I was really looking forward to a spectacular meal at a two star restaurant. As in the other…read morereviews, it starts off well - the setting is ideal and the champagne was perfect. Unfortunately the food, for a two star Michelin, was not up to snuff. we ordered the surprise menu with wine paring. We also got the white truffle upgrade. Anyway, we received two pasta cources in a row (maybe not a big deal at Olive Garden but not in a two star...) - one a sort of lobster mac and cheese and the other was our truffle dish. The truffles were smothered in cream and cheese and you lost their taste. After the truffles they brought out a casserole to show us the 24 hour pork roast which was done on a very low heat with some hay. They took that away, and then served us the pork, which when plated consisted of two fatty slices of pork smothered in a honey sauce. Honestly - it was very close to southern BBQ. They must have run out of the actual pork that cooked for 24 hours, because if that meat had been cooked that long there would be no fat left on it. We often cook 7 hour lamb and the fat just melts away. The sauce was so sweet that any subtlety of the cooking process (they put hay in the pot to cook it) was lost. They then served us the cappuccino of porcinis with foie gras soup, the signature dish which is as tired as the chef it seems to me. That turned out to be the end of the meal as we were then asked if we wanted cheese or dessert - very strange way to end the main meal. They only served us white wine which also seems strange for a dinner of that magnitude. When we asked/commented on the meal, the younger waiter mentioned to my friend (who is from Lyon and knows food) that he must not be used to "une grande table". And therein lies the problem - my party is used to "une grande table" and this was not one. I think they are catering to tourists - warning bells should have gone off when we easily got a reservation and then added two people to our party. I do not think French people eat there much, it seems it is more for tourists who are dazzled by the setting and the champagne.

so picture this: the…read moretaxi pulls off a bridge, around this tiny tree lined ramp and onto this little island, with gravel roads, old rock buildings and this rather amazing 2 Michelin Starred restaurant. The staff open my door and i step out into the sunshine. would i like a glass of Champagne while sitting on a lounge under the trees? but of course. from the next couch over, the head chef sends his welcome, where he sits smoking a cigar and enjoying a conversation with some guests. As we sip our champagne, 2 little girls in Ballet outfits skip by, followed by a little boy with a silk scarf on a bike - naturally. There were a few Amuses while we still sat outside enjoying the perfect weather before we continued inside. Exposed wood beams, old stone floors, candles - all very rustic, yet refined. and the food. course after course of perfect dishes. There was this lobster and Foie Gras thing that was out of this world. and crayfish with pike mousse. and the "cappuccino" soup. and so much more. The service was spot on. They were polite and knowledgeable while still being friendly and human. At the end, having remembered that we both worked in restaurants ourselves, they gave us a tour of the kitchen. amazing. yes it cost an arm and a leg. but you know what? it was the *perfect* start to a trip designed for food and therefore totally worth it.