Sarlat is in the heart of Périgord Noir, one of France's great food regions. Duck confit, foie gras, truffles, cèpe mushrooms, and walnuts appear on almost every menu. The best restaurants are on the side streets off the main square — those directly on the Place de la Liberté tend to be pricier and more tourist-facing. The Saturday market is the place to buy provisions if you are self-catering.
La Rapière on the Rue de la Monnaie is a reliable choice for traditional Périgord cooking in a medieval vaulted room — the confit de canard and pommes sarladaises (potatoes cooked in duck fat) are the things to order. Booking is advisable in summer. The restaurant scene shuts down significantly outside the April–October season.