La Tupina — Restaurant in Bordeaux

Excellent service and traditional Bordelaise cookery.

My partner and I visited here on our first night in Bordeaux, at 9pm on a Thursday. I'm glad we booked a couple of weeks in advance, because the restaurant was almost full when we arrived and I don't think we would have otherwise been seated.

This was an excellent reminder that hospitality and food is taken seriously in France (as it should be) and the whole experience was faultless. We were greated by Franck Audu himself, the head of Tupina, who was commanding the open fire cookery and the reception. We were seated by our waiter, who was friendly, diligent and very knowledgeable. We first received a complimentary basket of bread (accompanied with some baby tomatoes, radishes and a small slab of a deliciousl paté de campagne, along with a puck of beautifully creamy and salty butter - protected under a tiny stainless cloche) while we pondered the menu.

The starters sounded delicious, but we opted to skip them and proceed straight to the cote de boeuf cooked over the open fire, served with duck fat chips and complimented by a side of seasonal vegetables. The Charolaise beef rib had the most delicious, roasted and smokey crust with a soft, yielding interior. The chips were crispy and rich with the duck fat. The seasonal veg was a great melange of peppers, mushrooms, fennel and spring onions that paired brilliantly with the beef and chips. As did the half bottle of Chateau Tour de Pez that we plumped for.

We were quite full after this, but not so full that we couldn't squeeze in a canelé between us; it's crisp exterior yielding to a pleasing chew on the inside, and served with a good ball of ice cream. We finished with a café Gascon (coffee, Armagnac and whipped cream), who's boozy kick rounded the meal off nicely.

The bill (€145), was very good for such a great experience.

This place only served to reaffirm my opinion that the best places to eat are often hidden away and are found through a little exploration. Do seek La Tupina out, you won't be...

Poorly cooked chicken and cheating staff. Came at lunch hours and set the plan for the lunch offering that looked good and was affordable. The sign at the door sayied lunch menu for 10e, the offering in the menu was 18e. Still a pretty good offer for a 3 set lunch menue. Quickly they put bread and paté on the table and wanted to serve water. We was howver declined to order the lunch after the water offering and the bread serving.... After some consider actions we decided to go for one serving of chicken and a duck breast. We could swap the French fries to a pan of fried veggie. We ordered a Rose wine from Bordeaux, the water came back with a different Rose wine and tried to serve without telling us. She moved from their mid price to their high price without a blink. After some discussion we got the high range for same price as the mid. And it was a good Rose wine. The duck came, a breast on a plate with some sauce. Not more not less, not even worthy of a photo. Taste was ok and it was cooked medium according to my request. The chicken was however worse, it looked good and was served with a sauce soaked bread. It was poorly cooked but too and just enough so it was eatable. However it must have been a hen. It was not close to tender and the consistence was so so. Flavor was not not bad not good. The pan of veggie was the saviour, good mix and with nice protein. When the table next to us was about to pay they had to object, and we were at this time playing attention to every detail and got a proper receipt at time for pay. In all not a place to return to, no relaxing since you have to be at your toes...

Open air surprise meats, cooked, uncooked, and a lot of free tasters for you if you choose. You don't have to be French or Fab to enjoy this atmosphere...visit to La Tupina in Bordeaux was an experience that felt like stepping into the heart of French culinary tradition. As I arrived, I was greeted by an unexpected delight: a free tasting event featuring a selection of wines, delicate meats, and various appetizers. This introduction not only showcased the restaurant's dedication to quality and local produce but also set the tone for the culinary journey ahead.

The atmosphere of La Tupina is warmly inviting, with a quintessentially rustic charm that speaks volumes of its heritage. The dining room, where I had the pleasure of enjoying my lunch, was quintessentially quaint, offering a cozy and intimate setting that felt like dining in a friend's home rather than a restaurant.

The lunch itself was a testament to the restaurant's reputation for serving hearty, traditional French cuisine with a focus on quality and simplicity. Every dish was a celebration of flavor and craftsmanship, from the perfectly cooked meats to the finely selected accompaniments that highlighted the region's bounty. What truly sets La Tupina apart was the impeccable service and the warmth of the staff. Visiting La Tupina offered a glimpse into commitment to celebrating the best of what Bordeaux has to offer. It was not just a meal but an immersive experience into a culinary tradition that is both rich and...