France in Focus

Very interesting but where?

Those prices look similar to what we'd pay in restaurants around here.
Was the food /service not up to par?

Is that 6 people?

That's what I paid here for three, without starter, wine or desserts.

The bill was for 4 adults and 2 children from one of the places to eat at Hourtin, in this case an
‘ Equestrian resort with an Old West theme’
My only recommendation would be don’t bother.
The quality of some of the food parallels that of the old west.
I suppose it would be good for those that like a gamble -
Chips with everything.

I guess eating out (like pubs) is an essential part of life for some. I've never really been into either one. Rather spend my money on my hobbies.
Wife came back from a UK visit a while back and said she had seen her favourite wine (the exact label, etc.) on a resto menu priced at £20 a bottle. We were buying it in Lidl here for under €3 at the time. I know the capitalists here will say that's fair because the owner has to make a living. At least the rest of us have a choice.

That's about 25€/head? Seems about average these days - many would say cheap. Could be worse, apparently it's really expensive now in Cornwall according to the tourists - and I'm sure it's a gamble as to whether you'll like the food. Some clients took us to their favourite fancy restaurant last year (maybe the waitress speaking English helped!). Very fancy looking, and pretty on the plate - but didn't like any of it. It was all show and nothing pleasant tasting. But that was our opinion. Mr Bayleaf used to be a chef for various places and he recognises the tricks!

Hence we very rarely eat out.

Daughter took me to an Asian buffet-style resto in Toulouse in June, pricey apparently (she paid), but the food was fabulous - that's me sorted for the foreseeable future!

I'd say our experience is similar to Bayleaf's. We recently tried a new restaurant that is very close to our home. Daughter was visiting and she likes to dine out.

The building was a complete renovation and was done in a beautiful manner. Looked stunning. However, the food was not good to me. Lettuce was wilty (I ordered a Salad Chevre Chaud), the cheese was covered in a strange bread crumb mix - nothing I'd seen before and I half wondered if it was from a ready serve supply house. None of it was good.

Husband didn't like the plat du jour (a sort of stew). Daughter was okay with her risotto choice, but overall, I wouldn't go back. Server did not even tell us what the plat du jour was when she came to take our order. We only knew because we noted it on the board when we walked in.

We each had a soft drink, no dessert and the bill for the 3 of us came to 65€ I hate to condemn a restaurant after only one visit, so we will probably try it again one day, but not any time soon.

Here again, we tried another different restaurant. One recommended by a friend. Just me and daughter. It was OUTSTANDING. From start to finish. The place was booming and we had to wait 3 days to get a reservation for lunch. We each had a starter, main course and dessert and bottle of water. FAR too big servings and we were very sorry we ordered the 3 courses as we couldn't eat it all. They nicely put the food in a take away box. Bill came to 77€ for the two of us. Not really cheap, but I would go back in a heart beat.

That said, like Bayleaf, we rarely eat out. We used to before Covid, but kinda changed our habits now. I like to cook and we seem to enjoy my cooking and are too often disappointed in our meals out. Some having been absolutely horrible.

Bayleaf - you are really lucky to have found good Asian food and buffet-style to boot (not normally good from my experience). I have yet to have a decent Asian meal in France. I now avoid those restaurants.

Niftyons - I think most restaurants around here would be similar prices.

Am I right in assuming none of you use the "formula" type restos that are usually full of drivers, etc. A choice of two or three mains, self serve starters from a wide choice, bread, choice of afters, bottle of wine, coffee, and water all for about €14. Used to be a tenner here. A guy I used to work for used to take us out once a year as a treat and although the "ambiance" wasn't up to much the food was first class. He was a mega-fussy German and drove a Mercedes so could have gone upmarket but didn't.