Les Parallels, La Palmyre, back end of the season

I was bowled over. Previous night the only food I'd found was a pizza which fell in the category of refuelling for €15 but this place was sooo good.

I went for a gastronomique menu at €31 and chose foie gras for starter. This arrived with a million different items on the plate. Fig bread, pollen balls, mixed salt, mango mousse, salade. An amazing range of tastes. Extra bread as required.

Mains was also good. Roast beef (origin posted on the wall next to the menu) and dauphnoise potatoes with more salad and gorgeous pineau gravy.

Dessert was pear sald underneath a grilled St Marcelline cheese with another salad. (one too many maybe) and all this was accompanied by a pichet of local Bordeaux red wine. I was so full that I couldn't take the 4th course.

I never knew that I could get food of this quality in La Palmyre. Now I'll be there once a week when I'm in the vicinity. Brilliant and friendly.

1885, Stainland October 2011

Thanks to the miracle of Groupon we had a £39 dinner for £9. In fact we had 8 of them. The restaurant was very good about it. They extended the groupon offer to include any starter or any main from the menu when Groupon's blurb was more restrictive. The restaurant gave us top quality service and the food was top drawer.

Most of us went like me for Scallops followed by Daube of Beef and they were very good. Scallops, 3 of them were served on a long plate with garnish, salad and accompaniments that made it just perfect. Bread was free, butter also, everything was explained beautifully by the staff. Daube of beef had us worried to start with but it turned out to be shin and slow cooked and utterly brilliant. Unlike previous visits to this place for tasting menus the portions were substantial and the gravy was exotic - a friend who had lamb was overwhelmed by the pancetta and pea with mint gravy.

Few had desserts as the first two courses were so good and filling. 8 people had plenty of wine and beer and although the main part of the meal was just £36 for 8 people the extras came to £120 - wine at £6 a glass.

Still good and a fantastic birthday treat for 8. They do a prix fixe menu for £19 the waiter shouted at me as I left...