Le Petit Voisin — Restaurant in Albi

Saturday evening.

The venue is very stylised, almost faux French, but the cave/cellar was atmospheric, despite being empty.

The owner charmed us into a booking as we were passing, by agreeing to doing his fresh local trout as part of the 23€ menu, with the tuna tartare as starter. We are normally vegan, but occasionally eat fish, we were celebrating.

Starter/entree The tuna was good but under-seasoned and the lemon slices stingy. The bread had been pre-cut earlier in the day and was dry on one side as a result.

Main /plat The "wild rice" that came with the trout was just basic white rice and the vegetables over cooked. The trout was OK but the skin should have been crisp not limp. The whole thing was under-seasoned again.

Wine/vin This was delicious, a blanc sec from Château Clement Termes.

Dessert The cheese was fine, with tasty fig and the noisette tiramisu was delicious.

The bad aftertaste... When we asked for the bill, he invited us upstairs to sit between two younger French couples and have a "free" cognac on him. My partner found this awkward and smelt a rat. Some dithering later, the bill was presented at €120. This was a good €20 euros more than it should have been. Rather than get into a dispute with a very close audience and spoil the evening further, I paid, but left no tip. Only the owner was serving so no struggling waiting staff lost out.

He left us feeling like he was running a tourist trap where he intentionally overcharges for so-so food.

We won't return, choose somewhere else in...

De passage à Albi nous avons été séduit par le cadre que propose ce restaurant. Carte qui donne envie, les tables également dans une ruelle très sympathique avec peu de passage. Nous commandons des Mojitos, la menthe a l'air d'avoir souffert de l'eau et de la chaleur, le rhum il est où ? Ainsi que le citron inexistant et la limonade ou quelques chose de ce genre ? Bref. Infecte. Le patron nous propose des amuses bouches en attendant les plats, ils n'arrivons jamais. Je demande un cendriller, après 3 demandes le patron me dit de mettre mes cigarettes par terre ... Nous commandons nos plats : Tagliatelles fraiche Foie gras et un onglet façon Rossini. Le foie gras n'était pas plus gros qu'une pièce de 2 euros, Tagliatelles non fraîche. Étant amatrice des pâtes et restaurant proposant des pâtes fraîches, celle-ci n'est en aucun cas des pâtes fraîches. Je demande du parmesan, il n'y en a pas mais propose du gruyère, ok pour le gruyère. Il n'arrivera jamais. Les pâtes étaient tiède limite froide. L'onglet façon Rossini a été commandé a point. Il était plutôt bleu que a point. Façon Rossini c'est du foie gras cuit en fin de cuisson sur la viande (donc légèrement fondant), celui ci était crue tout juste posé sur la viande ... La purée d'accompagnement est digne d'une purée mousline. Nous avons pris en dessert chocolat et café liégeois pour éviter la déception. Je ne recommande pas. 3 étoiles pour l'accueil...

There are several bistros down this little alley in Albi and it was difficult to choose. But we were very happy we chose Le Petit Voisin. It’s very nice Inside and the owner is a real character - he is friendly, has good humour and makes your experience special. His assistant waitress was equally good. Our food was delicious, the local wine was excellent and the local artisan beer also. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and the intimate...