We made a reservation for a large group (11 people including 3 pre-teens). The team worked to…read moreaccommodate some uncertainties around the date for our lunch (COVID pandemic!) which was great. Only for COVID time: The staff is extremely well-trained and invites you to sanitize your hands as you walk-in. Sanitizing stations are across different locations in the restaurant. All staff was wearing masks and guests were wearing masks when not at the table (going to restrooms or going out). We also have our meals outdoor on the terrasse which was even more re-assuring and the view of the Cher was beautiful. The Restaurant: The building offers everything you can think of for the Loire Valley. Ardoise roof, beautiful stones walls, troglodyte caves, etc... The menus: Having different options based on season availabilities or what the Chef is in the mood for is awesome. So many options... The wines: A great selection of Loire Valley wines and suggesting pairing in a beautiful way to please the most difficult palates. We had a Chinon on the recommendation of our waiter and it was perfect for such a large table with many dishes. The food: now this is the experience. From the presentation to the texture to the taste, everything brought me back to my childhood memories (I grew up there until I was 7 and came back later for few years). The mushrooms, the vegetables, the cheese, everything that was put on our table was impeccable and only tempting to figure out how to get a taste of everything. Always well-balanced, the full menu allowed us to feel satisfied, yet not like we did any excesses. The staff: Impeccable attention to everyone even in difficult conditions around the pandemic, perfect delivery of all dishes at our table in a timely manner, not rushing us, not pushing us, patiently advising us and best of all, having a lovely conversation with Chef Frederic Arnault for a trip down memory lane. This restaurant made the top 5 list of recommendations from 2 French Master Chefs. They know their craft and I trusted them. They were absolutely right. Make the stop, enjoy the view of the Cher while having a great experience tourangelle.

I love this little treasure situated on the banks of The Cher. While the exterior river views are…read morevery pretty its chef Frederci Arnault's cuisine that you'll be admiring. The chef, Frederci's, has a small but enticing menu that perfects french dishes such as 'tournedos' and 'poitrine de pigeonneau'. Each season the 'carte' reflects the best quality produce of the Touraine. Desserts are equally magnificent, if not the highlight. In winter there's the ambiance of an open fireplace while the warmer months allow for dining 'sur la terrasse'. All this at more than reasonable prices: (25 for two courses or 35 euros for three), now that leaves room for an excellent bottle of local wine recommend by their Sommelier. Just don't tell anyone about this restaurant: there's already a 2-week waiting list so book ahead for a memorable french meal. Closed Wednesday, Saturday lunch and Sunday evening. See their website for booking details - also in English http://www.lamaisontourangelle.com or http://www.myweekin.net

Yesterday night, we dined at this farm as part of our tour in the Loire Valley region. It's the…read moreepitome of the "farm to table" experience in France, as we dined straight on a farm, with fresh ingredients from the farm as well. :) It was an interesting experience, and we enjoyed the food very much. 3 courses total: 1)appetizer was pickleded pepper stuffed with creamy goat cheese, with some greens, and layered with proscuitto. 2) main course was some type of braised pork (with bone), over mash potatoes, onions, and carrots. 3) we ended the meal with a chocolate mousse / wafer cake. The meal came with fresh bread and all you can drink wine. :) The host for the evening was a 80-something year old French lady; she was so pleasant and sweet, it was great listening to her story of living on this farm and welcoming guests from all over the world. the toilets on her premises were well maintained and clean, appreciated that!

This is what French experience all about. The restaurant is on the farm, in an old stone building…read morewith a huge hearth in the middle of the room. Food is a French fair, friendly service and a good wine list. You come here the for the atmosphere!

My wife and I had lunch at this charming little restaurant yesterday, and after 10 days in Paris…read moreand 3 so far in the Loire, this was our most delicious and enjoyable meal! We sat at a little table outside in this pedestrian section of Ancienne Tours, quiet and lovely. I had the lunch menu for 23€: an unusual and delicate "gazpacho" of peas and chervil, with a savory whipped cream topping started me off wonderfully, followed by a little loin of pork and puree of sweet potatoes in the most wonderful sauce, tender and juicy and full of flavor. For dessert, a fantastic slice of bitter chocolate fondant with orange marmalade, beautifully presented. My wife began with a very refined goat cheese flan, accompanied by perfect little green salad, followed by perfectly seared scallops presented with a very tasty and decorative bit of sauce, and a celery puree with caviar (total 26€). Too full for dessert, she had a Viennese coffee with chantilly cream, which she loved. Our attentive waitress, who spoke perfect English, recommended a very nice bottle of rose which was a special not on the menu, also delicious. We floated away finally, completely satisfied.

We were happy to find this place through Yelp, which isn't as often used in France as in the US…read more Our reservation was for noon, and we were one of only two tables there for lunch on a Wednesday. The staff is very friendly, and seemed to enjoy speaking a little English with us. I started with a goat cheese tarte, and had the pork as the main dish. My hubby had foie gras and the vegetable plate. For dessert, I ordered the baba au rhum and that's where it went a bit wrong. The server put the plate with the cake down and proceeded to pour bottled rum over it, telling me to tell him when to stop. Eeek. How do I know how much rum to soak into a cake like that? Well, it turned out to be way too much, the rum was so strong that I couldn't eat it. All in all, we enjoyed our meal, but it would have been better without the ruined rum cake.

From the owner: Hôtel Restaurant Sparead more

After scrolling through various options for French food in Tours, we decided to eat at L'embellie…read morefor dinner and it was the best choice! We came to the restaurant right at opening at 7pm and was lucky to get a table outside with no reservation. My bf and I opted for the 3 course dinner. The meal started off with two free dishes, a pancake with goat cheese + chicken skewer, and a tomato soup. Both were delicious! For the appetizer I got the shrimp tarter and my bf the fried quail. The shrimp tarter was very refreshing. The fried quail taste like Japanese karage "fried chicken". Both starters were amazing! For the main course, I got the tuna filet and my bf the beef tarter with foie gras. My tuna filet was a bit dry and flavorless, I would not get again. My bf loved his entree! The beef tarter was very tender, and together with a bite of foie gras and flakey pastry, it was a taste of heaven! For dessert I got the whites chocolate and raspberry cake with raspberry sorbet, and my bf got the chocolate, praline and hazelnut mouse cake. Perfect dessert to finish off an amazing meal in Tours! Overall I highly recommend L'embellie and would definitely eat here again if I visit Tours again.

We didn't have reservations so we were super lucky. We were early so I believe that is the reason…read morewhy we were able to get a table. The restaurant is small and quaint. The waiter and host were very pleasant. We ordered some cocktails to start and then the experience started. They brought out a small tasting of appetizers which were so delicious. The bread and Black Sea salt butter was unbelievable. The presentation and service was amazing. Each course was an event. The escargot was in an edible chees shell. We had an amazing bottle of wine to enjoy with our entrees which again were so delicious. The prices were so reasonable for wine and food. We would highly recommend and will definitely go back.

I had the hot Camembert with baked potatoes and local pork ribs (the ribs are not traditional ribs…read more- they are like slices of ham with some fat and some cartilage in them). The Camembert was fantastic. I dipped chunks of my baked potato in it, then the complementary bread, and finally finished it off with the spoon. My wife had the sausage special, also with baked potato is green salad. She found the food ok - not awesome, but certainly not unpleasant.

Very helpful staff. We picked up a delicious terrine and got some good tips for exploring wines in…read morethe region.

OH. MY. GOD…read more This place is hands down thee best place I've eaten at while in Europe. Amazing, amazing, amazing. The pork chop was out of this world and the Brioche pain Perdue for desert was out of this world. The only complaint is that this place is CLOSED the next two days and I really wanted to come back.

Tres bien! Just come here when you are in Tours. The food is fantastic, and the service is great…read more They are welcoming, professional, and do a good job speaking English if your French is not great. I walked in (only 1 for dinner) on a Thursday evening. Came back on Saturday and they are booked with reservations. I'm going to return/wait - it's that good! I had the carpaccio for entree (appetizer in France) and it was delicioux. For my dinner the scallops. They were cooked perfectly and served in a buerr blanc sauce, with vegetables and their house potatoes- a gratin in a small causolet tgat seems to come with all dinners. Le Canailles = The Scoundrels in English

From the owner: Ce Restaurant Gourmand est synonyme de cuisine exigeante. Jadis bistrot de village et rendez-vous…read mored'amis, le XII de Luynes a créé une Cuisine Gourmande aux milles saveurs authentiques maintenant reconnue par les Guides et le bouche à oreille des plus exigeants.