
|
Click on any restaurant's name to view its address, contact details and reviews.
|
Order these restaurants in terms of:
|
 |
Name |
Town |
Cuisine |
Food |
Ambience |
Service |
Price |
La Cagarol |
Aigne |
Modern French |
4.5/5 |
4.0/5 |
3.5/5 |
Medium |
Place La Fontaine, Aigne, Hérault |
Tel: 04 68 27 84 22 |
Reviewer: Alex Charles , 04/11/2006
Gorgeous little restaurant in the tiny village of Aigne - with a terrace outside. The food is excellent, creative without being gimmicky. For example, the chilled gaspacho with basil sorbet is superb. Prices are very reasonable for what you get, and the service friendly.
|
Reviewer: Oliver Cockell , 26/03/2007
Firstly let me say that i have given marks on the basis of 5 for a michelin 3 star and good though this restaurant is my marks are consequently lower than many of the others I have seen. A mark of 4 is for me a very good restaurant; a mark of 5 is for an outstanding restaurant and will probably be at least twice as expensive as the Cagarol. My wife and I had sunday lunch and we had a four course meal (including amuse bouche) for 24 euros. The wine is also reasonably priced. Entrees were anchovy sals with peppers(3) and asparagus with ham and parmesan(4.5). Main course was duck with fig sauce(4) and entrecote with minervois sauce(4). Dessert was three different flavoured creme caramel(3.5) and strawberries in licquer with strawberry sorbet (4). The restaurant was absolutely full but the service was prompt, courteous and prompt. Overall very good value with above average food.
|
|
|
7 rue Fer à Cheval, Lodeve, Hérault |
Tel: 04 67 44 46 09 |
Reviewer: Alex Charles , 03/11/2006
Lodeve's restaurants aren't great, but this one is surprisingly good. The food is delicious and quite innovative (for France) and there's a terrace for al fresco dining. The waiter/owner is very professional and friendly. The decor is OK - a little twee, but warm and inviting. A good place for a special meal.
|
|
|
2 rue Hotel de Ville, Place de la Canourgue, Montpellier, Hérault |
Tel: 04 67 60 30 79 |
Reviewer: Alex Charles , 03/11/2006
Set in the wonderful Place de la Canourgue (one of the few squares in Montpellier with a garden), this lively and central restaurant is a popular eating place and bar. In the summer there are plenty of tables outside but the service can be a bit slow at busy times. You may need to book. The food on the whole is good and ecclectic with a menu that changes frequently. One of my favourite Montpellier lunch-time spots.
|
|
|
Puja |
Montpellier |
Indian |
4.0/5 |
2.0/5 |
4.0/5 |
Low |
3 rue Ferdinand Fabre, Montpellier, Hérault |
Tel: 04 67 79 36 89 |
Reviewer: Alex Charles , 05/11/2006
Finally - a decent Indian restaurant - after hunting high and low and encountering many disappointments. Puja is run by an Indian family from Mauritius, and the food is very tasty and pretty authentic (but never hot alas) and very reasonably priced. It's a tiny little restaurant, quite central, with a few tables on the pavement, in not the most glamorous area of Montpellier (this may explain the low prices) - but the food makes it worth it. We also used it for Friday night take-aways - ahhh, the tastes of home... Much better value than the mediocre and expensive Rajastan.
|
|
|
Le Tournesol |
Clermont-L'Herault |
Continental |
4.0/5 |
4.0/5 |
5.0/5 |
Medium |
2 Rue Salengro (at the railway station end of town), Clermont-L'Herault, Hérault |
Tel: 04 67 96 99 22 |
Reviewer: Mike Webber , 06/11/2006
This restaurant is a long-time favourite of ours. The portions aren't enormous, but the food is consistently delicious, and creative in terms of both flavour combinations and presentation. Menus start from 18 euros with pork, duck, and various fresh fish on offer as main courses. The tarte tatin for dessert is delicious. The owners (young married couple) are very nice and welcoming, and the wait staff are all first-class (and have all been working there for years, which is a good sign!) It has a very modern vibe with good lighting and palm trees, and both outdoor and indoor seating (be warned: indoors can get a little bit smokey at times) More info is at www.letournesol.fr
|
|
|
Le Yacca |
Pézenas |
Italian |
4.0/5 |
4.0/5 |
4.0/5 |
Medium |
26, place du 14 juillet, Pézenas, Hérault |
Tel: 04 67 98 21 48 |
Reviewer: Mike Webber , 06/11/2006
Place du 14 juillet gets a bad rap for hosting some of Pezenas' worst tourist restaurants, but nestled amongst them is Le Yacca, which offers great over-sized pizzas with the thinnest crusts you've ever seen. Toppings are generous (depending on which pizza you order) and the Four Seasons pizza is a long-time personal favourite. Huge salads and big bowls of pasta are also good (any squeamish souls should know that the carbonara comes with a raw egg in a half-shell to dump on top . . . but it is delicious) . . . great for pizza, pasta, salads . . . not recommended for steak. Nice waitresses, fun and very casual atmosphere, and good for when you can't decide what kind of food you want, and/or if you just want a light informal dinner. Beware of the hot pizza oil, though, it is seriously HOT :-)
|
|
|
Le Calamar |
Agde |
Traditional French |
4.0/5 |
4.0/5 |
3.0/5 |
Medium |
La Tamarissière, 33 quai Théophile Cornu, Agde, Hérault |
Tel: 04 67 94 05 06 |
Reviewer: Blablablah Magazine , 07/11/2006
What is the most important thing in a restaurant? Is it the food, the décor, the waitress or the wine list? Most would agree that three of the above are important, and one is essential. Down at the Le Calamar on the banks of the Herault at La Tamarissiere, just before the river reaches the sea, there are many other attractions than the most enjoyable wine list in the region. Even when the days are so hot that you begin to get flashbacks the last canicule, the river manages to lower the temperature a degree or two. There is a good view over the river to the lights and action at Grau d’Agde. You are close enough to feel part of it, but far enough away not to hear it. The décor may divide opinions. The interior is modern, reminiscent of a trendy dentist’s waiting room, while the chairs outside are made of steel and wicker and the feel is more guingette. There are pretty hanging baskets full of flowers, but the pots are plastic. It would be a crime if a riverside restaurant did not knock up a good bit of fish, but you won’t be disappointed here. There are the usual mussels and oysters, but also salmon, scallops and fish salads. As a main course the cod is outstanding, if a bit pricey at 23€. Meat eaters will enjoy the lamb or the steak. But it is the wine list that really shines. Here you can drink Domaine Paul Mas Chardonnay Viogner for 17€, and follow this with a bottle of La Grange des Peres 2000 for 70€. These are two of the finest wines of the region. La Grange des Peres is the best wine made in the Languedoc in millennium year, and I defy anyone to find it cheaper in a wine shop anywhere in either Beziers, Paris or London. Even Laurent Vailhé, maker of the wine, does not have any bottles left. But the wines here are not the result of strenuous reading of Guide Hachette, or Parker’s favourite wines of the Languedoc. The owner is passionate about his wines, and buys them well, so you don’t have to pay too much. Compare Le Calamar’s list to say, La Compagnie des Comptoirs in Montpellier. At La Compagnie des Comptoirs it is hard to make a choice, because you do not recognise any of the labels. The best thing you can say about most of the white wines is that they are served cold. At Le Calamar, the difficulty is choosing which of your favourite wines you will go for. There is Chateau de la Negly for 23€; Mas Champart from Saint Chinian for 20€; and even a Domaine Gauby, more expensive at 53€, but still outstanding value. Perhaps the only option is to order all three, and order a taxi for the journey home. Of the waitresses there is very little to be said. There are none, or at least there were none working the last time I visited. This is surely the only complaint that anybody could make about the place.
|
Reviewer: Graham Tigg , 28/04/2007
Cost for two: 75 €. October 2002
A recommendation from a reader brought us here on a very quiet late season Monday night - apparently they close November to March. The good sized light and fresh dining room overlooks the river Herault estuary, do take the short walk down the sea. The dishes are carefully prepared and kept simple. Seafood obviously stars here but other options are far from a token gesture. Most wines are under 20 €.
There were only two other diners so it's not possible for me to be objective about the atmosphere, but using our imagination the attractively decorated good sized room should have a great buzz when busy. There is also a fine view of boats on the river Herault estuary - do take the short walk down to the sea.
The menu is announced on mobile blackboards. There is a 22 € no choice three course menu and a carte offering several more options. From the menu Sardines had been flattened and dipped in a tasty spiced breadcrumb mixture. A crousillant of chevre was certainly tasty. Grilled Dorade had been carefully filleted and then reconstructed yet tasted as if it had been cooked on the bone. Sea bass with tapenade was gutsy and not too salty. As so often happens in restaurant where fish plays a star role the desserts disappointed. A crème caramel was somewhat average and needed the caramel crust need to be freshly brûléd. Raspberries with vanilla ice cream was our other choice.
The wine list gives welcome brief descriptions of the offerings with most wines under 20 €. The dishes are carefully prepared and kept simple. Seafood obviously stars here but the land based options are far from a token gesture.
Open Monday but closed Nov - March.
|
|
|
23 bd. Gambetta, Aigues-Mortes, Gard |
Tel: 04 66 53 81 13 |
Reviewer: Blablablah Magazine , 07/11/2006
With the weather turning warmer, the prospect of day trips and nice drives becomes more alluring and one could do a lot worse than choosing to visit Aigues –Mortes. Just over the departmental line in Gard, its a charming walled village nestled between the Camargue and the sea. It’s full of galleries, shops that run the gamut from kitsch to smart, cafes and restaurants. And without a doubt, one of the better eating places is the Arcades. Open for lunch and dinner one can dine outdoors under the arcades or in the stone walled dining room., There are 3 menus: a strictly luncheon one for 22€, one for 32€ and one for 42€ and a la carte. The menus are, on the whole, regional and while not cutting edge, are done with skill. Then there are those little surprises that show up – we had a wonderfully smooth ‘ amuse’ of cucumber soup and at the end of our meal the tray with our coffee was filled with chocolate mousse, Turkish delight, petit cakes and wonderful jellied physalis. My main dish (a specialty of the Camargue) of grilled steak of bull in red wine sauce and juniper berries was delicious. My partner opted for a light lunch of a green salad followed up with lobster. A salad is one of those things, like an omelette that everyone does but not everyone does it well. This one was excellent - four different types of lettuce and a lovely balanced dressing which is simplicity itself was greater than the sum of its parts. I literally devoured my dessert of thick luscious whipped cream over marron glace (chestnut puree) and set in a homemade tulip pastry shell of infinite finesse. There’s a fine selection of wines, not just from the region but from other areas in France as well. There is also a relatively big choice of 9 wines by the glass, which is unusual. The service was efficient and timing of our courses was leisurely without it becoming lax. In short, this is restaurant a cut or two above the average that presents its regional cooking with excellence and style.
|
|
|
23, Place de la Mairie, Aumes, Hérault |
Tel: 04 67 98 93 76 |
Reviewer: Blablablah Magazine , 07/11/2006
What better way to celebrate a century of l’Entente Cordiale than by paying a visit to the tea rooms of La Petite Maison d’Aumes. Here, just a short drive from the bustle of Pézenas, you will find an oasis of French and British harmony. This haven lies behind the unassuming and quaint exterior of a nineteenth century home in the centre of the pretty village of Aume. After knocking on the front door, and being welcomed by the utterly charming Nathalie Brassart, your first impression is that you have entered a particularly welcoming artistic home. The rose-red walls are hung with paintings, the stairway is a refuge for handmade baskets and pictures, while the shelves are lined with an array of colourful ceramics. On walking through to the back of the hall, the scene unfolds to reveal a tranquil sun terrace all set for afternoon tea, and a tea garden with tables anticipating guests. Once seated in the sheltered garden it is hard to regard the extensive tea and coffee menu, for your eyes wander off to the perfect lime trees, the green shuttered windows, and the rambling flowers. But it is worth distracting yourself. The usual suspects are represented: strong Breakfast Tea, Lapsang Souchong and Orange Pekoe. But there are other teas to tempt your taste, the sort you barely thought existed. This dizzying selection of infusions includes aromatic teas such as fresh fig, mandarin and cherry. Then there’s the luscious Les Fruits des Tropics; with vanilla, banana and lime to enjoy; while the unforgettable Melange Aurore (orange, honey and jasmine) speaks for itself. Whichever tea you decide on, it will arrive in a white teapot with the loose tea leaves in its own hand-labelled bag. Of course, afternoon tea isn’t afternoon tea without cake. Here, our hostess offers a daily selection of deliciously fresh cakes that she makes herself. On my visit there were generous portions of red currant clafoutis, apple and cinnamon crumble, and moist lemon cake. But perhaps the most wonderful thing about these cakes is not their mouth-watering scrumptiousness, but the fact that Nathalie has any time to make them at all. You see, as well as being everyone’s dream hostess, Nathalie is also an accomplished ceramicist, and accordingly is the architect of all the simply glazed and prettily decorated plates, cups and bowls that are at your service for tea.Not only this, but the fruits of her labours are in evidence all over La Petite Maison d’Aumes. After enjoying your afternoon tea, take time to wander from room to room. The old sitting room has tablecloths, plates and candles for sale (though unfortunately the fireplace urns used to make your tea and coffee aren’t). All the other rooms are a combination of Natalie’s ceramics and pieces that she has collected over the years from local artists, antique dealers and boutiques. You will find crystal necklaces, perfumes, teddy bears, hydrangea-shaped lamp bases, doorstops, and, of course, exquisite tea sets made by your host at La Petite Maison. Whether you decide to relax with a refreshing cup of tea or coffee, or indulge in a little retail therapy and chit-chat, La Petite Maison d’Aumes is well worth a detour from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
|
|
|
14, avenue Joseph Lazare, Beziers, Hérault |
Tel: 04 67 76 07 12 |
Reviewer: Blablablah Magazine , 07/11/2006
There is a restaurant so good in the region that you might expect to find it in London, New York or Paris. In fact, it might be easier to find La Raffinerie in one of these cities, rather than tucked away by the Canal du Midi on the Quai du Pont Neuf in Béziers. However, if you manage to circumnavigate the city’s one-way system you will arrive at a large industrial building, formerly used to crush sulphur shipped from Sicily for distribution in the local vineyards, hence its name. The first impression is of a large purple painted wall, the remnant of an old millstone. Walking into the restaurant, you find yourself in a triangular room, rich and sombre, brown, and with comfortable chairs. Knowledgeable staff is on hand to guide you through the menu, offering French based international cuisine, paying homage to Spanish and Italian cooking. For instance there is black risotto and calamari, or cannelloni made with goat’s cheese on a bed of courgettes and asparagus. There is also pork curry, sea bream, and lamb among the main courses. Portions are adequate rather than ample. The wine list is one of the best in the region, culled largely from the cellar of Philippe Catusse, a Béziers-based supplier who has cultivated many of the best winemakers for a number of years. Take your pick from some of the best Saint Chinians’, Faugères’, or Roussanne’s, ranging from €16-€24. Probably better value is Domaine de l’Arjolle’s Clos St Gabriel at €14.50. Wine boffs might baulk at the fact that there is not a bottle of Burgundy or Bordeaux in sight, but it proves that you don’t have to go outside of the region to drink well. It is no surprise to see the mayors of Béziers and Pézenas dining there, as well as a healthy sprinkling of local winemakers and local bourgeoisie. Holidaymakers lured by the bright lights of the coast are missing a treat, particularly eating out on the terrace at night overlooking the canal. The huge plane trees are theatrically lit, attracting a cloud of moths and bats that provides a cabaret of romance. Fancy a pudding? You can choose from crème brulée, pot au chocolat, fruits and sorbets. Coffee? It is good and strong. The cheese board, like the wine list, is culled from a good regional selection. The owner and manager claims that his inspiration for the place came from Chez Philippe, the celebrated restaurant in Marseillan. Here you can catch a waiter’s eye and he will actually respond rather than wink at you. For our money, Stefan has improved on the original, bringing flair, along with good manners and service to La Raffinierie. If this refined version maintains its dazzling start, this will be a place for many a memorable lunch and dinner. As yet, it is not booked up months in advance, but make sure you go there while you can still get a table. Prices around €25 per head including coffee.
|
Reviewer: Aron Hill , 11/11/2006
I agree this is a great place to eat, and have had some very good food here. My only complaint is the service I had, I called on a saturday night to book a table for three and asked to arrive as late as possible (not a good start in France) but they took my booking for 9pm and we arrived on time. We had a very warm welcome and were shown to the table...after that it all went down hill fast, our waiter was clearly not happy at having to serve us so late, no smiles at all from him, he even started to clear the plates before my partner had finished eating. It spoiled what would have been a great evening, It's the first time in my life I have left and not given a tip! I would go back but with a grudge and that's not what it's about. So if you go, go early and you will maybe have the service you are paying for!!
|
Reviewer: Patrick Cameron , 08/01/2007
The situation is perfect: canal-side setting with plane trees and so quiet it's hard to realise that Beziers' railway station and main through road are 100 m away. The restaurant is converted from an old sulpher refinery (sulphur for spraying vines against fungus). The decor can only be described as "stark" with the only decoration a pair of pictures of Bull-fighters with totally morose countenances. The staff at La Raffinerie take their cue from the Bull-fighters - no-one smiles and the woman behind the bar smokes constantly. The place was full of young black-suited Beziers salesmen on expenses which may tell you something. The lunch menu seemed a trifle pricey at €20 for two dishes (entree+plat chaude or plat chaude+dessert). I ordered smoked salmon followed by fish - Dorade. The smoked salmon was miniscule, around 12 grammes I'd say, and served on top of a sodden blini. I couldn't eat the blini and the salmon disappeared in one-and-a-half mouthfuls. When the Dorade appeared I thought they had served the wrong fish. It looked like boiled hake with the skin still attached on one side. (You can leave skin on some fish as long as it's fried - but boiled? No!) I'd ordered a half-bottle of St Chinian rosee but there arrived a Vin du Pays Doc. La Raffinerie must do better than this.
|
|
|
7 rue Général Crouzat, Beziers, Hérault |
Tel: 04 67 28 36 09 |
Reviewer: Blablablah Magazine , 07/11/2006
There has been much talk recently about Muslim integration into French society. It is hard for an outsider to see whether this is happening. However, compared to Britain - which has seemingly done rather well in integrating its immigrant population - one is struck by an overwhelming fact. What is Britain’s national dish? Fish and chips? Steak and kidney pudding? Actually it’s chicken tikka masala - as former British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook famously attested to in his speech on immigration a few years back. It is now a rite of passage for young Brits to gather in Indian curry houses of an evening. This may have started out as a lark, or simply because there was nowhere else that stayed open late and served edible food. But the fact that Brits were prepared to eat curry, rice and popadoms showed a certain tolerance towards its immigrants, and may have helped them feel welcome. In contrast, in France, you struggle to find anywhere that even serves couscous. The last foreign dish the French adopted was probably Chicken Kiev, and that was centuries ago. Maybe it takes French palates a couple of generations to adapt to new tastes. But in the meantime, where do five million Muslims from North Africa go for dinner? Around Béziers, the discerning few go to Le Couscous Royal, where one can enjoy a Maghreb dinner of high quality and few pretensions - reminiscent of a curry house in a provincial English town. Hidden away in the old town of Béziers, just around the corner from the cathedral, it sounds like it has been nicknamed by Quentin Tarantino. The décor is North African, and the lighting bright rather than subdued. But the crowd that gathers is lively. They enjoy the large portions, the Moroccan wine with its unpronounceable and forgettable name, and the stewardship of its jolly manager. She will advise you to cut back on the order if you try to order too much food, as we did. Many of the dishes on the menu, such as the tagine, can only be ordered at the weekend and 24 hours in advance. However, the couscous is always available, served with chicken, meat or merguez sausages. If you need more sauce you will be given it. Going to Le Couscous Royal may be a small step in showing solidarity with France’s Muslim population, but it is also an enjoyable way to spend an evening. Price around €20 per person
|
|
|
19 ter av. Louise Tudesq, Bouzigues, Hérault |
Tel: 04 67 74 98 36 |
Reviewer: Blablablah Magazine , 07/11/2006
You’ll like it here. Smack bang on the estuary this Bouzigues restaurant allows you a wonderful view of the marina, with the rock of Sète perched steadily opposite. From here you can almost wet your toes in the water while whetting your appetite. But if it’s the practical approach you’re looking for, there’s a charming estate agency next door for you to check out the current house prices before or after lunch. Some years ago, while house hunting in France we stayed in a village without an immobilier. My cousin, who knows my wife’s quirks as well as I do, suggested that she was suffering from ‘estate agent interruptus.’ But that’s another story! On entering the restaurant you will be greeted by Marie-Noëlle with a glass of Kir Royale while you peruse your menu. My recommendation is the Fruites de Mer followed by Lobster served either hot (with cognac) or cold (with aioli) and a dessert to follow – all for 30€. The scallops also take some beating here, while the carafe of vin blanc is very acceptable. The restaurant has only been open since July '04, and the place has a fresh warm friendliness to make you want a return visit. Marie-Noëlle is also an artist of note, and the walls are tastefully decorated with her paintings - which are for sale.Who knows, one of them might be just the thing for a wall in one of your rooms, or, you might just go home with a painting and a house to boot! To avoid disappointment through the summer period, do book ahead.
|
|
|
Le Village, Douch, Rosis, Hérault |
Tel: 04 67 95 07 64 |
Reviewer: Blablablah Magazine , 07/11/2006
If you haven’t heard of Douch, it’s hardly surprising. With its sprinkling of eight inhabitants, this town is as far away from the rat race as you’re likely to find. Until recently this town had a population of just five, but this exploded when three more people arrived from Pézenas to run the Auberge La Jasse. This cosy little restaurant is in a natural setting surrounded by mountains. Twenty minutes uphill from Lamalou les Bains, it is worth the short trek for lunch - especially on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Run by young and healthy Stephanie and Valerian, this auberge-cum-restaurant boasts a menu with ingredients bought fresh from local producers, and an impressively concise wine list that affirms the old adage of quality before quantity. For starters I tried the delicately tasty ‘Brick à deux Parfums’, followed by a main course of ‘lapin’. Not only did I not hesitate to suck on the succulent bones of this delicious rabbit, but ravishingly chewed them - and boy were they worth chewing! This finger-licking rabbit hadn’t seen a freezer and was as fresh as the mountain breeze. If you add to this a generous helping of roast potatoes and a ragoût of vegetables, I can only describe the dish as superb. My companions tried the trout, which was farmed by a local producer who raises the fish in a mountain stream. Boneless and tasty, albeit a bit on the small side, orgasmic expressions told me it was nonetheless delicious. I recommend the Embrejon 2001 to accompany your meal, a surprising and memorable bottle of red. For dessert, Stephanie served us her newly concocted ricotta, a crumbly-type biscuit with a cherry ‘soupe’. This was a treat. The rhubarb pie, apple crumble and chocolate cake all received the thumbs up from our party too. If you enjoy hiking, Douch is the perfect starting point for numerous trekking routes – or for maybe walking off your lunch! I’m not one for walking aimlessly for hours myself, but I could not deny the beauty of the surroundings, and can understood why hikers use this hamlet as a start-off point for their holidays. The menu is priced at €25, though you are best off reserving in advance as we saw a few people being turned away and there are no alternative eateries around.
|
|
|
4 rue Edouard Adam, Marseillan, Hérault |
Tel: 04 67 01 78 78 |
Reviewer: Blablablah Magazine , 07/11/2006
On the North Quay, this restuarant has even been written up in the Sunday Times! Bruno insists on fresh food and gets daily supplies from Sete – which I am sure all readers know is the biggest French fishing port on the Med – lucky us! Food is essentially good quality French home cooking with specialities like truffle omelette in season and mi-cuit fois gras or scallops all year round. Expect to pay €20 a head for the set menu with a bottle of wine between two.
|
Reviewer: Dave Thomas , 05/12/2006
Pretentious - rarely changed menus so boring if one lives down here. Fine for tourists. Service is the problem, one feels one is being done a favour to be allowed to pay them money.
|
Reviewer: , 29/08/2008
In french, sorry. Pour avoir testé avec mes enfants ce restaurant à plusieurs reprises lors de vacances successives, je vous recommande fortement cette adresse si vous passez par là. Bruno est un amoureux de sa région et de ses produits. Sa cuisine est à son image : fine et authentique. Les produits sont toujours très frais, bien servis dans une ambiance très chaleureuse. En plus, le cadre est superbe. Goûtez aussi ses vins ... vous ne le regretterez pas ! Allez-y, vous vous ferez plaisir !
|
|
|
6 rue St Alban, Neffies, Hérault |
Tel: 04 67 24 07 86 |
Reviewer: Blablablah Magazine , 07/11/2006
There is not much going on in Neffiès after seven o’ clock of a summer’s eve except Les Goutailles. It’s not that easy to find but given the size of Neffiès centre the search is actually fun. As we pulled up in front of the restaurant the quaint building immediately charmed us, and upon entering we found the adorable homely décor exactly to our tastes. If we had one criticism, it would be that the lighting was a bit harsh, as I really did not need to have the badly applied turquoise eye shadow of the lady on a neighbouring table highlighted to me throughout the meal. Run by Lyonaisse couple Karen and Didier, they serve up traditional, simple, yet delicious meals. Hubby Didier keeps to the kitchen while Karen sprints up and down the stairs juggling a frightening amount of dishes in her hands. I have heard it said that the menu never changes, and while that may bother some, I personally like to have an idea of what’s on offer before leaving home. I had the appetiser, ‘mille feuille d’aubergines au jambon de magret de canard fumé’, and it was well worth its title. I was expecting three or four thinly sliced morsels of duck neatly arranged on a plate with a colourful splashing of some sauce. So I was pleasantly surprised to be handed a plate full of mesclun with the delicately poised ‘mille feuille d’aubergines’ surrounded by countless slices of duck. My main course, ‘le bar au beurre blanc’, was straightforward, yet sumptuous, with a subtle sauce to compliment the fish. And to top it all off ‘la crème brulée au lavande’ was divine. For a menu priced at €18, what more could one ask for (there is also a €22 menu)? Wine perhaps? My wine buff friends were a little disappointed with the choice of wines, so don’t go there expecting great bottles. Great food at a great price though, is more than enough reason to tempt you into your car to head over there. My friends chose the foie gras and tuna (the latter of which I tasted - it had been cooked to perfection), and I’ll leave you to discover for yourself the ‘nougat glacé maison’. Oh, and by the way, If you head down to the loo - which I might add was a prettily decorated and clean addition, always a good sign in a restaurant I think - you will pass Didier hard at work in the kitchen. Now as a modern woman, this never ceases for me to be a refreshing sight! Open Tuesday to Saturday eveningd and Sunday lunchtime.
|
|
|
Pont du Diable (D 908), Olargues, Hérault |
Tel: 04 67 97 27 04 |
Reviewer: Blablablah Magazine , 07/11/2006
I had mixed up the dates. We were a day late. Standing in the middle of Olargues’ main square wondering how I could have made such a mistake. The organic market was sign posted everywhere for August 14th, and we arrived the 15th. So, feeling like an idiot as I apologized profusely for dragging everyone there on the premise of admiring the scenery, which is I have to say is exhilarating, we decided to find somewhere to have lunch. The two brasseries within our field of vision - sporting plastic chairs on their terraces - did nothing to convey confidence in the quality of their food. After deciding to cut our losses and buy a sandwich, we bumped into another foreigner, who recommended that we try the Fleurs d’Olargues restaurant overlooking the river Jaur. With nothing to do and nothing more to lose (I hoped!), we spotted it from across the river and thought it looked perfectly charming. A quick walk through Olargues, across the Roman bridge and there we were in this wonderful restaurant. The terrace, the interior, the open plan kitchen and the plates being served made my messed up dates seem like a godsend. The main menu at €22 offered une salade aux peches, poivrons rouge, framboise, et croutons, with a main course consisting of filet de tacaud or roti de veau. Alternatively, for €16 you can opt for the assiette du soleil with a salade de pomme de terres et betteraves with chicken or pork. Apparently they change their menu every couple of weeks. The bread is homemade with a touch of cumin. The wine list is more than interesting, and there is obviously someone with a taste for good wine within the family. The list includes Le Rectorie l’oriental, Schistel and Mas Olivier - and even a Cremant de Limoux at €29. We quickly realised that the over friendly staff with unfamiliar accents were not French. A Danish family we soon learned; a mother, her two sons and the sons’ families. They bought the place about 3 years ago, converting it from a garage. It took 18 months to renovate, and what a renovation! Minimal Scandinavian taste marrying classy authentic furniture. The best part was the open plan kitchen, where we could literally watch how and who was cooking our meal. They have been open since early 2006 now, and already have Jazz concerts organised for Friday evenings. We also found out that they have chambre d’hotes next to the restaurant, which explains the enormous amount of Danes eating there that day. Unfortunately we didn’t get to see the rooms, but if the restaurant is anything to go by, I’m sure they are worth checking out. Anyway, as we sat on the terrace under a vine covered pergola shading us from the hot sun, looking at the waterfall with Olargues as a back drop, I basked in the perfect end to a potentially disastrous day out!
|
|
|
18 ave du Marchal leclerc, Pézenas, Hérault |
Tel: 04 67 98 15 31 |
Reviewer: Blablablah Magazine , 07/11/2006
Pezenas for all its charm is not blessed with a great many places where one can eat well. Restaurants sadly rarely rise above the ordinary or mediocre. Le Pre’ St. Jean happily, is an exception to the rule. Off the main traffic street that runs through town, the entrance is, admittedly, less than overwhelming with its red a neon sign . However, when one enters the first impression is pleasant. This atmosphere is reinforced by the soft colours, the paintings on the wall with well chosen music which is never too loud to interfere with conversation. There are several menus ranging from 22-45 euros. We chose the one for 22 and while it was the simplest menu there was nothing simple about it. We started off with an “amuse” of warm cauliflower soup with a bit of licorice, tiny strips of serrano ham and a twirl of parsley oil. Our starter was an Asian salad withpieces of lobster, monkfish, bamboo shoots, ginger, grilled peanuts, sundried tomatoes and several types of lettuce seasoned with a soya vinegar dressing. It was a creative and eclectic dish that might have easily failed had the ingredients all worked against one another. Somehow though, it all worked together with each texture and taste balancing each other. Someone creative was looking over the burner! Our main course was a delicate and delicious sea bass in sauce Americain surrounded by garden vegetables. Nothing was over cooked, including the snow peas but, I admit, I wouldn’t have minded if they hadn’t been quite so polite about the size of the portions! Having said that ,the dessert was more than ample. An apple flan smothered in a beautiful caramelized covering of cinnamon with a cinnamon ice cream. The apple had been sliced and baked and the whole effect was as terrific to taste as it was to look at in its presentation. The wine list shows depth and while the Languedoc is strongly present there are also lots to select from other regions, tool. Prices for the wine seemed to be in keeping with the quality of each domaine with nothing too over the top. The service is very professional. The maitre-waiter knows what he is doing, gives clear explanations and is friendly without over doing it. In short, this is a serious restaurant and one to return to.
|
Reviewer: Tom Nelson , 04/07/2007
We keep going back to Le Pre'St Jean. In June this year we both opted for the €32 'Balade Gourmet' menu and it was wonderful. The service is professional without being intrusive and going back each year since 2004 we have never been disappointed with the value for money. More restaurants of this quality are badly needed in the area which is not well served by them.
|
|
|
6 ave de Verdun, Pézenas, Hérault |
Tel: 04 67 90 13 80 |
Reviewer: Blablablah Magazine , 07/11/2006
On a busy street heading into the centre of Pezenas, Les Marronniers is a beautiful old building dating from the 1880’s. It has a pleasant garden with big shrubs that partially block out the traffic noise. Inside, one enters a small very distinctive dining room with beautiful tiled floor and leather banquettes that evoke another era. During the day, there’s what amounts to a bistro menu of what has been bought at the market and this changes constantly. A warm goat cheese salad, fried sardines, wild sea bass with sage and a mushroom risotto were a few of the offerings. In the evening, the name of the game is tapas and meat or fish ‘a la plancha’; definitely a Spanish theme. I started off with an asparagus salad - correctly prepared, but nothing fantastic. Perhaps that’s my own hang up as I much prefer the green variety to the white ones which were served. Then saddle of pork with tapenade – again with mixed results. The pork was nicely seasoned and had that delicious, fatty flavour that many of us, besides doctors, love, but the tapenade was so salty as to be uneatable. The accompanying mashed potatoes with herbs were very good in taste so a real pity they still had lumps. Dessert was Pelardon (goat cheese) marinated in olive oil. Again, not bad but the description promised. The wines are almost all good local wines with a few big name Spanish producers there, as well. I had the house wine, a Minervois -a good example of an easy, pleasant wine that is not going to break the bank. Service unfortunately was not so smooth. Perhaps it’s niggling on my part but bistro or not I dislike having to shout for another glass of wine. If you are careful and stick to the less expensive items, you can eat for 20 € or a bit less. There is also the advantage of not having to order a 3 course meal if you’re not up to the battle that day. All in all, not great, but not terrible either. It left me with the feeling of curiosity of what their tapas would be like and I will probably go there again in the evening sometime.
|
Reviewer: Alex Charles , 30/12/2006
A little disappointed with this restaurant. The food is very basic - your typical Languedoc fare of meat without much flavour and the same old dishes you tend to find at so many restaurants in the region. My lamb had very little flavour - surely a little garlic and rosemary wouldn't have gone amiss, and the thick brown sauce that came with it tasted a little like Bisto. The 'Cammembert Roti' was just slabs of cammembert on a slice of baguette - quite nice but not terribly special. When we arrived, we were bustled into a seperate dining room from the French, who were eating in the main bar - which seemed far more lively and fun.
|
Reviewer: Patrick Cameron , 10/01/2007
OK - so I take it back. My previous review of this restaurant wasn't very positive. But I got dragged back there today, and had a far better meal. Interestingly, this time we ate in the left-hand dining room (whereas last time we were ushered into the right-hand room - where we suspected only foreigners were allowed to eat.) Rather than being quite and sterile, the left-hand room seems to be where the party is - it's lively and full of character, and importantly, other diners. In fact, it's the closest I've come in ambiance to a lively British pub in winter - relaxed, buzzy and fun. The food was excellent - again, very basic Languedoc fare, but nicely done and tasty. The roast vennison was pink in the middle and tasty. The Boeuf Bourguigon excellent - with olives added to give it that Languedoc touch.
|
Reviewer: Graham Tigg , 28/04/2007
Cost for two: 70 €. Oct 2004
Les Marronniers has a local reputation for its tapas but at lunch there is also an accomplished bistro style meal on offer. Leeks à la Catalane, rustic leek and cheese tarte, chou farci that was certainly the business and bavette steak didn't fail to please. The wine list has plenty under 20€.
The bar dining area has a great atmosphere fuelled by the charismatic patron. The outside courtyard looks equally enticing. Certainly a handy local address in a gastronomic dead spot.
|
|
|
L'Ocre Rouge |
Herepian |
Modern French |
5.0/5 |
4.0/5 |
5.0/5 |
Medium |
12 place Croix, Herepian, Hérault |
Tel: 04 6 795 06 93 |
Reviewer: JOHN CROSS , 08/11/2006
Thierry and Marion provide delightfully presented, delicious, nourishing meals in an attractive setting. Cheese board and desserts are stunning, and the wine list well chosen and excellent value.
|
|
|
15 r Plan d'Agde, Montpellier, Hérault |
Tel: 04.67.60.94.18 |
Reviewer: Pruliere , 08/11/2006
Located just a bit down the street from the St Roch church, in the middle of Montpellier, this is one of the few remaining places you can get a good but modest, three course meal for about 10E, the price of the first menu. There is a lot of choice on the menus, with my favorite point being the assortment of 5 or 6 different vegetables that come on the plate with your main course. The downside of this restaurant is the very slow service, but if you have the time, they have a big terrace, a small main room, and a large annex. It is very popular because of the low prices, so you may want to reserve. Wine by the carafe not bad at all, and try a piece of pie for dessert. Choices and perhaps quality increses with the menu prices. Fish dishes in the higher priced menus were very good.
|
|
|
|
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
|
Reviews 1 to 20 of 160
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|