Second prize goes to former Michelin-starred chef, Keisuke Matsushima, who offers a weekday-only 3-course Market Lunch Menu to tantalize your taste buds for a very palatable 38€.  22 ter Rue de France, behind the Hotel Palais de Méditerranée, +33 4 93 82 26 06, closed Sunday and Monday.

Very Honorable Mentions:

One step below the Michelin stars, is the Michelin ‘Bib Gourmand’ designation, which currently includes:

The Fine Gueule with a Michelin Bib and an unbeatable weekday lunch deal: 2-courses from the daily blackboard specials plus wine for 21.50€. It’s got a loyal local following so you have to get there early before they run out.  It’s right across from the City Hall at 2 Rue de l’Hôtel de Ville, tram stop Opera or Massena, closed Sunday and Monday.

Olive and Artichoke in Old Nice, current Michelin Bib honoree, with 3 courses for weekday lunch at 39€.  6 Rue Sainte-Reparate, tram stop Cathedrale. Closed Sunday and Monday.

Bar des Oiseaux in Old Nice offers a killer 3-course lunch deal for just 22€. that has the advantage of being available Saturdays as well.  It isn’t Michelin rated yet, but its sister restaurant Bistro d’Antoine does rank the Michelin Bib, so that counts, right?  5 Rue Saint-Vincent, tram stop Opera or Cathedrale. Closed Sunday and Monday.

Type 55 Their other sister restaurant has a the best bang-for-the-buck lunch deal every day including Saturday, with three courses (3 choices for starter and main, and then you get the dessert du jour) for just 20€, and you can often get in at the last minute, as it is less well-known.  1 rue de la Prefecture; both tram stop Opera.

L’Alchemie has the Michelin Bib and a 28€ 3-course weekday lunch deal, plus a 3-course dinner deal every night for 38€.  14 Rue Maccarani, tram stop Jean Medecin. Closed Sunday and Monday.

Just down the street, another Bib inductee, Chez Davia, offers a Nicoise 3-course weekday lunch menu at 39€.  11bis Rue Grimaldi, tram stop Jean Medecin. Closed Monday and Tuesday.

And lastly, there is no set-price deal, but I still have to give an honorable mention to current Bib holder chef Dominique Le Stanc, former two-star (two!) chef of the famed Hotel Negresco, who 25 years ago was the absolute toast of the Riviera culinary scene, until he spectacularly chucked it all to get out of the rat race and back to his roots.  Ever since, he and his wife Danielle have been running La Merenda, a tiny 20-seat hole-in-the-wall, cooking traditional Niçoise cuisine out of a miniscule kitchen …but it is the best Niçoise cuisine you will ever eat, I promise.  The quirky restaurant is full-on anti-star, seeming to make itself as uninviting as possible: customers are packed in tight on tiny tables, perched on small hard backless stools, and the glassware has recently been upgraded but it used to be cartooned jelly jars!  But despite all this, the cuisine is so divine (and the prices so moderate, around 15€ for each item) that the foodies absolutely flock to this homey little shack …and you should too.  Open lunch and dinner Tues-Friday, cash only, no credit cards, no phone: the only way to score a precious reservation is to go by in person (or now via their webpage).  4 Rue Raoul Bosio, tram stop Opera.