G.A. Manoir de Retival - Rives-en-Seine

My God! Where should I start? The building is stunning and this is just the first impression! The interior is a total homage to all French revered. Just divine! And then the food and every dish, in front of an amuse book, has you in total amazement... if accompanied by her own wine! This is worth 3 Michelin stars!

Starts from the doorstep of David Goerne’s gourmet restaurant. You are offered a segment of fresh Sichuan pepper (or prickly ash) flower to accompany a flute of grower champagne – ZANG! – it electrifies the taste buds preparing them for the gastro delights to follow....Chef’s menu ingeniously combines the freshest local produce with exotic ingredients and innovative preparation techniques to deliver a sensational epicurean experience. Guests are offered a choice of dining in a formal reception room of the Norman manor house overlooking the Seine or in David’s kitchen appreciating the chef’s culinary magic and personal attention. The table for 2 next to the “piano” (chef’s working table) is the best for foodies willing to pick up a trick or two. Service is the most courteous and attentive. Finally, David’s wine paired menu is a tremendous value for money for a Michelin star restaurant.

The bedroom and its suite were stunning, huge with high ceilings and a wonderful view on the river seine below, very peaceful. It felt like being in a home with lots of travelling souvenirs, books, family objects, very unconventional decoration but tasteful and fun. We...slept very well in beautiful red printed satin sheets with German down duvets. The most important thing is the food prepared by the German chef . Superb cooking, very inventive, light, just divine. we had dinner in the kitchen with him cooking, very cosy and friendly though everything is well synchronised and impeccably served in family mismatched crockery! altogether a very pleasant halt we'd recommend highly.

First impressions a little disconcerting. The exterior is slightly wanting. A warm reception with a glass of champagne. Shown to our suite enough room for 5 with 3 bedrooms, it was the last room 297 euros, there are cheaper ones. Dinner was either...5 or 8 courses, no menu. We chose the 8 course menu surprise at 149 euros. We ate in the kitchen with almost all the action going on around us. 3 amuses bouches and then the 8 courses. The main man was absent, cooking in Bruxelles (Juncker perhaps, ugh). a really great evening, the staff are very keen and friendly and competent. The room had character but rather expensive but our fault entirely. We would like to go back and will do so in the Spring. The standard of cooking meticulous. David turned up the next morning and we had a marvellous breakfast; he was off to Switzerland the next day and then to China for a month. High prices but no chef but no problems. An amusing a interesting experience highly recommended. Go there.

We have been here many times and it is like home, as one can stay in one of the lovely rooms (4) the Manoir has. It is like being adopted by the family. This time we stayed at the tour de forêt, many stairs to...climb but a great view towards the Seine. in short, a home, with books, small kitchen, and a private touch. But the main reason is the food !! We always have dinner with friends there, sitting in the kitchen, watching the preparation and enjoying the atmosphere. The food, outrageously delicious, a true journey for your palate. We will be back. When we were there the Restaurant was fully booked and it was a bit hectic otherwise it would have been 5 points for all.