The unique source of the 334 verses which came down to us from Archestratus is the Deipnosophistae, prolix dialogue of Athenaeus, author of the 2nd century A.D. The characters of this dialogue are introducing and commenting, therefore enchasing Archestratus’ fragments in the organic unity of the dialogue according to their own vision of world. Thus, the introducing comments which Athenaeus’ characters make on Archestratus’ fragments form the natural milieu of the fragments, insofar as they become inseparable of Archestratus’ text. Does these introducing comments help today’s reader to get closer to an adequate lecture of Archestratus? This is the question which the first part of the present study proposes to answer, trying to outline the antique vision on Archestratus by means of the unique source of the fragments: Athenaeus’ Deipnosophistae.The second part of the study examines — in the spirit of the results of the first part — each fragment of Archestratus, strictly from one point of view: the concept of good made out of the fragments. This part proposes to shed light upon what invests a food with the vertue of goodness, and how the good alimentation and good life are connected in Archestratus’ thought.