L'Acte 2

The story

L'Acte 2, Saint-Bonnet-le-Froid: Michelin Bib Gourmand Modern Cuisine

L'Acte 2: A New Chapter in Saint-Bonnet-le-Froid

In June 2021, Lucas and Julie opened L'Acte 2 in Saint-Bonnet-le-Froid, taking over a village institution that had been closed since 2018. The name signals a fresh start, and the couple’s shared background at the legendary Régis & Jacques Marcon gives their project solid foundations. Lucas, an Ardéchois, trained locally before spending three years in the Marcon kitchens; Julie, from Haute-Loire, worked the dining room and earned a sommellerie certificate before joining him. Their meeting in 2019 at the Marcon restaurant led to the idea of opening their own place.

Lucas describes his cooking as both innovative and traditional. The menu changes with the season, featuring dishes such as mackerel with green lentil and cauliflower, and guinea fowl with potato and pleurote mushrooms. A five- or six-step "Découverte" menu is the heart of the experience, with a wine pairing option guided by Julie. The couple’s approach is straightforward: “We try to transmit our passion for our craft through our plates, always with the desire to make you spend a good moment at our table.”

The restaurant earned a Bib Gourmand from the Michelin Guide in 2024, a recognition of good quality, good value cooking. It also holds a toque from Gault & Millau and is a certified Maître Restaurateur. In 2025, L'Acte 2 joined the Toques d'Auvergne association. This modern cuisine restaurant, set in the small village known for its mushroom market, offers a welcoming, unpretentious atmosphere where the focus is on the food and the wine.