LA GUINGUETTE

LA GUINGUETTE – Rue de la Fontaine Fraîche, 11200 Argens Minervois

This restaurant on the banks of Canal du Midi is very rustic and charming. It is the first time we visited it, but we have got good recommendations from many friends to go there. We were not disappointed. The food is traditional and well-made and the atmosphere is very pleasant. You sit outside under large parasols. It is nice to see the canal boats passing by while listening to old French chansons in the background. For the first time we had grilled Camembert cheese on toast with tomatoes and garlic. It sounds weird, but is really delicious. Try it for starter or as a small dish – it is quite filling.
They have a good selection of local wines at a good price and in the summer they have concerts in the evening.

WEB: http://www.laguinguette-restaurant.com/
Latest visit: June 2017
Number of visits: 2

LA RÔTISSERIE – Restaurant Médiéval

LA RÔTISSERIE – Château de Villerouge-Terménès, 11330, Villerouge-Terménès

This is a special place. The venue is the old castle and they try to take you back to the 13^th century. They have four set menus and everything is well made and very generous. Aperitif and wine is included and generously served. You eat with a sharp knife, a wooden spoon and your fingers and use a bread-cake as plate. The personnel are dressed in 13^th century outfit and are very pleasant. Yes - it is special made for us tourists, but the price is right, the food is good and it is an adventure to visit the restaurant. Menus start from 35 euros and we were very happy with that.

WEB: http://restaurant-medieval.com/
Latest visit: September 2016
Number of visits: 1

LA MAISON DE PETIT PIERRE

LA MAISONDE PETIT PIERRE - 22, Avenue Pierre Verdier 34500 Béziers

Pierre Augé won the prestigious French Top Chef 2014 and has now won over the winners the following two years. We visited his restaurant in the summer when one can sit in the lovely garden. The food is very creative and delicious. It is an experience to go there, but still not too expensive. The atmosphere is very homey and pleasant and Little Pierre himself moves around among the guests, says a few words, shakes a few hands and is happy to pose on a picture together with the guests.

It is really an experience to visit this restaurant – but you have to reserve a table in advance.


WEB: http://www.lamaisondepetitpierre.fr/index.html
Latest visit: May 2015
Number of visits: 1

RESTAURANTE CASA HIDALGO

RESTAURANTE CASA HIDALGO – Calle san Pablo 12, Sitges, Spain

We found this restaurant through Via Michelin who had recommended it. The interior is fairly simple, but the service is pleasant and the food is really good. We had a three course dinner starting with two different variations of foie-gras. Both were very good. It was so generous that we could have shared one starter. My wife had a nice piece of veal entrecote and I had one of my favourites – a leg of baby goat. Both dishes Were tasty and the meat very tender.

The desserts were however a disappointment. My wife’s manchego cheese was dry, ice cold and had almost no taste and also my traditional crème caramel was quite tasteless. It was a pity to ruin such a fantastic meal with a bad finish. They however did not charge for the cheese even if they argued that it was the best manchego that was to find. Maybe so but we have had this kind of cheese many times in good restaurants and it is a favourite of my wife.

WEB: http://casahidalgo.es/
Latest visit: June 2016
Number of visits: 1

EL BALCÓ de CALELLA

EL BALCÓ de CALELLA – Pl. Atlàntic 2, Calella de Parafugell, Spain

This restaurant belongs to Hotel Sant Roc and one can sit either outside, on the veranda or in the dining-room. The view from either place in fantastic over the sea, the beach and the village. We settled for their gourmet menu which was a tasting menu so everything mentioned was included. Normally these tasting menus have small dishes, but here they were quite large. It was hard for me to reach the finish even if everything was really delicious.

The first starter was a very good Foie Gras and the second one was an oyster soup that was an absolute dream. The first main was a perfectly cooked fish and the second very tender veal. We also got two very tasty desserts, but at this time we were quite full.

Included in the prize 44 euros per person was white and red wine and they served as much as you felt like. Especially the first white wine impressed on me. It was a mixture of Chardonnay, Sauvignan blanc, Picpoul and Macabeau – which gave the wine a nice balance of fruitiness, freshness and body – perfect with both the Foie Gras, the soup and the fish.

The service was absolutely perfect as it was in the whole hotel. This is a place we will return to as it is just a couple of hours from home and the whole setting I almost perfect.


WEB: http://www.santroc.com/en/gastronomy-hotel-calella-costa-brava/#
Latest visit: June 2016
Number of visits: 1