Bordeaux Restaurants

La Remise is located in the heart of the old town just around the corner from Place St. Pierre. This is an area where dozens of restaurants tout for the attention of the passers-by, so it is rather a hit-and-miss thing if you get something good or if you march into a tourist trap with your eyes open. La Remise belongs to the former category: the menu for 14 Euros comprises a starter, a main dish and a dessert and everything I had was really good. Moreover, the staff was very nice albeit a little slow at times.

Favorite Dish: Unfortunately, I can't remember the name of the dishes I had. The particularly good starter was a spicy salad of beetroot, the main course was a pork steak with fries and a sweetish courgette side.

Le Vieux Chaudron is a central place with good food for a really good price: the 3-course menue is available for only 13 Euros! Naturally, you can't expect 5-star-cuisine for this price, but none of our group of 10 was disappointed either. Furthermore, the staff at this place is really friendly and patient, and the general atmosphere with some beautiful paintings on the walls is attractive.

Favorite Dish: I chose - of course - the 3-course formule with a mixed salad as a starter (good), an escalope à la milanaise as my main dish (good, although perhaps a little dry) and fromage blanc with red fruits as dessert (perfect).

This small restaurant offers real Italian food - not the pizza and pasta mishmash you often get at the bigger chain restaurants. All dishes on offer cost around 7 Euros which is great value for what you get. There are, for example, a tasty Lasagna or chicken wings marinated in aioli and lemon juice; you can get a plate of mussels or Bruschette with anchovis. Their desserts, mainly the Mousse au Citron, are very good as well. Another bonus is the nice location: Only a few metres away from the quais, one can go for a small after-dinner walk and enjoy one of Bordeaux' most splendid views.

Favorite Dish: Dish: Chicken wings marinated in aioli and lemon juice
Wine: 2010 Etchard Privado (Argentine) - one of the best white wines I ever had!

If you like kebab then the upper part of Rue Ste. Catherine is your heaven: You've got about 12 kebab restaurants to choose from. The prices are okay and the food is good. If you compare it with German kebab, however, it is different: the French only add tomatos, salad leaves and onions to their kebab - no "fancy" stuff like cucumber or sheep's cheese. It is also considered perfectly normal to stuff French fries into the kebab bread...

Favorite Dish: kebab

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Right on cours de Verdun in the Chartrons neighborhood is an upscale, chic restaurant that serves French style, but not the ordinary. I ordered half bottle of a local red Bordeaux and it was served in a carafe. A pate in a tin was served with the bread which was sort of avant gard. I ordered the plat de dia, which included a 1st course of fish, a duck plat that was very tasty, but probably clogged up my arteries and a gelatin fruit dish. They service was excellent and they were very accomodating providing service to one person.

Favorite Dish: The duck was most excellent

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As a result of my explorations the previous day I had decided to lunch at one of the out tables in Place du Palais. The area has a very medieval feel, with small streets and cobblestones. There were enough places for a choice. The menu at L'Amelodie was posted on a placard outside and had a number of interesting wines by the glass. Perfect after spinning around town on my bike all morning. I went with a cheesy lunch of quiche and vegetables for the first plat and then a melted camembert with salad, all washed down by two glasses of chardonnay. While dining I was treated to an impromptu performance of a group of young adults who were bicycle challenged. The waitress was very nice and efficient.

Favorite Dish: The melted camembert was especially good.

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Place du Marche des Chartrons is a nice square a 15 minute walk North of the city center. A number of restaurants line the square, which is then surrounded by a number of antique shops. At one corner is l'eglise St. Louis. Carre sits at the SW corner of the Place, was quite busy even on a Monday night. I ordered from the chalk board menu, a gazpacho and tempura style shrimp with vegetables, followed by the main course of dorado with mushroom, calimari risotto. Very tasty and filling. At the hearty recommendation of the group at the table next to me I splurged with a decadent dessert sampling including flourless chocolate cake, tiramisu, creme brulee and ice cream with chocolate and whipcream.

Favorite Dish: The shrimp were fried perfectly and the batter crisp and spicey.

A busy place, particularly in the evenings, "Chez Édouard" has a wide range of different menus for reasonable prices. I had the menu for 14 Euros and was not disappointed. The Carpaccio was a good starter, the Poulet au curry could have had some more sauce, but apart from that was fine and the dessert, Pannacotta with Pineapple was simply delicious. The staff could be more friendly, though.

Favorite Dish: see above