Went specially for lunch at in the last week of August. Had reserved by e-mail and was responded to…read morequickly and clearly.
I had not been there for some 8 years, but it remained familiar in aspect, though the other parts of Tony Lestienne's empire have grown significantly.
Expected it to be full with lots of holiday makers, but it was almost empty perhaps because the weather was solid rain. And suspect they also were prepared for quiet, there did not seem to be a lot of staff about. So lunch got off a bit slowly, but soon got up to speed. I think we had a little difficulty as we needed to warm up our French.
We chose the Menu Degustation as it was just what I had in mind with a strength in fish but not exclusively fish.
Foie Gras, Cassolet Homard, Turbot, Lamb, Fromages, Puddings.
The mises en bouche were very tasty and imaginative, the Foie Gras attrative and splendid, the Homard lost in it's 'soup' (but the soup did bring the Rolly Grassman Gewertz out wonderfully) though the soup was that wholly correct dark boulibasse you get sometimes.
We went on to a minor red Auxey Duresses. The Turbot had a splendid idea of blending two dressings without a divder from one at one end of the fish to the other at the other and was very good, I was somehow less impressed with the fish itself, perhaps it is that translucent thing again. The lamb I requested not pink and that is how it arrived, and it was very good though I suspect they disdained.
The cheeses were top class including a local 'new discovery'.
The puds were outstanding, particularly a bowl of liquid chocolate and red fruits. We finished with a very traditional and slightly earthy Beaumes de Venise - the sommelier not understanding that we wanted to choose, but it was good just the same. Mignardises were also very good.
Yup, when ever I can I'll be back.
