Le Chat Botte - Foix

First time visit to Foix and delighted we came across this lovely, homely cafe. It felt as if we were welcome guests in their home, food was very good, generous portions and service friendly. Merci beaucoup

At 15 euros for three courses this restaurant is one of the most expensive of the many restaurants in rue Lafaurie. But it still looked good value with a choice of 2 entrees, 3 plats and 3 desserts and it had been recommended to us by the proprietor of our gîte.It is run by three middle aged ladies who were all very friendly but incredibly disorganised and not very good cooks. We arrived just before the start of service at midday and waited over an hour to receive our first courses, which were only pâté and terrine from the menu du jour. Bread and water arrived at the same time and, whilst we had been sitting there with nothing to eat or drink, another couple arrived at the restaurant across the street and had been served with grilled trout and a dessert, paid and left before we received anything.Both starters came with a side salad smothered in an unusually spicy brown salad dressing which contained, amongst other things, a surfeit of cinnamon. It was just about palatable with the robust pâté de champagne that I had ordered but it was far too overpowering for the fish terrine served to my wife.When the main courses arrived they were both accompanied by the same pungent sauce. I had courgette stuffed with sausage meat which was watery and lacked much flavour. My wife had grilled fish which was described as being 'au citron' but any hint of lemon was overpowered by this inappropriate brown sauce. For dessert the tarte aux fruits rouges sounded good but turned out to be a pastry case filled with a sweet pink breadcrumb mixture topped with one raspberry and sitting on a bed of bilberry jam. The jam was the best bit.Sadly we both had indigestion for the rest of the day and the ghastly brown sauce was still repeating 12 hours later.I don't like giving critical reviews especially to three charming ladies but I can only describe it as I found it and I find it difficult to believe that some of the earlier reviews relate to the same restaurant. There are lots of other restaurants in Foix, a couple of which I have reviewed. Based on my experience, this is one to avoid.

This was our second attempt to eat here as they had no room on the first occasion so the first thing to say is GO EARLY which in France means by 12.30 or you will not get a table. The menu du jour had a couple of choices for each course at €12.50 and it was all freshly made and delicious. The only criticism one could level and one which does rather spoil the food, is cold plates - a general French problem which we English find very trying. This is a particular problem when it comes to soup. The soup was delicious but lost so much for being tepid and duck breast tends to get tough very fast when it cools down. I would certainly go back and I would recommend it but I might not choose the soup next time, which would be a shame as it was potentially excellent.

We came across this restaurant by chance on a day trip to France. We were enticed in by the wonderful aromas and the fact that it was packed, very few tables left. It offers a simple menu of home prepared food at an amazing price - we had three courses with wine and coffee for less than 40 Euros. The welcome was warm and friendly. What a pity more restaurants in this region of France are not like this one.