Billili

Billili's culinary approach embodies the essence of modern French bistrot cooking: a deliberately short menu that changes with the seasons, featuring local and organic ingredients prepared with respect for tradition and a commitment to simplicity. The kitchen doesn't attempt to reinvent French cuisine; instead, it focuses on executing classic dishes with precision and care, allowing quality ingredients to shine through straightforward preparations.

The restaurant's signature dish—its vice-champion œufs mayonnaise from the 2019 ASOM competition—exemplifies this philosophy perfectly. This seemingly simple preparation requires impeccable technique and quality ingredients to achieve excellence, and Billili's version demonstrates the kitchen's mastery of fundamentals. The terrine Billili, priced at €8, represents another cornerstone of the menu, showcasing the kitchen's skill with charcuterie and traditional French preparations.

The menu structure reflects a contemporary approach to bistrot dining, with lunch offerings priced between €13-20 and evening service featuring individual plates ranging from €6.50 to €22. This format allows diners to compose their own meals, whether opting for a light bite with wine or a more substantial multi-course experience. Seasonal specialties rotate regularly, with dishes like white asparagus and panisses appearing when ingredients are at their peak. The kitchen demonstrates thoughtfulness toward vegetarian diners, incorporating plant-based options that receive the same attention to quality and flavor as meat-based dishes.

Signature preparations include the tender poitrine de cochon confite and the delicate Fontainebleau aux fraises, while the mousse au chocolat (€7) provides a classic finish to the meal. The tielle—a traditional Sétois specialty—and the terrine de campagne showcase the kitchen's connection to regional French cooking traditions. A seasonal rice pudding with strawberry and raspberry demonstrates the kitchen's ability to elevate simple desserts through quality ingredients and careful execution.

The food at Billili is fundamentally honest—there are no molecular techniques, no fusion experiments, no attempts to chase trends. Instead, the kitchen focuses on sourcing excellent ingredients, preparing them with skill and respect for tradition, and presenting them without unnecessary embellishment. This approach, combined with the restaurant's exceptional wine program, creates a dining experience that feels both timeless and entirely contemporary, honoring the best of French bistrot tradition while remaining firmly rooted in the present moment.