La Salamandre - Piatti

Le Saint Julien

➤ 11 rue de Saint Julien, 33250 Saint-Julien-Beychevelle, France

Piatti • Thé • Grill • Français • Desserts

---

"Le chef bourru vous accueille par une franche poignée de main et vous installe lui même à votre table. Ici, le chef n'est pas en cuisine mais au milieu de ses clients, à taper la discut en tutoyant à tout va! Il vous fait sentir ses truffes d'été, découpe ses côtes de bœuf au milieu de sa cuisine d'été devant les clients attablés au bar, entre 2 verres d'apéro.. un phénomène qui peut ne pas plaire à tous!Côté cuisine, l'entrée ravioles de foie gras et truffes d'été était sublime, la cassolette d'écrevisses excellente et le dessert finger au chocolat très bon. Le service pourrait être amélioré, assez rapide au début mais de plus en plus long au fur et à mesure... et pas forcément des plus souriants... dommage. Le chef claque la bise pour dire au revoir... Une bonne adresse si on ne s'attend pas à un service chichi pompon!"

Château Cordeillan-Bages

➤ 61 rte des Vignerons, 33250 Pauillac, France

Piatti • Cafés • Mexicain • Asiatique • Végétarien

---

"We were great fans of chef Jean Luc Roca who has now gone to another Relais property, St James hotel in Paris. There is a therefore a new chef Julien Lefebvre in residence. In my humble view fans of the cooking here needn't worry, many of the principles of using local suppliers and excellent ingredients with provenance are still important principles. The results are spectacular with food that has an amazingly light touch, dishes are works of art, never mind the flavour sensations.The menu is shorter, four starters, fish, meat and desserts. There were many highlights, notably the sea bass with minestrone and basil broth, in fact the cooking of the fish in particular is amazing. A quick mention for the small side dish of Turbot trimmings in the most unbelievably light tempura served with bouillabaisse.The citrus dessert, was especially stand out. More high points were generous portions of melon with Gambas, gazpacho and pork cheek which were sublime. Chicken breast with caviar slow cooked with Noilly Prat sauce, delicious. And the pigeon three ways with crumb covering, potato purée and the most silky smooth jus.... I could go on and on!!! Arnaud Le Saux is still the chief sommelier and his help and recommendations were as interesting and thoughtful as ever.There were, at least for me, a few shortcomings in so much as the cheeseboard choice has been considerably reduced, now I like cheese, and I like the theatre of all the choice and at 22 Euros I think there should be more of it.The same goes for the bread, there are only two choices and just salted, unsalted butter and olive oil. Finally the appetisers stay the same regardless of how many times you eat there and it would have been a nice touch if repeat guests had these changed during their stay. Still these are little things compared to the overall picture and dining here in my view is still a really strong recommendation and well worth a detour to sample the cuisine."

Co Ba

➤ 24 Rue Victor Hugo, 33250, Pauillac, France

Piatti • Kebab • Sushi • Cafés • Mexicain

---

"I'm not used to putting 5 stars everywhere, but now I have to. A very good Asian cuisine with a super nice and very professional boss. Small restaurant but think to book as always complete. Good continuation to this couple of restorer Beautiful surprise!!"

Café Lavinal

➤ à Bages, pl. Desquet, 33250 Pauillac, France

Piatti • Cafés • Pizza • Mexicain • Asiatique

---

"If ever there was a restaurant worth making a major detour just to sample, then this is it. I was working in Bordeaux, happened to be in Pauillac and joined two colleagues for a totally unplanned lunch here. The food & service was so good we spent the rest of our three weeks in France talking about it. I had duck which was simply the best I'd ever had - a friend had the seafood salad and it was so good he was heartbroken when he realised we didn't have the time in Bordeaux to make it back here for a return visit. As well as a gorgeous setting in Bages, surrounded by some of the best vineyards in France, Cafe Lavinal provided excellent service with a simply stunning menu. It was so good that when I hear people speaking about top notch French restaurants, I close my eyes and think of this place. One of the best. One tip - make sure to allow plenty of time to savour your food and then do a little wine shopping in the adjacent vineyard shop."

La Cambuse

➤ 2, Quai Leon Perrier, 33250, Pauillac, France

Piatti • Sushi • Cafés • Pizza • Asiatique

---

"a small restaurant that is worth the detour for the originality of its menu from day to euro, for the quality of the dishes offered for the place itself and finally for the quality of the service."