinner hours from Tuesday through Saturday. It is not presented as a special-occasion restaurant.
How far ahead should I book Simone?
Reservation or booking lead time is not specified. If your timing is fixed, check directly with Simone. Its hours are Tuesday and Wednesday 12–2 PM and 7–10 PM, Thursday 12–2 PM and 7–10:30 PM, Friday 12–2 PM and 7–11 PM, Saturday 12–2:30 PM and 7–11 PM.
Is lunch or dinner better at Simone?
Simone has lunch and dinner hours Tuesday through Saturday, with later evening hours on Thursday, Friday, Saturday.
Can Simone accommodate groups?
Contact Simone directly before relying on it for a group visit.
What are alternatives to compare with Simone?
Other options to compare include La Cigale, Pilgrim, Song, Saveurs & Sens..Et la Fourmi, La Passagère. Use the comparison based on your preferred timing, mood, any details you can confirm directly.
