"This little bistro has recently changed hands: a couple of weeks ago I passed by to see it full to the brim which was very good to see as the previous incarnation was tired and not great at all. So yesterday I went for a...lunch, a simple menu of 5 or so starters, mains and puds. I wanted to like it very much but to be blunt, the food was pretty awful. Tomato and Mozzarella was old cheese, icy tomatoes and watery salad that had mixed with the vinaigrette. The main course of Pork in mustard sauce, a classic of cooking. Sadly accompanied by penne pasta which was unseasoned, and unadorned, and some aubergine. It was just not great. How much better it would have been to have mashed or creamed potatoes and perhaps savoy cabbage with bacon, then you would have a classic bistro dish. I had a little conversation with Nathalie as she is the new patronne, and I wished her well, as its a really nice room, her staff were pleasant and it would be really nice to have an alternative to the Galerie which is the best place in town, consistently good though completely different in price and the Plantenet which is also a busy, friendly consistently good enough place. But I fear if this is going to be the standard, her restaurant may struggle. I hate criticizing restaurants because I've done it myself for ten years and its a tough tough business. But you have to at least get the food right. Its not the only thing, ambiance, position, staff, company, many many things go into making a good restaurant. But sadly, the food was mediocre at best. The coffee was awful, watery and poor. With a quarter pichet of Merlot it was 20 Euros. Not at fortune its true, but they need to sort themselves out or this particular re-working of the Cafe au Gare will not last long."
