La Cour (CLOSED)

Just a couple of minutes from the lively Place du Marché des Halles de Versailles, this cosy lunch stop offers fresh, cheap, modern French cooking bang in the middle of the city. Located in a small, otherwise unremarkable square – ‘la cour’ means ‘courtyard’ – the restaurant and teashop draws in a predominantly local crowd with its seasonal daily menu of just one starter, one ‘plat du jour’, one quiche or savoury tart, and three desserts (two courses are €14-€16). On our visit, the ‘plat du jour’ is an exquisite salad of tender chicken gizzards, warm caramelised apple chunks, mild gouda specked with cumin, crunchy white cabbage, toasted pine nuts and a lushly sweet dressing, while the day’s desserts include a pink pear and praline cake and a fantastic panna cotta served with a bubbling strawberry coulis. The colourful interior only seats 10-15 and fills up quite quickly at lunchtime, so it’s wise to call in advance.