We are back again for a burger and frites at this charming little place in Sainte Catherine de…read moreFierbois. We are always tempted by the other things on the menu but the burger (with BBQ sauce, a rare thing in France) wins every time. There's friendly service and a nice shady terrace on a warm day.

I inadvertently did the unthinkable. We arrived late into Vouvray and my gracious VRBO host…read moresuggested trying to get to one of the only 2 open restaurants in town before they closed at 10pm. She said not to go after 9 because they will not want to serve dinner within the last hour of being open. She also said that the French Italian restaurant across the street from Le Val Joli was very popular but that Le Val Joli is the best if I could get there in time. I made it to the restaurant by 8:45, leaving plenty of wiggle room before closing at 10. The woman who welcomed me had a puzzled expression when I asked for a table and said she would need to check with the chef. I asked her if they were still open and she said no, they were closing at 9. The restaurant still had a few tables full of people eating and she said they would still be there for awhile and that she could check to see if I could be served. I was mortified I had tried to walk in just a few minutes before they were set to close and apologized profusely, offering to come back again when there was more time. She was incredibly kind and said she would just check with the chef. The chef came out looking understandably exasperated with me but still kind. He pointed to a few things on the menu that would take less preparation time and said I could stay if I only ordered what could be prepared quickly. After driving for 5 hours, and as embarrassed as I was, I was desperate for real food. I accepted the chef's terms and ordered the foie gras, fish, and profiterole for dessert. I believe the chef is also the owner of the restaurant and while he was still clearly irritated with me, he was willing to feed me on his terms, and I was happy to be fed. The hostess may also have been an owner. She was incredibly kind and clearly wanting to make sure I was able to get food. The meal turned out to be the best meal I experienced on my trip across France. I was sad to speed-eat through this meal experience but I was determined not to be the last table at the restaurant to demonstrate to my gracious hosts that I understood I would be holding them up due to my untimely arrival. Even so, the meal was incredible. The buttery smooth foie gras melted beautifully with every bite. The fish was fresh, tender, and absolute perfection. By the time the profiterole came out, I was so satisfied by the rest of the food, I only took a bite, then ate the ice cream from the center and called it a good night. I'm certain they were unimpressed by my speedy eating skills, and I hope I didn't offend the chef who had prepared such an impeccable meal truly made to be enjoyed, not inhaled. My stomach was happy nonetheless, and the meal was one to be remembered. I just hope next time I make a stop in Vouvray, they don't remember me and I'll take the time to truly enjoy every bite of the amazing food they serve at Le Val Joli. If Vouvray is on your route through Loire Valley, or if you can make the detour, Le Val Joli is well worth the trip. Just make sure you arrive with ample time to enjoy every incredible bite! (deny knowing the woman with very rude timing who showed up on their doorstep in search of any food & was served the most memorable meal in all of Loire Valley)

Stopped here for their formula lunch while visiting wineries of the Loire. We had an excellent meal…read more& appreciated the service & atmosphere. The food and wine list were lovely.

A large group dinner here. Five course meal. Each plate an excellent visual and taste experience…read more Expertly served. Several wine pairings. If you are looking for an elegant experience, this is the place.

Had such a wonderful night here recently - they accommodated our large party with a four course…read moremenu that was by far the best we had in the Loire Valley. The owners are earnest and talented. Only complaint - and my fault! don't order a martini in France and expect an American Martini!

We loved this restaurant! It's small and authentic, and the food was excellent. Highly recommend…read moreif looking for dinner near the chateau.

We were happy to find this place through Yelp, which isn't as often used in France as in the US…read more Our reservation was for noon, and we were one of only two tables there for lunch on a Wednesday. The staff is very friendly, and seemed to enjoy speaking a little English with us. I started with a goat cheese tarte, and had the pork as the main dish. My hubby had foie gras and the vegetable plate. For dessert, I ordered the baba au rhum and that's where it went a bit wrong. The server put the plate with the cake down and proceeded to pour bottled rum over it, telling me to tell him when to stop. Eeek. How do I know how much rum to soak into a cake like that? Well, it turned out to be way too much, the rum was so strong that I couldn't eat it. All in all, we enjoyed our meal, but it would have been better without the ruined rum cake.

Charming servers asked about my visit to Tours and general experience. Service was quick, I was the…read moreonly customer eating a late lunch. The duck was fantastic, with crispy skin, succulent meat, and perfect golden potatoes. Would recommend.

One of the few places near the square with a full French menu. Great atmosphere. Service was…read moregood. Beef bourginon was very good. Jarret was good. Apple sauce a little sweet to my liking but very good. Not sure why old useless reviews continue to be posted.

From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with friendly servers. The bartender/server was a…read moreHOOT, and a lot of fun. Our meal was probably the best we had in Tours, the ambiance was wonderful - a bit like an old tavern, very romantic with candellight. Yes, it's right on the tourist drag, but we enjoyed every bit of it - and luckily it wasn't too terribly crowded. We had the snails and salmon salad for our entree, fish for our plats, and chocolate gateau for dessert. Finishing the meal off with a cognac of course didn't hurt one bit. Next time we stop in Tours, we will be back.

One of the best restaurants in Tours…read more My advice among the €30 menu (valid on weekend): - Appetizer: Gravlax veal is sooo amazing - we also had the foie gras, which is really good but more classic - Main: the pork with risotto is perfect - we also had the fish, but with was a bit flavorless in my opinion (looked like the diet dish, as it is too often the case in restaurants) - Dessert: Best dessert ever had in restaurant: the orange macaron, served with plenty of other orange / citrus declinations. We also had the Bailey's chocolate cheese cake, really good but a bit too sugary / fat after such a feast :)

We were staying in the Apartment just above this restaurant and so decided to try it. We were very…read moreimpressed. Service was prompt, friendly and efficient (which in France is quite something!) and the food was spectacular. Without getting into the details, each dish we ordered was beautifully presented, and was extremely tasty with satisfying portions. Menu choices were trendy without being pretentious and there was good variety on the menu. We would heartily recommend this to anyone staying in Tours.