Restaurant Le Soufflot de Meursault — Restaurant in Beaune

Soufflot

Country: France Location: 4 Rue des Fossés, 89290 Irancy, Burgundy Cooking Style: Modern French bistro with a focus on seasonal, local ingredients

Go There For:

• The incredible €40 prix-fixe menu, a contender for a Guinness World Record for its outstanding price-to-quality ratio. • An expertly curated wine list showcasing Burgundy’s finest appellations at unbelievably fair prices. • A cozy, charming atmosphere where fine dining meets accessibility.

What to Eat and What to Drink:

What to Eat: • The €40 prix-fixe menu includes three courses of refined, seasonal French cuisine, which changes regularly. Highlights include: • Starters: Creamy pumpkin soup with chestnut cream or terrine of local charcuterie. • Mains: Perfectly seared duck breast with spiced jus, or pan-fried fish with seasonal vegetables. • Desserts: Citrus tart or velvety chocolate mousse with hazelnut crumble. • À la carte options feature elevated classics such as veal sweetbreads, Burgundy snails, or risotto with truffle and Parmesan.

What to Drink: • The wine list is a star attraction, featuring top Burgundy producers at astonishingly reasonable prices. • Pair starters with a crisp, mineral-driven Chablis or Saint-Bris Sauvignon Blanc. • For mains, opt for a red from Irancy, renowned for its bold yet elegant Pinot Noir. • Wines by the glass start at €6, while bottles begin at just €30, making even prestigious labels accessible.

Chef and Philosophy:

Chef: Xavier Marre

Philosophy: Chef Xavier Marre is dedicated to creating refined, seasonal dishes that celebrate Burgundy’s terroir. His mission is to deliver exceptional cuisine at a price point that makes fine dining more approachable. With a focus on fresh, locally sourced ingredients and expert techniques, he strikes the perfect balance between elegance and simplicity.

Highlights from Critics:

• Michelin Guide (Bib Gourmand): “A remarkable experience combining sophisticated dishes and exceptional value.” • Gault & Millau: “Soufflot sets the standard for dining in Irancy with its beautiful balance of flavors and fair pricing.” • Food bloggers: Rave about the €40 menu and the wine list, with some calling it “the best value in Burgundy.”

Signature Dishes:

• Duck breast with seasonal jus and vegetables • Risotto with truffle and Parmesan • Burgundy snails with garlic butter • Pumpkin soup with chestnut cream • Chocolate mousse with hazelnut crumble

Ratings and Reviews:

Overall Score: 85/100

Kitchen Score: 88/100

• Ingredients & Products: 90/100 – Locally sourced and always seasonal. • Technique & Execution: 88/100 – Dishes are balanced, flavorful, and expertly prepared. • Presentation: 85/100 – Elegant yet understated.

Wine List Score: 95/100

• A thoughtful selection of Burgundy’s finest wines, including Irancy, Chablis, and Saint-Bris. • Wines by the glass starting at €6 and bottles from €30, offering incredible value.

Ambiance Score: 85/100

• Warm and inviting, with rustic décor and a relaxed, intimate atmosphere. • Ideal for both casual meals and special occasions.

Service Score: 85/100

• Attentive, knowledgeable staff with excellent wine-pairing recommendations. • Chef Xavier Marre is known to engage warmly with guests when possible.

Conclusion:

Soufflot is a rare gem in Burgundy, combining gourmet-quality cuisine with remarkable affordability. The €40 prix-fixe menu delivers three courses of refined, seasonal dishes that far exceed expectations, while the wine list offers Burgundy’s finest at astonishingly accessible prices. Whether you’re a wine enthusiast, a lover of French cuisine, or simply looking for a memorable meal in a charming setting, Soufflot is an essential...

This place in Meursault is a bit hidden; right off a big road and the entrance isn’t super obvious. Let me start by saying: the wines here are genuinely excellent and a lot of them surprisingly affordable. Not cheap, of course, but even for €50 or €60 you can get a great bottle. They also give good advice about what to drink, the sommelier was very kind.

Unfortunately, the rest of the service feels quite cold and uninterested. They clear plates incredibly fast and rush the courses one after the other. It’s honestly such a pity.

The menu is very, very small. You can pick either a three-course or six-course menu, but if you go for six courses, you basically just get all the available dishes; there’s no real choice.

The gougères (cheese puffs) and amuse bouches (appetizers) we got — they’re free of charge — were very good and made us think we were off to a great start.

But the dishes were unfortunately really underwhelming. The menu felt dated and uninspired; like getting iceberg lettuce on a stick (seriously?!) as a side with the pasta. The first course with the crispy soft boiled egg was okay, but the carrot and dill sauce was a bit weird.

The main course was especially bad: rigatoni pasta that was undercooked, a bisque that was cooked way too far, truffle that tasted like nothing — overall flavors that just didn’t work. To top it off, we both felt unwell afterwards.

The setting is quite pretty but also feels cold and lifeless. Not exactly the kind of place that makes you want to stay for a long dinner. Which is such a pity, because the wines are EXCELLENT — they deserve a much warmer, more...

We try to come at least once when we’re in Burgundy so I’ve been reticent to write a review because we’ve wanted to keep Le soufflot a slight secret, but it’s time. This is a beautiful, intimate restaurant in Meursault with unique, marvelous food and a very extensive wine list presented by a chef who seems to be just enjoying his love of inventive, delicious, meticulously presented food.

A standout from winter 2024 was the butternut squash thinly sliced, perfectly cooked & fanned on top of grilled mont d’or cheese. Omg how?! The mont d’or is not overwhelming or too rich, the texture of the squash is a perfect al denté and is perfectly paired w the cheese. And this is just the entree of one delectable meal! Also, the very thinly sliced Paris mushrooms on anything-please! We just can’t! They’re just so delicious!

Le soufflot’s staff is efficient, knowledgeable and friendly. They’re happy to explain the dishes and the sommelier’s knowledge of the wines on their encyclopedia-sized wine list is truly remarkable. Just go with his recommendation.

Come experience this lovely restaurant (how they don’t have a @michelin star or two is criminal) but please, remember to be kind and live. Enjoy the food, drink the wine and be...