RESTAURANT REVIEWS.
The aim of this review of restaurants is to give our clients an unbiased view of the restaurants that your hosts, Bob & Maureen, have tried at least twice within the preceding year. Basically, if we return to a restaurant a second time, it means, to us at least, that the restaurant has some merit. However, we aim to review the restaurants whether good, bad or indifferent but on the whole the reviewed restaurants will be seen by us as good - otherwise we would not return for a second time. The reviews are listed, describing the nearest first and then those of a more moderate distance away, and finally those more distant, but nevertheless worthy of the trip.
BEL-AIR cafe/restaurant.
The Bel-Air is our nearest restaurant/cafe and is located at the northern approach to the village of Faugeres. opposite the Dyneff fuel station, just off the D909. The restaurant is just over 1 Km. from Le Patus and can be reached on foot in less than 20 minutes or in 2 minutes drive time. The restaurant is family orientated and popular with holidaymakers. It can be a delightful experience dining on the terrace in the warm afterglow of the setting sun. However, over the years the standard has been inconsistant, sometimes good and sometimes disappointing, even after allowing for the fact that various changes of ownership have taken place. The 3-course set lunch menu is good value at 12.50 euros including 1/4 caraffe of wine. In the evening a set "menu du jour" is on offer at 15 euros, together with menus of 21 & 26 euros. Á la carte menu offers a good selection including pizzas, pasta dishes, fish dishes and steaks. The wine carte is adequate featuring a good selection of local wines. One disappointment we experienced recently was to find that tasteless & chewy New Zealand green lip mussels were served when excellent local fresh mussels are available. Also, overcooked tuna steak was served, but rejected.
Tel: 04 67 23 19 80 - bookings not normally required. Closed Mondays.
SERGIO - Pizzerria.
Sergio is labelled as a pizza restaurant but has a wide selection of other dishes on offer. The restaurant, not too attractive from the outside, is located in Herepian in Ave. Marcellin Albert. This is the main street running through Herepian, just a 10 minute drive from Le Patus. Parking is often to be found directly opposite the restaurant. The restaurant can best be described as informal, laid back with a buzzing atmosphere. The wood fired pizza oven is within the restaurant and Sergio the owner and main chef will be seen, singlet clad, tending the wood oven. There are no set price meals. The portion sizes of both starters and main courses are generally large and well priced. It is not scorned apon if starters and main courses are shared between two "entre deux" and the size of some dishes warrants this. Our favourite starter is the "Assiette D`Huites et Moules gratinées" (Oysters & mussels gratin) and we often share. The main courses offer a good choice of steak dishes and other meats including ostrich and sometimes kangaroo. The "Cote de boeuf grillée" at 24 euros seems expensive but can easily be shared by two people and fill a doggy bag and the quality of meat is always excellent. As you would expect an excellent choice of pizzas starting at 7.60 euros. Desserts are standard "bought in" ice cream based, nothing to write home about, but the kids love them. The wine list is limited but very reasonably priced. We nearly always go for the the full bodied, fruity "Berlou Prestige" rouge and at 13.50 euros, you will be surprised to learn this is the most expensive on the menu. Worth every centime.
Tel : 04 67 23 09 37. Bookings not normally required. Only open evenings and closed Tuesday evening.
FLEUR d`ORLAGUES - modern french.
The Fleur d`Olargues is located at the Pont du Diable (D908) in Olargues and is about 30 minutes drive from Le Patus. The medieval village of Olargues is designated as one of the 147 most beautiful villages in France. The setting of the restaurant terrace overlooking the River Jaur and the Pont du Diable (Devils bridge) is magical. Best described as modern french, this Danish family run restaurant delivers on quality. The set menu is priced at 26, 28 or 32 euros dependant on whether you choose cheese or dessert as the 3rd course or whether you go for 4 courses (ie. cheese & dessert). The meal is always preceded by "amuse bouche" and served with repeated baskets of fresh, crusty home made bread. There is normally a choice of 3 starters and main courses within the set menu. Supplementary charges are made on selection of some starters and main courses such as foie gras at + 4 euros. There is no a la carte menu. The quality of the food and presentation is always good. The wine selection is moderate with good quality local wines. Best time to eat if you enjoy jazz is the first Friday of every month when a jazz band entertains. The restaurant is open from March/April through to November time.
Tel: +33(0) 4 67 97 27 04. E mail : joan@fleurs-de-olargues.com (always state your phone number in e mail.) Booking normally required, parking restricted.
THE SAINT CLAIR - fish and shellfish speciality.
The Saint Clair restaurant has now been our most favoured fish restaurant for years now. Although primarily a fish and shellfish restaurant, meat is also on the menu and of a quality and standard equal to that of the fish. The restaurant is at 5, quai du Port, Balaruc Les Bains a 45 minute drive from Le Patus, but well worth the drive. Balaruc Les Bains is a spa town and lies on the edge of the Etang du Thau (salt water lagoon). The restaurant is also located on the edge of the Etang, the largest salt water lagoon in Southern France from which the oysters and mussels are farmed to give this restaurant a head start on freshness of product. The outlook from the restaurant is across the Etang to Mont Saint Clair at Sete. Everything about this restaurant is top notch - the location, the outlook, the service, the unstinting consistency of standard, the service, value for money, wine list, comfort within the restaurant and attention to detail. The week day lunch time set menus start at 19.50 euros through 29.50, 39.50 and 60 euros. But at 19.50 euros the 3-course meal delivers gastronomic fulfilment. Within the sets menus there is a good choice from each course. The restaurant features in the following prestigious guides :- Guide Michelin, Gault Millau. Look at www.restaurant-saintclair.com to get a better picture of what delights are on offer.
Tel: 04 67 48 48 91. Open every day. Closed in January.
AUBERGE VAL MOUREZE - modern french.
The Auberge Val Moureze is situated in the quaint village of Moureze, just to the west of Clemont L`Herault among the chaos of rocks that is the Cirque de Moureze. Hence, from the shaded terrace, the views are spectacular. On a weekday the set meal is 14 euros for a starter + main course or starter + dessert. On a Sunday when the set meals are more expensive, as is the normal practice in a lot of restaurants of France. We chose the 23 euro 3-course set meal. Maureen went for the "Aumoniere de jambon serrano au chevre et tomates confit" (Light pastry parcel of goats cheese surrounded by serrano ham with preserved tomatoes) and I went for the "Terraine aux asperges vertes et filet de truite" (A terrine of green asparagus with pieces of trout fillet.) Both these starters were a delight and a good choice complimented by the 50 cl caraffe of vin blanc at 7 euros. We both chose "Filet de loup avec sauce hollandaise" (Fillet of sea bass with a hollandaise sauce, mashed potato with celeriac and brocolli.) We complimented this with a 50 cl caraffe of rosé. The fish was cooked perfectly and the sauce was well matched. The fish course did however, attract a 4 euro supplement. This was then followed by a creme brulleé made with white chocolate and a bavious (a delicious slice of creamy, caramelly cake). The meal in total was a joy, with gentle background music, a shaded but sunny terrace with the wonderful backdrop of the Cirque de Moureze. With apperitives our bill came to 74 euros - not bad for a good Sunday lunch in a pleasant setting. Childs set menu is 10 euros. Driving from Le Patus the journey time is about 30 minutes. Also, don`t forget to leave time before of after your lunch or dinner to visit the magnificent Cirque de Moureze.
Tel : 04 67 96 06 26.