Rating des Ortes: 5 Villeneuve-Tolosane, Haute-Garonne
Excellent restaurant, bon rapport qualité/prix. L’assiette des foie gras est délicieuse, le patron très sympathique. Le charme du lieu opère, c’est un endroit où on se sent bien !
Paul K.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Lavit, France
I have to warn you that this is my favourite restaurant. But my wife says that they serve too much food, and she always goes home with part of the dessert in a doggie bag The restaurant itself is an auberge, a country inn, set at the foot of the castle in the tiny village of Gramont, on the Tarn-et-Garonne side of the River Arrats, with the neighbouring county of the Gers across the narrow waterway. There is a selection of set menus, from 17 to 39 euros, at the time of writing. Owner and chef Bernard Corbière prefers all at one table to choose the same menu, but seems to have become more flexible about this recently. His aim was merely to improve the quality service, and to ensure that everyone receives food at its best. I cannot describe every menu here, but I thoroughly recommend the top two versions. Try to start off with the soup — always freshly made from seasonal ingredients. Choose if you can to have the entrée of three varieties of foie gras. Foie gras is one of the local specialities, and I have never tasted better than the glories served here. If you have room, opt for the salade aux gésiers, as your taste buds will frolic on the delights of this duck meat salad.(And if you look up gésiers, be assured that the meat for this is just from the neck — all muscle). At this point, your stomach needs a break, so have the Trou Gascon — a citrus sorbet sitting in a wine glass of spirit. It will make a trou(hole) ready for the main course. This might be stuffed chicken(no, not Paxo), or a cassoulet, or a confit de canard But I strongly recommend you go for the magret(duck breast), which M. Corbière cooks like no-one else. It will be served with a seasonal vegetable(and even here, it must be admitted that the vegetables are a weakness of the meal, as they seem to be everywhere in this area) and a baked potato served in foil crafted into the shape of a swan. Beware, for when you think you have finished, another tray of magret will appear, and you will barely be able to refuse. I almost guarantee you’ll eat some more. Finally, depending on which menu you choose, you will be treated to as many as four different desserts: chocolate mousse(better than most!); apple pie; blackcurrant sorbet; crème brûlée. Wine is provided throughout, and is included in the cost, as is a raspberry apéritif. If you have foie gras, a suitable white wine will also be brought to your table. When your bottle is empty, it will be replaced. If you can possibly face it, after the meal, sit outside and enjoy a coffee and armagnac. Under the starry skies of Gascony, you will seem at peace with the world, and you’ll wonder if heaven can possibly be as good as this.