Our favourite local restaurants which we visit as often as we can are

– L’Asparagus, in the neighbouring village of Valros, less than 5 minutes by car, lovely Mediterranean cooking, Menus from 13€ at lunchtime and 19€ in the evening, great local wines, excellent ambience, outdoor terrace. Open every day lunch and evening from 1st June to 31st August, the rest of the year it is shut on Wednesday. 04 67 90 56 28

–La Raffinerie, on the Canal du Midi in Béziers, an old sulphur mill, tastefully done up with lovely inventive cuisine. Open every day except Saturday lunchtime and all day Sunday. 04 67 76 07 12
http://www.laraffinerie.com/moreabout.html

–Le Pannequet in the centre of Pézenas, about a 10 minute drive, 04 67 11 08 68
http://www.lepannequet.com/

More to sample in Pézenas
Les Palmiers, open from 15 April to October – it is open air ! – shut Sundays, prices from 30€, 04 67 09 42 56
Les Marronniers, nice courtyard under chestnut trees, shut all day Sunday and Monday, 04 67 90 13 80
Le Pré St Jean, fine cooking, small terrace, 04 67 98 15 31

And in Béziers
L’Octopus, classy and expensive, menus at 29€, 55€, 75€, patio area, 04 67 49 90 00
http://www.restaurant-octopus.com/
Au Cep d’Or, very ‘French’ looking, downhill from the cathedral, Impasse Notaire, small terrace, menus from 15€ ,04 67 49 28 09

By the seaside
Hotel Mira Mar, Valras Plage, very smart restaurant in one of the nicest beach resorts around here
http://www.hotel-miramar.org/

Port-side
Maison de Camille, in Marseillan town on the port with a view of boats and seagulls, it is open every day lunch and evening for pancakes, salads, tapas, or just a glass of delicious chilled house white wine 04 67 94 18 41

Lagoon views on the Etang de Thau
Les Jardins de la Mer, Bouzigues, overlooking the lagoon, wonderful fish and shellfish platters with a view to match
04 67 78 33 23

A useful French guide to local restaurants –
http://www.linternaute.com/restaurant/

For and English view check out Graham Tigg – an Englishman with a house here who enjoys travelling far and wide over the Languedoc sampling wines and restaurants and giving detailed reports, look at
http://www.languedoc-dining.com/
and click on his Languedoc wine blog as well