From the owner: Planches de charcuteries, fromages et tapas Plats simples et…read moretraditionels Plats à partager Formule du midi

Wonderful experience in the French countryside. Charming indoor farmhouse or garden veranda dining…read more The food was innovative, incredibly fresh with a lovely presentation. Fairly set fixed price offering and friendly, attentive service.

The restaurant is in a greenhouse-like corner of the hotel of the same name, which looks out onto…read morean internal garden with sculptures of dogs and ostrich. We had for dinner one vegetarian 5 course and one Hommage Aux Saveurs menu with a substitution of the foie gras dish from the Mes Racines menu for the "Brochet A La Falcon D'une Fôchouse" white fish appetizer. The service is very warm and the waiters only know the word yes--just the kind of service deserving of a 2 or 3 Michelin white tablecloth fancy restaurant. The first dish was a great collection of local vegetables that struck us both as similar to Blue Hill at Stone Barns. We immediately Wikipedia'd the restaurant and learned that the previous head chef before he committed suicide was famous for using local fresh ingredients and low cream, revolutionary in his generation for French Haute Cuisine. Foie Gras dish was Bomb; I snuck a bite and it was delicious, perfect hot temperature, and not too fatty. The vegetarian dish for that course was a green asparagus with an egg cream. Savory dish for meat eater was veal served pink; savory dish for vegetarian was a layered potato with melted cheese and fresh cilantro on top. The cheese spread was amazing, and the wine was very overpriced compared to the Burgundy joints we visited.

Bernard Loiseau lived and died a legend. If you don't know to whom I refer, read "The…read morePerfectionist" about the life of this legendary French chef who battled depression his entire career, but still became a Three-Michelin star chef. When reports came out that he was going to lose a star, he shot himself at a fairly-young age. If that doesn't make you want to stay and dine at his legendary hotel and restaurant, well, read the book, and then book it. Tucked away in a small town in Burgundy, lies the Relais Bernard Loiseau. It is a gorgeous, yet unconventional, hotel. It has large cabin-like rooms, and a beautiful spa downstairs where I did indulge in a treatment or two. While the hotel is gorgeous, gourmands flock far and wide for the legendary food and to clench a bit of the legend. As an ignorant non-foodie, I did not know much about Loiseau, when I arrived, but, was quickly educated. There is not much to do in this little town, with the exception of a few bars and the hotel and gift shop attached. It is very quaint and lovely. The restaurant is in word: astonishing. Each course is elegantly and gloriously prepared. I still think about their signature cocktail, my first frog leg, and the tenderness of the beef. The dining rooms are incredible, as is the lounges where you enjoy your cocktails and wine. I would recommend challenging your palette to one of the set menus. The pastries are divine. The hotel in general has exceptional service. They even provided us with our own driver/certified sommelier for wine tasting throughout burgundy. It really doesn't get any better than this. If you ever find yourself in France, it is worth the drive (only two hours if you don't get lost from Paris).

From the owner: Passion de la cuisine française Tenu par Patrick et Martine Bourhy, le Restaurant des Cours vous…read moreaccueille dans une ambiance familiale et chaleureuse. Au menu, une cuisine simple et raffinée mettant en avant les produits du terroir et l'amour du chef pour le Bourbonnais. Boeuf charolais, volaille de l'Allier sont entre autres à déguster dans la salle conviviale ou sur la terrasse ombragée idéale dès l'arrivée des beaux jours.