Restaurants: L'Aristide

As responsible hosts, we feel duty bound to try all the local restaurants and hostelries, so that we can help our valued guests enjoy their stay.

Late last year, the local Auberge Menez Bras changed hands, and was bought by the owners of the restaurant "L'Aristide" which has been well known in the village for some time.

Recently, they re-opened the Auberge, after a very well-executed renovation. Instead of the routier of old, there are now two well-appointed dining rooms and a tidy little bar area, with three beers on tap.

Additionally, we are planning to spend several sunny afternoons in the new outdoor terrace area!

The food is "classic French", with a choice of a daily set menu which offers three courses for about 15 Euros, or a lunch time a la carte offering which offers a bit more variety but is more expensive. Both the menus focus on local, seasonal ingredients. On the day we visited, there was a good choice of fish.

My first course was a tarte de crevettes from the a la carte menu, which was generously propotioned and very tasty. Nat chose the Menu de Jour and was reqarded with a "cake de mer" which looked very desserty but definitely tasted of seafood!

Unaccountably, but possibly due to the decent drinks menu, we all forgot to take pictures of the main course. I had a pork fillet, while Nat enjoyed Volaille en Cassis - a chicken dish served in a blackcurrant cream sauce - both served with seasonal vegetables.

We will have to visit again to take more pictures. (Any excuse will do.)

The desserts were also very good. I chose a tarte citron, while Nat had the carte de jour chocolate mousse tart - both were very tasty.

In conclusion, the new L'Aristide is serving food that is just as good as it used to be, in a setting that's much more comfortable than the old restaurant. It has the added benefit of being very close to us. We can see it being a firm favourite.

Where: Restaurant L'Aristide, Rue de la Montagne, lieu dit menez Bras, 29690

When: Open for Lunch Tuesday - Sunday

Open for Dinner Tuesday - Saturday

* Hours will probably vary in the wintertime - we'll keep you posted.

Reservations: 02 98 99 86 32 - it's going to be busy so call ahead!