Clermont-Ferrand's food scene is rooted in the Auvergnat tradition — truffade, aligot, Saint-Nectaire, and pork in its many forms — but the university population and cosmopolitan character of a regional capital have added plenty of variety. The streets around Place de Jaude and the old town between the cathedral and Notre-Dame du Port have the highest concentration of restaurants.
For traditional Auvergnat cooking, the brasseries and bistros on Rue Saint-Dominique and Rue des Petits-Gras are the most reliable. Le Comptoir des Saveurs near Notre-Dame du Port is consistently well-reviewed for regional dishes done properly. The student district around the Université Blaise-Pascal (campus du Carnot) has cheaper options — Vietnamese, Lebanese, and pizza — and the covered market at Marché Saint-Pierre on the edge of the old town is worth a morning visit for cheese, charcuterie, and the confidence to cook your own Auvergnat dinner.