LES TAPAS DE LA CLAPE

LES TAPAS DE LA CLAPE – Les Halles de Narbonne

This is a new experience in Les Halle in Narbonne. It is a quite simple place as it should be in Les Halles, but nicely decorated. The place has quite an extinctive menu with smaller dishes and the ones we tried were delicious. One tapas was a skewer with scallops and pieces of duck-brest, which was very good. The place has an enormous selection of local wine that can be bought by the glass and also bought for take-away. The whole wine selection is on the web.

The owner is really totally dedicated to wine and food and when he found out that we had been in the wine business he spent a good part of our meal chatting with us.

Revisited in February 2015: Very nice again. I had a burger on KOBE-beef!!! Like butter!

Web: http://lestapasdelaclape.com/fr/
Latest visit: February 2015
Number of visits: 2

RESTAURANT GOURMAND D’ASIE (Closed)

RESTAURANT GOURMAND D’ASIE – Centre Commercial Route de Perpignan, Ave. De Quatorze, Narbonne

This place you must have heard of to find. It is situated in an area where you do not look for good food. The place in itself does not announce itself as a place to go either. Anyhow – we were taken there by some friends who normally know where to go, but nevertheless our expectations were not very high. When we saw the entrance it did not help.  

Well inside the place is simple but very well organized and very tidy. A lot of people seemed to enjoy their meal and we now understand them. It is a buffet restaurant where you eat as much as you like. The food is basically Vietnamese with some dishes from China, Japan and other places in Asia. The food is very fresh, typical and delicious. They make just enough of everything to be eaten in a short time so everything is freshly made. There is a large variety of cold and hot dishes and lots of sweets. You can really sample everything from Japanese Sushi to Chinese Dim Sung to other specialties.

We were 4 people and with wine, beer and coffee the bill ended on 75 euros. As always in Vietnamese restaurants they offer you, for free, their special Vietnamese sake, which taste a little like really bad Dutch genever. It is served in small cups,

different for women and men. In the bottom of the cup you see a nude man or woman in a quite pornographic posture. You can only see it when there is sake in the cup. Be aware if you do not like to be shocked.

Tel: 0468 40 30 77
Latest visit: February 2015
Number of visits: 4

LE FRANCE

LE FRANCE – 35, bd Maréchal Joffre, 66400 Ceret

It is the second time we visit this restaurant and both times we have been surprised by the high quality of the food. The place does not look like a place where they serve food of this quality. We had expected a onetime tourist trap the first time, but could not find any other place then. This second time we learned that it was not just a lucky occasion – we were impressed again. Service is friendly and correct.

Latest visit: September 2014
Number of visits: 2

AUBERGE DU SOMAIL

AUBERGE DU SOMAIL, 1, chemin de Halage, Le Somail

Canal du Midi is really popular among tourists. French people are in minority in restaurants there Dutch, English and German are common languages. As always in these places it is quite uncertain to find a good quality, restaurant in the summer. Mostly the quality is mediocre because the customers will just visit once anyway.
We have however visited the restaurant Auberge du Somail a few times and the quality of the food is quite good. The salads are generous and the meat is tender. The service is also fairly good, but it takes quite a time sometimes even outside rush-hour. This time the person who serves us addressed us in Norwegian when he heard us talking Swedish. It was quite nice for both us and him to be able to communicate in our native languages.
The only irritating thing was the dog of the house that was running around the tables begging for food. He did not - excuse me - look very healthy and scratched himself viciously all the time. It really affected my appetite and I was thinking of what kind of bugs had caused his hair to fall off in parts.
If you happens to be in Le Somail, this is a god place to eat.

Web: http://www.aubergedusomail.com/
Latest visit: July 2017
Number of visits: 6

LA LUCIOLE

LA LUCIOLE – 3 Place de la République, Luc-sur-Orbieu

We visited this restaurant many years ago when we had just moved to France. We were happy that a restaurant had been open just 10 minutes from us. The service was pleasant and the food all right, but nothing to remember or write about. It was the usual standard dishes in “sous vide” version. I visited it together with a couple who are distant cousins, who I met through my genealogy blog and I and my wife have been there once more through the years.

The other night we came to talk to the owner of the wine castle in Luc and she said the food had improved enormously. La Luciole has been awarded two knives and forks by Guide Michelin. Off course we had to try and went there for the today´s lunch.

We were quite satisfied, me more than my wife, but she had something she normally does not have just to be different. My lunch was really good and I cannot do anything but congratulate the owners to the enormous improvement. I am looking forward to eat one of the more elaborate menus – I am sure it is very good.

The service is calm and friendly. I specially appreciate the relaxed atmosphere. The lady who serves does not run around like she was in great hurry, but serves us in a relaxed and professional way contrary to many restaurant people nowadays. The actual restaurant is very simple indoors. I think it is best on a warm summer day when you can sit outside in the open on the nice little square.

Revisited July 2016: I can report that the restaurant has improved even more since last time. Very nice service and food at a good price.

Web: http://restaurantlaluciole.fr/
Latest visit: July 2017
Number of visits: 6