Hidden away in a small hamlet about 15 minutes from Chinon makes for a wonderful break from the…read moretourist overload in Chinon proper. We had eaten in Chinon the previous night, and found that while the quality was comparable or perhaps slightly better, the price, quiet atmosphere and attentive service more than made up for the difference. The husband/wife team worked tirelessly to make our dinner pleasant, and although their English isn't as strong as one might get in a tourist hub - it was more than sufficient! We each had the prix fix menu for under 20 euros, including an appetizer, main, and dessert. With wine and coffee, we spent just less than 60 euros for two - highly competitive in Chinon, where similar prix-fix menus go for between 30 and 40 euros per person. The quality and taste if the food was without reproach, and presented fresh and simple French cuisine at its best. The fish/ratatouille main is a must-try, as is the prawn/fish roulade.

Wow WOW WOW WOW! is all i could think and say as we pulled into this amazing Chateau after our 3…read morehour drive from Paris to this beautiful "little town, in a quiet village." The near by town of Chinon is out of a movie set. I would never have imagined this could be real. Beware: our navigation took us to the wrong location and we were very confused and lost. However, we asked people on the street which way to go and they were all very knowledgeable and about Chateau Maracy and had great things to say about it. As we pulled in, we were al in shock! the first glimpse of this Chateau is magical and awesome! We were taken care of very nicely and professionally. The hotel staff is gracious and friendly and kind. They break every "french stereo type." We were able to check in right away and we had a 2 story cute room with stone walls. The master bedroom was on the top and 2 pull out beds were on the 1st floor. The towels and linens were clean, white, fluffy and much more plush than I expected. The views from our room was magnificent. You could see the beautiful french countryside and French sky for miles. I'm convinced that the sky looks different in France. I need to look this up because I understand it odd it sounds, but really, it looks different than our American sky. it seems lower set and wider. The Chateau had e-mailed us earlier about reservations at their restaurant and I wish I had booked it. They were completely booked at the restaurant and I now understood why. This remote Chateau had a michilin rated restaurant!!! Although they were booked, they agreed to provide my kids with a 3 course meal in the Parlour room! The meal was licked clean by my extremely picky and anorexic kids. We were served by 2-3 waiters in tuxedos in the parlor room of an 11th century Chateau! 1st course was cantaloupe (melon) slices. I swear, it was not your typical melon (lol, as Max Amini says, "I am not your typical Persian girl"). It was the most delicious cantaloupe and I am usually not a fan of the orange melon. Next course was Sea bream with Ratatouille and pasta with the most delicious white light sauce. Yes, my kids were thrilled to have ratatouille and they ate up veggies for the 1st time and LOVED IT! All 3 plates were licked clean and the kids sat in anticipation of dessert. Vanilla ice cream. How could vanilla ice cream be any different than all the vanilla ice cream you've ever had? Thats what I thought too! trust me, this WAS different. so freakin good! all the portions were relatively small for American Standards but to was enough. we left very satisfied and not stuffed/gross. They had turn down service with little chocolates on our pillows. We woke up to roosters and the beautiful silence of the country. They were able to squeeze my kids in and take them horse back riding. They had a beautiful pool and some outdoor toys and balls you could borrow. My kids loved walking around and petting the horses. My sister bought back pizza from Chinon for my kids and the hotel restaurant held it for us and then served it to us outside, warm on a beautiful tray! I will never forgot the kindness and grace of the staff and the breathtaking beauty of the Chateau. Our room lacked hot water so they refunded part of our stay.

I am just back from vacation in France. I wanted to make sure I wrote a favorable review for the…read morechâteau de marçay. We stayed there for a night and had dinner. We actually arrived after the noon meal, but before dinner was available. The staff told us they could provide us with some cheese to get us through until dinner. I came to find out that they are well known for their cheese monger because they brought us the most incredible cheese platter I have ever seen. There were like 20 some different kinds of cheeses. They also brought some wonderful bread and we had the house red that they produce which was actually quite good. Near by Chinon is not as famous for their wine as other regions of France, but as we were traveling through Loire, we drank a lot of it, and were not displeased. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that even the average wines are quite good. That night we had dinner. I think it was the best meal we had in France. I got a set menu that had well paired elements starting with foie gras, followed by a fish dish, then duck, a for dessert a soufflé. Clearly a traditional french menu, but all the preparations were inspired and subtle. Also, the house served small dishes in between courses that were equally unique and inspired. The staff is quite young, but very professional. The service was excellent. We got what we needed just as we were about to ask for it. It is such a pleasure being served this way. Just when you think you need more water, you look down and someone has filled your glass. The owner came and spoke with us prior to dessert. She was wonderful and inviting. After meeting her it was clear to me how they maintained there strong level of service. It is clear that the château is very important to her and she delights in its maintenance, improvement, and stewardship. I have nothing but good things to say.

Everything about our meal was excellent and exceptional. The food was delicious and the service was…read moregreat. We ordered prefix menu of one starter, one entree and one dessert for 42 Euros. The tartare, monkfish and duck filet were our favorite, the flavors were exceptional and the waiter suggested great wines to pair with each of our entree. The restaurant is located at the city center of Tours in a small alley, easy to find with Google map. The space is not very big but cozy and warm, the quality of the food is beyond what we paid for, highly recommended!

The restaurant was recommended to us by our AirBnb host after we asked them for some guidance after…read morebeing disappointed on our first night. Thankfully we were able to get a table without a reservation as it was indeed excellent. It was also obvious that it was a local favorite with several tables clearly occupied by couples on a date night. We decided to have 2 courses each and share a dessert. For starters we had the foie gras and a warm salad with quail. Followed by entrées of fish and pork loin. And a dessert that was essentially a very indulgent Brioche French toast. Everything was quite impressive but I do think the first course and dessert triumphed over the entrées. In any case I'd go back again if I were back in the area. The service was also on point and friendly.

We've been in France for five days now and this has been the best meal yet. Everything was perfect…read morewith locally sourced food. Must try!

After our first visit, we had to return for a second seating. We were welcomed with open arms and…read moreremembered by the owners. The second night we returned we were pleasantly surprised that all English speaking customers had made reservations. The owner/waiter stated he was worried his English may not be good enough, but every table was pleased with him. A lentil purée amuse buche followed by beets cooked in many ways with bacon was mind blowing. The braised pork cheeks with carrot purée and calvados broth made us want to pack the restaurant in our suit case and bring them back home! That was followed by a creme brûlée with lychee fruits and a whipped creme that delighted the taste buds. Top that with a bottle of wine paired for the three course meal by the owner. And all of it cost us €77..... Can't beat that. After our second meal there we realized this was in fact the best food we have had in all of France and made a third reservation! The place is always busy, so the small husband and wife staff are very busy, however attentive to your needs. Traditional to French cuisine they make conversation with you when you order and bring the food, however being as cozy as it is, if you need something they are right there to serve you. This place is such a special niche it is very important to make a reservation or you will miss out on a dinner of a lifetime.

Wonderful steak frites, excellent service, friendly atmosphere. The dessert selection is fantastic.read more

I'm sorry I don't get the other reviews. Only thing I can think is the chef changed…read more Positives: great location by the castle and semi attentive staff. Portions are big/fair. Based on prior reviews we had high hopes. There were 4 of us so we each tried something different. The 2 steaks/duck were super tough ( cooked med rare). We said something to the waiter and we asked if we wanted it to be cooked some more. No thx - additional cooking would make it even more leathery. Fries looked like they were cut in half, then in half, then again. Really why serve a bunch of broken potato pieces. The waiter praised the house wine, and pushed it hard but honestly it was not very good. Maybe "buvable'. A bit sour, no complexity. But heck it pairs with the steak. Sorry, but our worst meal yet in France. (Day 8) . Take your chance- hopefully your experience is better than ours. But don't say nobody forewarned you ...

Choice of tasting menus in different price ranges from two courses to three courses. I picked the…read moretraditional gourmand choice with escargot appetizer, fish main course and a three cheese selection for dessert. Everything was delicious! We dined in the restaurant & since it turned out to be a beautiful warmish day, we requested to have coffee in their outdoor garden area. Tip, you can forgo dessert if you plan to get coffee, the serve mini portions of three kinds of sweets with the coffee! Just the perfect way to end a scrumptious meal! (At least for me . )

Truly the finest meal we had on our recent trip through the Loire. This is a lovely spot that is…read moreimpeccably run. From the opening amuse-bouche to the dessert was delicious. The service was unintrusive yet attentive. The food was uniformly fresh and the flavor pairings were exciting. The cocktails ran to the classics-- kir royale, Americano-- and were always en pointe. We were a party of three and all ordered from one of a few prix fixes menus on offer. The total can to about US$50 per person-- a perfectly reasonable sum for cocktails, wine and food, all on a very high level.

We had dinner here at the suggestion of our hotel front desk. Reservations are necessary. As with…read moremany other restaurants in town during the shoulder seasons, there is only one seating per night. There were some vegetarian choices on the menu but notably no vegetarian main course. So I was offered a version of the second vegetarian entrée. It worked out fine. The food was good with some nice presentation and flavor. The service was a bit rushed and somewhat disorganized at times. The interior of the restaurant is stone so sound echoes quite a bit. Dogs seem to be allowed in as we observed one with its owner nearby. Some difficulty paying by card. According to the front desk, they have weak internet signal. This took a long time to sort out. Seems like something that could be fixed.

Excellent find in Azay. Simple yet flavorful menu, lovely view of the château, friendly staff,…read moreoutside seating available, and reasonable prices. We ate there twice during our stay. The vegetarians loved it as much as the carnivores.