Mélange — Restaurant in Bergerac

It is with mixed feelings that I leave this review. Firstly, best restaurant bar none that we have visited locally to us (25mins drive). Secondly, we want to keep it a secret so we always get a table!!! Obviously though reviews are important to keep the restautrant busy so there will always be a table so... This was our 4th visit and every time has been superb. We had freinds staying from England who eat out and travel a lot and they summed it up as best food they had eaten for a long while. The service was exceptional, timely, nothing too much trouble but also not invasive. We sat oiutside under the large pergola with creeping vines overhead and enjoyed the warmth of a long september evening while feasting on exceptional courses of food preppared by a talented chef and team. One of us even had a second dessert!!! It's not often that I make the effort to thank the chef in person but this time I did. It was a brilliant evening and everyone (except one of us with eyes bigger than and couldn't quite finish the generous cheese platter) loved every bite. We will always return as a first choice reataurant and look forward to our next visit, I know our freinds will want to go back next time they are...

We saw the restaurant was being renovated in the Summer and visited yesterday. If the menu was a little surprising with some unusual combinations, we were blown away with the quality of food we were served with, the chef clearly knows his trade! We had the rabbit terrine and the scallops to start, rabbit perfectly succulent and was one of the best I've ever had, and the scollops were pan fried to medium rare, just spot on. Followed by the pork, which had the best crackling and the belly was beautifully cooked, and the black pudding with a light crust on the side was wonderful. The whole plate was perfectly balanced and seasoning was bang on pitch. Sea bass had a lovely crispy skin and again perfectly cooked - if I'm being picky, the soba noodles didn't have any buckwheat for it to be soba I didn't think but the mussels and ginger sauce was a delightful accompaniment to the sea bass. Avocado Panna Cotta was so good with the crunch in the middle layer... Melanie was very warm and helpful, suggested a lovely local wine to accompany our fabulous food. Thank you for looking after us, you made our evening! Will definitely be...

Thank you for asking for our opinion on our visit to your restaurant. We very much liked the decor and seating comfort, so thank you for those. We were a little disappointed in the menu, offering only two choices. One of our party is celiac and both main dishes and the salmon starter had breadcumbed elements. He managed to scrape off the coatings though, and enjoyed what he had. I think in today's climate, it would be wise to offer at least one vegetarian dish too. We were not able to see the menu du jour until we arrived, so it was not as though we could choose in advance.

Finally, sad to report that, while your waiting staff were efficient, and not at all rude, we did not find them at all friendly. we couldn't raise a smile from them. Perhaps they were bereaved.

If anything I have said here causes offense, I apologise. But sincerely wish you well, as the food was beautifully presented and delicious.

Kind...