L'essentiel - Saumur

I had been looking forward to visiting 'L 'essentiel ' for quite a time since discovering it while wandering around this atmospheric 'quartier ' of Saumur in the summer. We don 't eat out very often but as it was our son 's birthday we decided to book the restaurant, anticipating something very special. The positive elements: Excellent service, especially the head waiter friendly, welcoming, efficient, the order taken swiftly and about the right amount of time before the starter and ensuing courses. The restaurant is as I said, beautiful, with subtle decor; warm on a very cold evening non invasive jazz, and the sound balance is great no overbearing sound of voices even though the restaurant was busy. The more negative points: sadly, the food . . .apart from my husband 's starter of delicious but rather paltry) roasted celery, my son 's main course and the dessert which I will come back to, I felt rather cheated. The portions hailed back to ultra 'nouvelle cuisine ': tiny, fussy, but without being particularly creative, and on the whole not well seasoned. I had been given an elegant fish knife with which it was impossible to tackle the very muscly tuna I had been served. Maybe it 's me but I was expecting something succulent and tasty sadly not. But then, what do I know ... Gault&Millau said theirs was sensational... I had asked about the 'plat végétarien ' as I was curious to see what the chef would come up with, but was told in a rather disparaging tone that it was 'just little vegetables '. Odd this, in a time when people are beginning to realise that vegetables are in fact superstars of the plate, and! we are very blessed in this region with some of the best producers of organic vegetables. Last final whinge, it would be nice to be able to choose a decent house wine without re mortgaging the house. I appreciate that many people are passionate about wine and are willing or able to spend a great deal on a bottle; sadly, we are not, but are used to good establishments having an adequate choice for more modest budgets. Ending on a higher note: the special birthday cake we had ordered a fantastical melange of cream, sponge, fresh fruit, chocolate and with its accompanying raspberry coulis was truly memorable, in a good way!

Experience without fault: presentation of very well-kept dishes, quality products, tastes and cuisine mastered to perfection, originality, chords and wines very fair, all for a reasonable price. we will finally regret the size of the portions (it is so good that we would eat more) service at the top. You can go with your eyes closed!

We're probably evaluating our meal here among the top 20 we've ever had! it was excellent in every sight and this small atmospheric restaurant deserves its michelin recognition we were 3 nights in the hotel anne d’Anjou and I had assumed that this was the hotel restaurant and she asked for a reservation in our first night. I had not searched any details and only at the arrival I discovered that it was actually owned and managed independently of the hotel and in the did, while a part of the building has separate access. the personal was perfect. and friendly, without being ott. we chose one of the flavors that came with different amuse bouche extras. the scallop essence was especially good. our starter was foie gras followed by the best cooked lamb I tasted. my soufflé was also done and the cheese card of my wife offered a great selection of well-presented local products. the wine list was comprehensive and favorable. we chose a local saumur wein. there is a master chef here. we wanted to book again before we were gone, but unfortunately the restaurant was already fully booked. they would be very happy to get a table here without reservation. only one problem occurred when my bill was raised by a wrong decimal point by 10x. I even signed it! this was immediately determined by the staff and an immediate refund. the last bill represented really excellent value. we would like to return and recommend L’essentiel best.

Nice discovery. gourmet restaurant with value /price excellent service impeccable and very nice decor. A nice place to brine!

If you want to eat in the most beautiful setting of the city's brine, you have to come here, just at the foot of the beautifully lit castle that you can admire by climbing the few steps that lead to the entrance of the restaurant, behind the annoying hotel. only hic: parking is very difficult nearby...The reception is both professional and charming; The service will not be left. small suggestion however: a saucer for bread would be welcome, especially since (as almost everywhere else currently) there are no taps on the tables.Let's now talk of the plate. After the excellent rosé cream of the aperitif, we chose the menu the essential with inlet one the red tuna and the other the foie gras poached on velvety of lentils. the tuna, prepared a little to the Japanese, was according to my companion of a perfect freshness and taste. for me, I regretted that the portion of foie gras is congrue and therefore drowned in the filling, but this defect is obviously easy to correct. the wild bar that followed us very much, with its deliciously crispy skin. note: the happy marriage of these dishes with a bottle of clay vouvray . to close this dinner in lightness and greediness, we ordered blown. the least we can say is that we were not disappointed !bref, a pleasant experience, even if it is necessary to know that the menu price is a misleading tantinet: a supplement was expected for almost everything we had chosen. In any event, the essential is an address to be recommended right now, even if you can imagine that the kitchen will still evolve.