"Our first time at this restaurant but definitely not the last. We had the three course lunch menu at 19€ and it was incredible value for the quality of what we ate. Starter of poached type egg, covered and fried in breadcrumbs served on a bed of diced potatoes and spinach in a mild curry sauce. Followed by excellently cooked steak pieces with cabbage and purée, my wife had filet of pollock served on a bed of sea vegetables which she said was wonderful. Dessert for me was a type of eclair filled with orange slices etc and served with a very delicately flavoured lemon grass ice cream, amazing !, my wife had elderflower flavoured cream, coulis, with fresh strawberries with mascarpone ice cream, again amazing. Excellent choices of wine at very reasonable prices, all served by very helpful and friendly staff. The chef, Michael Durkin, worked in a lot of quality restaurants, including working with Tom Kerridge, and it shows. His attention to detail, use of unusual ingredients etc makes this restaurant a winner every time.It's in Saintes, a wonderful old town with Roman amphitheatre, statuesque cathedral, vibrant markets etc, which is a great place to visit and explore. There is also car parking opposite the restaurant, next to the river, with more about 200 metres further on, making it a great place to relax and enjoy good food before or after you've explored the town."
