France 2010

Best and worst restaurants:

Best: Rapiere Restaurant, Sarlat
Why: Sorry, forgot to include the location to the pevious posting.

George FL USA 11/03/2009

Best: Rapiere
Why: Family run. Chef and wife have run this place in the heart of the old town for 30 years. Great food. English speaking staff.

George FL USA 11/02/2009

Worst: La Mirandol Restaurant, Sarlat
Why: Attentive service. Bargain menu with lots of courses. The catch is that every course was inedible. The only time I had to salt my food in France. Large groups eating banquet food. If you like The Olive Garden you'll love this place.

George FL USA 11/02/2009

Best: Hotel La Roseraie in Chenonceaux
Why: Eat there all four nights of my stay. It was that good.

Richard Perkins in Pleasant Hill, CA USA 10/29/2009

Worst: Madame Mere Poulliard's on Mont St. Michel
Why: We ignored Rick's advice on this skippable omelet place and regretted it. It was ridiculously overpriced with arrogant and unattentive staff. The puffy omelets were not even mediocre--not your typical omelet at all--just a puffy mass of eggs and it is difficult to find food cheaper than eggs. Husband had a fish entree, we both had wilted salads, and a carafe of mediocre wine (??? this is France??) The bread never arrived. Our bill was over 100 euros--definitely not worth it. Avoid the place.

Susan Jennings in Atlanta, USA 10/28/2009

Best: La Ciderie Honfleur
Why: Good food, a little pricey but the town is so over-run with tourists it's not a surprise. Also liked Bouillon Chartier in Paris

Debra in Delta, BC Canada 10/20/2009

Best: La Machonnerie in Lyon
Why: tasty food, exceptional service

Worst: Le 16, Arles
Why: The food was good, but the main dishes a little small. They opened at 7:30 p.m. and within an hour refused to take any more customers. On a Saturday night, no less.

John Vogt in Ft. Collins, CO USA 10/19/2009

Best: Le Freti in Annecy
Why: The book's description was apt, and we ate dinner at Le Freti both evenings we were there. The wine is indeed cheap, and good, and the two different fondues we had were excellent. A fun place, with reasonable prices and great food.

Ron in DeWitt, MI USA 10/14/2009

Best: Le Presidial, in Sarlat
Why: we thought it was far better than described in the book. In addition to its beautiful garden setting, which was praised in the book, the food was exceptional--one of our best meals in France.

Adrienne in Vienna, Va USA 10/14/2009

Best: Chez le Gaulois, Sarlat
Why: Great food, service. Our waitress was from Belgium and spoke excellent English so she explained the menu very well. Loved the tartiflette!

Martha in Calgary, Canada 10/03/2009

Best: l'Oceanic in Chinon
Why: wonderful food and service

Phyllis Thomas in Lewes, DE USA 09/29/2009

Best: Le Bistro de l'Octroi, Sarlat
Why: Garden terrace, fresh, well-prepared food with prices a bit more than Rick Steves' usual budget options. The lamb was perfectly prepared and the Sarlat potatoes were absolutely creamy, cheesy and delicious. The meringue dessert with carmel was to die for. The best restaurant for quality food and reasonable prices had to be Cafe du Marche on rue Cler in Paris. Inexpensive wine by the carafe, great plat du jours, and huge salads. On different occasions we had duck, salmon, dorado and steak and each was well-prepared and mouth-watering.

Worst: None
Why: Every recommended restaurant served great food at reasonable prices.

Vickie Sprowls in Lake Nebagamon, WI USA 09/22/2009

Best:
Why: We actually got better recommendations from the locals. In Nice we were told of a place called La Cambuse but its on the main tourist strip by the Promenade Anglais. I don't have the contact info but it was fantastic.

Worst: Le Fontaine de Mars in Paris
Why: The atmosphere was good but the service and food were terrible especially for the price we paid--- nearly 200 Euros. Its the only place where we had a waiter just walk away while one of us were giving our order just because another waiter had asked him a question. He didn't apologize before he walked away, he didn't say anything at all, in fact. The food wasn't that good, menu limited in comparison with some other places, and its wrong to charge more than 20 Euros for a plate of grilled vegetables.

Mimi Simon in Edmonton, AB Canada 09/18/2009

Best:
Why: We enjoyed the restaurants in the area and the fruit stands.

Jim Colgan in Bixby, OK USA 08/15/2009

Best: Chez le Gaulois in Sarlat
Why: I had the raclette, and it was delicious (and extremely filling). I also enjoyed Pizzeria Romane and La Mirandol in Sarlat.

Kyla Gurganus in Ypsilanti, MI USA 08/11/2009

Best: L'Amboiserie in Amboise and L'Assiette Normande in Bayeux
Why: We loved L'Amboiserie so much that we ate there 2 nights in a row. The terrace is beautiful and has a great view onto the town and up to the chateau. The staff were great (we actually ended up having the same server both nights). The big salads were a great value, we especially loved the Salade d'Amboise.

L'Assiette Normande had superb, authentic Norman food at a reasonable price. I especially loved the camembert tartlet. The service was unusually slow (even for France), they were busy and we were seated in "the annex" and I think we were forgotten about. But the food was fantastic.

Colleen Earls in Vancouver, WA USA 07/29/2009

Best: La Roserie, Chenonceaux
Why: By far the best meals we had in France. The sadade aux geserds (gizzard salad) was to die for, and the excellent service by owners Laurent and Sophie and staff and convivial atmosphere was magnifique!

Steven Hauser in Atlanta, GA USA 06/13/2009

Best: La Girocedre near Vaison la Romaine
Why: Most delicious provincial food and great atmosphere. It's one of our favorite restaurants in France. More than a 5 minute drive from Vaison la Romaine, due to small country roads, roundabouts and driving at night.

Worst: La Ciboulette in Beaune
Why: We tried to go to this restaurant twice. First night it was too late. Second night we came back early for dinner at 8pm. The restaurant was full and they gave us a reservation at 9pm. We came back a bit before 9pm, the restaurant was still full and we were told to wait another 10 minutes. 2 other french speaking couples came in and they were seated. Another 10 minutes later, the waiter came out and said it would be impossible to seat us tonight. By now it was way pass 9pm and we had trouble finding a good restaurant that could seat us.

We later came back to the restaurant and told them that we were deeply disappointed given the restaurant was highly recommended by Rick Steves. They apologized and said that this happens sometimes.

Sbloom in Dallas, TX USA 06/02/2009

Best: Most of the restaurants were very well recommended!
Why: it was great to know somewhere that a 'friend' had been and knew that the food was worth having and/or splurging on, particularly in cafe-stocked Paris.

Worst: Chez Yvonne would have been a disappointment
Why: I didn't actually dine there, but planned on it based on the brief restaurant reco section of Strasbourg. The menu is all "hoity toity" like lamb 'head' and the like with none of the homey Alsacian staples I was hoping for.

Jessica in Kansas City, MO USA 05/24/2009

Best: Cafe du Marche
Why: Great food, good prices, also the Italian restaurant next door. Convenient location near hotel.

Worst: The one on the opposite corner
Why: Mediocre food, long wait, inattentive service

Sue Cromwell in Chester Springs, PA USA 05/04/2009

Best: Caveau des Arches
Why: Good food - consistent service - great atmosphere

Amy in Houston, TX USA 03/04/2009

Best: Hotel La Roseraie,Chenonceaux, Pasco on Rue Chevet, Rue Cler, Paris
Why: Taste buds never disappointed. Not sure that Pasco's was recommended in Guide Book. We found it on our own. It was outstanding!

Zoe Maurer in Southampton, NJ USA 01/01/2009

Best: L'Enoteca; La Rouge Gorge; La Bosquet
Why: All three were fantastic. Very good food and gracious hosts all around. La Bosquet and L'Enoteca probably get slight edges for food quality, but our hostess at La Rouge Gorge was unbelievably helpful and friendly. If we had to rank them in order of which we'd go back to, it would probably go La Bosquet (1), La Rouge Gorge (2), L'Enoteca (3) and La Bastoche (4 not listed above, but still very good).

Dave Matsumoto in Tacoma, WA USA 12/17/2008

Best: La Varangue in Paris
Why: Philippe is not only a great chef but very entertaining also. An evening at this restaurant is not to be missed (and don't forget to try the chocolate cake!)

Pam Boyd in Bedford, TX USA 11/08/2008

Best: Sarlat and Beynac
Why: Had great meals at these restaurants in his book. La Mirondal in Sarlat, and Hotel du Chateau in Beynac.

Judy in Alexandria, MN USA 10/21/2008

Best: Restaurant La Terrasse
Why: After visiting the Roman monument in La Turbie, we found this recommended restaurant with a spectacular view and a 19.50 Euro lunch menu which was delicious. Owner Jacques allowed us to make a cell phone call home to New York using his phone in compensation for our poor exchange rate!

Margaret Colvin in New York, NY USA 09/16/2008

Best: Le Mirondal, Sarlat
Why: great value at 13 euro menu, really good food, service, ambiance, though big, well run place, charming

Also loved: Amorino gelati on Ile de St. Louis and Rue Soufflot in Paris; also Café du Marche, (RS, p135), Rue Cler

Worst: Cafe Med, Café Med, (RS p144), 77 Rue St. Louis en l’Ile
Why: Just OK, wouldn't recommend, felt like we could have done better

Kimberly French in Middleborough, MA USA 09/02/2008

Best: Falafels from Marianne's in the Marais./ we also loved eating at the outdoor balcony cafe in the Louvre: awesome location, good service, tasty baguette sandwich, salad, and great espresso with goodies. Birds begging for crumbs and flying past the waiters' heads added to the atmosphere. Pricy, as everywhere, but very tasty.
Why: Yummy, and affordable.

Ildi Varga in Vancouver, BC Canada 08/25/2008

Best: Cafe du Marche on the Rue Cler
Why: The location and the food were wonderful. We spent our last evening eating there and watching the scene. We had a table of 10 young Brits behind us all trying to out-talk and impress the other. In front and to the side, we had a stand up table of young French people quietly enjoying a glass of wine, a cigarette, and a quiet visit. Across the street in front of the grocery store were 3 homeless (apparently homeless) people bumming cigarettes and food off of passersby. There were countless people strolling by. Then came the 4 huge garbage trucks -- all this within a few feet of our table. It was fun.

Thomas Strayhorn in Snyder, TX USA 08/14/2008

Worst: Places near attractions
Why: Expensive and food was normally low quality

C. Haller in Longwood, FL USA 08/08/2008

Best: La Belle Etiole, La Roque Gagneac
Why: This was the best meal we had in Dordogne. Delicious, beautifully presented food. They have an english menu but you might have to ask for it. Have your hotel make a reservation--it's considered the polite thing to do.

Creperie Ahna in Dinan, Brittany, was also wonderful. Friendly staff (our second time there we were treated like regulars), inexpensive, and great crepes and cider.

Christy in Seattle, WA USA 07/23/2008

Best: La Paillotte in Arles
Why: Food was amazing, different yet likeable to American palates, waiter was really helpful and nice. Only complaint is that we went back for another meal on Monday night, but this restaurant was closed. The guidebook said it's closed on Wednesdays.

Chris McNally in Everett, WA USA 07/10/2008

Worst: L'Alliance (Amboise)
Why: Service was terrible -- extremely slow, it felt as though we were being ignored most of the evening (yes, we had made reservations). It was nearly 40 minutes before a waiter even approached our table, close to an hour before we had even a drop of water or a piece of bread on the table. Our meals, once they arrived, were unimpressive (not that I'm a carnivore, but the pork dish I ordered had barely an ounce and a half of meat in it). Another very long wait to get the check so we could leave. It was impossible to make eye contact with the waiters and waitresses. I don't think anyone specific was even assigned to our table; every now and then a different waiter or waitress took pity on us.

Marian Ziegler in Drums, PA USA 06/26/2008

Best: L'Epicerie, Amboise
Why: Best meal of our 14 day trip around northern and central France.

Karen Snyder in Parsippany, NJ USA 05/24/2008

Best: La Fringale, Bayeux
Why: Good food, friendly helpful staff, good prices

travelfan in Washington, DC USA 05/10/2008

Best: Le Parvis
Why: Just exceptional atmosphere and the best of the typical local cuisine meals in Amboise in our opinion.

Harold Erath in New Orleans, LA USA 04/26/2008

Best: Café la Roussillon in Rue Cler, Paris
Why: France 2008 states that this café serves a “good American-style breakfast.” We preferred to stand at the bar and have our petit dejeuner (café crème or chocolat and croissants) with the locals. On our second visit the bartender remembered our order!

Linda Durfee & Paul Henneberger in Morgantown, WV USA & Barcelona, Spain 04/20/2008

Best: any
Why: every restaurant I ate in France was good. It's just expensive.

Elaine Cheng in Downers Grove, IL USA 04/05/2008

Best: L'Auberge du Grand Puits
Why: Three of us travelling together really enjoyed the food at L'Auberge de Grands Puits in Carcassonne. My teen son and I shared the cassoulet and a teen friend had tuna, all of which were terrific. The cassoulet had a large portion of tasty duck and sausage and was more than enough for my son and I. The entree was great too, as was the bread. Unfortunately, when we returned to eat there Frri. night, the place was closed, likely because it was Good Friday. I had cassoulet again at another restaurant but it wasn't as good as as Grands Puits.

Elizabeth in Sable River, NS Canada 04/03/2008

Best: Le Bosquet
Why: The atmosphere was relaxing, service was impeccable, the waiters were very pleasant, the meals were a great value. I had the biggest cup of cafe creme here of our entire visit!

Worst: Cafe du la March
Why: Service was very poor. I expected the slower pace of French dining - but on both occasions that we went here for dinner, we waited an obscene amount of time for service. On our second and last visit - I paid for our drinks and left - never even having dinner. After that experience, we never returned.

Bridget Zappa in Mendota Heights, MN USA 03/24/2008

Best: Le Pommier in Bayeux
Why: This was a great place with a gracious host and wonderful food.

Worst: The worst meal was in Lourdes
Why: Our worst meal was a pizza restaurant in Lourdes. It was not recommended by you.

Yvonne Jahnke in Oconomowoc, WI USA 03/24/2008

Best: L'Ecluse, in Amboise,
Why: Fantastic food and a wonderful host, the table next to us were from none other than a Rick Steves tour!

Liz Thompson in Ridgefield, wa USA 02/04/2008

Best: Restaurant Fouerriere Lyon
Why: View and food were great!

Marina in Honolulu, USA 12/31/2007

Best: La Paella Real
Why: They came out with the pan of paella cooked and mixed the ingredients we ordered in front of us and served us. very good service as well as excellent paella!

k. moy in san francisco, ca USA 12/23/2007

Best: A recommendation for you
Why: In Paris the Vieux Bistro near Notre Dame is terrific. YOu would think that a bistro located in such a touristy spot would be marginal; however, several people recommended it before my departure, and their recommendations were correct.

Susan Gibb in Santa Ana, CA USA 11/02/2007

Best: Restaurant in Hotel la Roseraie
Why: Charming dining room, excellent service, and outstanding food.

Joanna Olmstead in Anacortes, WA USA 10/07/2007

Best: Acchiardo.s in Nice
Why: Menu is varied, food excellent, and prices reasonable. Charming atmosphere and excellent service. We ate there three times!

Joanna Olmstead in Anacortes, WA USA 10/07/2007

Best: Le Charlemagne in Pernand Vergelesses & Le Caves Madeline and L'Auberge Bourguifnonne in Beaunne
Why: The French chef studied in Japan for three years so the food is French with an Asian infusion. It was excellent. The restaurant received a Michelin star last year and they deserve it. The best meal and service we have ever had. Le Caves Madeline was also great and L'Auberge Bourguignonne was good. We were there in August and reservations at least a day in advance were a must.

Cindy Bonney in Fox Island, WA USA 09/22/2007

Best: Cafe du Marche
Why: Great Value. Excellent food. Loved the cafe atmosphere!

Martha Brice in Bratislava, Slovakia 09/20/2007

Best: Le P'Tit Troquet in Paris
Why: Delicious food, excellent personal service, beautiful little cafe, wonderful ambiance, non-smoking. One of the best meals we had in France.

Worst: Plein Sud in Arles
Why: It wasn't recommended, but we want to warn people about it. We both got food poisoning.

Kathy Healy in Manhattan Beach, CA USA 09/17/2007

Best: Le Florimond
Why: Absolutely fabulous - food and service. Not cheap but worth it. I had five different menus and all of them were wonderful.

Russell Smart in Greenville, SC USA 09/11/2007

Best: Tribecca (Paris, Rue Cler)
Why: A varied menu, VERY reasonably priced and the food was fabulous and quite creative. (I had a home made linguini over fresh argula leaves with slivers of chorizo). At the same time, they were totally non-plussed about providing a bowl of totally plain penne for our 8yr old son. Service was quite fast and they kept refilling our water carafe without being asked. We could tell it was a neighborhood favorite. (Added plus - on the diagonal corner is a fabulous patisserie to get dessert).

M. Weber in Merion, PA USA 09/05/2007

Best: La Caleche, Chamonix
Why: Great menu, huge selection. We ate there a couple of nights. We especially liked their regional dishes.

Kathy and Mark Kelsey in Santa Clara, CA USA 08/08/2007

Best: Chateau de I'lsle-Marie Normandy
Why: We were lucky enough to enjoy the table d'hote twice during our stay here in July. They had a excellent chef in residence who served us two outstanding 5 course meals in the origianl Chateau. Also very good were Le Pommier & Le Petit Normand, both in Bayeux.

Jim in Marietta, Ga USA 07/23/2007

Best: L'Enoteca - Paris Marais
Why: Good service, delicious food, especially when we were ready to try something other than French food.

Worst: none
Why: Every recommended restaurant we tried was great!

Heather Wills in Dallas, TX USA 07/18/2007

Best: La Ruelle on Av. repulique,st,jean du luz
Why: good food and prices;good mix of entrees-excellent paella;

ANDREW FORSTER in CORAL AGBLES, FL USA 07/16/2007

Best: Le Pommier, Bayeux
Why: The best meal of my trip to Europe. Wait staff was very friendly and helpful, and the food was delicious.

Worst: Latin Quarter Restaurants, Paris
Why: Too many restaurants trying to drag you in to over charge you for an extremely average meal.

P. in Jones, GA USA 06/29/2007

Best: most of the restaurants in the rue clare area
Why: great food, always fresh, lovely . pretty good prices considering the value of the USD.

madeline hanrath in gretna, la USA 06/29/2007

Best: L'Ecluse in Amboise
Why: Quiet, peaceful setting with polite and unhurried service. Delicious food - different menu and best food that I ate in France.

Worst: Les Tables de la Fontaine in Paris
Why: Don't really know what the food or service was like because we were "kicked out". We didn't understand the reason but we just heard "reserve" with no offer of another table. We think it was because we sat at a table for four.

Lynda Pyzer in Kenora, ON Canada 06/21/2007

Best: Copacabana in Collioure
Why: Amazing million $ view and good food and wine.

Julie Nelson in Calgary, AB Canada 06/17/2007

Best: none
Why: Our best dinner was at Le Cheval Rouge in Villandry, which isn't in your book. We stopped there because there was nothing else open in the whole area on Pentecost Sunday and were surprised to find wonderful food. This is also a hotel which should be checked out.

Worst: Bofinger, Paris
Why: Way overpriced for just OK food.

Carolyn & Daniel Manrique in Tucson, AZ USA 06/17/2007

Best: Chez Pierrot
Why: I have to disagree with Judy L.in Oklahoma City. The food and service here were on par with other good restaurants in the area (ate there 5/24/07). The restaurant even called Galeries Lafayette for us to see if they would be open for shopping after we finished dinner. "Slow service" is relative to one's expectations. I have not had a meal in Paris that took less than two hours - good food is cooked fresh and to order. Possibly they had an off night, but I wouldn't pass this place up. If you have a bigger appetite they feature larger portions than usual. Try the Beef Bourguignon!

Peter in Hamilton, NJ USA 05/29/2007

Best: Cafe de l/Esplanade
Why: Ambience, food and service. The whole package. Our best evening in Paris. The car collection in the valet parking out front was fun to see too. Lots of Maseratis and Lambourghinis (sp ?).

Worst: Chez Pierrot, 9 Rue Amelie, Paris
Why: Slow, surly service and marginal food. Two different tables of Rick Steves readers got up and left rather than stay and take the abuse. We wish we had done the same. It was terrible.

Judy L. in Oklahoma City, OK USA 05/17/2007

Best: Auberge de Launay, Limeray
Why: The food was great, and service exceptional. The dining room was charming and had views of the garden. Plus it was completely smoke free so that we could dine in comfort and enjoy the food. We were however somewhat disappointed with the hotel rooms here and see why they were not recommended in your book.

Judy A. Vosburgh in Atascadero, CA United States 05/15/2007

Worst: L'Auberge du Grand Puits
Why: The fries were soggy and soaked with oil. The bread was horrible. The grilled meats were overdone and dry.

Chang in San Francisco, CA USA 05/08/2007

Best: Le Petite Normand, Bayeux
Why: Great menu, excellent food, cordial wait staff.

Beth Swanberg in Bloomington, Mn USA 04/28/2007

Best: Le Parvis
Why: Good price and courteous services.

Chang in San Francisco, CA USA 04/27/2007

Best: Domaine de la Giraudiere, Vallandry, Loire Valley
Why: Lovely rural setting in outdoor courtyard perfect setting for a warm sunny afternoon meal, excellent food, animals to interest children and adults alike

Worst: Le Bouilland Normand, Honfleur
Why: Cider not on menu, mussels sandy,tarte tatin burned on bottom, sardine starter had appearance and texture of catfood, waitress unfriendly though it was not busy, T-bar ceiling tiles tacky

Richard Frank in Toronto, On Canada 04/26/2007

Best: l'Atelier de Jen-Luc Rabanel
Why: Outstanding food, unique, artistically presented, friendly and helpful waiter. We disagree with your assessment of the interior: it is sleek and modern, but quite attractive, with fresh rose on each table, candles, understated. Best dinner of our trip, and probably best we've had for several years anywhere. Pricey but well worth it.

Robert Whitson in Auburn, CA USA 04/08/2007

Worst: La 'Rotisserie' in Mont St. Michele
Why: Not sure you recommended it - we just stopped. Not worth the pain - no English - not gracious - never asked how things were. Surly is the right word.

Carl Scheider in Woodbury, MN USA 04/06/2007

Best: All
Why: When we followed the guidebook we had good results and when we didn't, we didn't. Outside of Paris, we often found that sites would close at six and restaurants did not open until seven, so several times we wound up wandering looking for food or something to do (in Pontorson, Amboise, etc).

Seth Resler in Providence, RI USA 02/25/2007