Restaurant Auberge du Charmant Som

The place gets a 3 for food (not exceptional, but definitely solid), and a 4 for location. But, since I can’t do halves here, I gave it a three overall (since the only other review here gives it a four)
We were heading to St Pierre de Chartreuse for the afternoon and wanted to plan a lunch location before hitting the road — i didn’t want to just end up in whatever roadside café happened to be open and serving and have a table available. Most of the places we called that were located in cute little farm houses or with lovely views were full. This place still had space for a ressie at noon (but i think that means we were lucky, not that they aren’t busy enough to pack out because on calling back shortly after for some additional information, they too were filled up) So, book ahead.
One important thing to know: there is one thing on the menu. At lunch that’s charcuterie, cheese, salad and an omelette. At dinner it’s fondue.
We were there for lunch & after reading a few reviews, I worried that it would be a bit too ‘industrial’ or not very well made. But, it was good, hearty enough for a mountain lunch (although maybe not hearty enough if I had just been hiking up the mountain like some of the others who had just arrived) There were two kinds of charcuterie on a slate slab, along with a big slice of tomme de savoie. The salad is the typical french salad of just lettuce with a mustardy sauce. The omelette was fluffy and well-​made. Basically, a nice little lunch.
But what is stand out is the surroundings — you are surrounded by the alps, there is a heard of cows that lounge on the hillside just next to the restaurant (you can hear their bells throughout the lunch… as well as, at times, smell their… well, I won’t get too detailed on that part) The restaurant itself is pretty casual with just several white plastic tables scattered around the front lawn — but that adds to the charm. The service was friendly and chatty.
Incidentally, I think they have no real electricity or water up there. The have solar panels on the rooftop which I think provides the power. Whatever water they use, I think they bring up on their own (so they don’t do carafes of water — just sell the bottled water)
While the food didn’t leave me blown away, I loved my lunch here — just a fun, alpine stop that is worth a little detour.
Also, of note — there is nothing else up there (you drive awhile on a single road to get there) except for an alpine cheese shop just next door, which does tomme (chèvre et vache), sérac, et fromage blanc. Tiny little place, all made onsite — we took home the two different tommes and the sérac and give them all a thumbs up, so stop in there for a bit of cheese shopping if you go for lunch there.

Une fondue savoyarde délicieuse, un personnel très agréable. Un seul bémol: attention aux tiques!