Logis Auberge de l'Abbaye — Restaurant in Charleville-Mézières

Looking for a last night stop on our way home and wanting a place with a good restaurant the hotel website meant this looked the ideal choice. The greeting on arrival was extremely warm and friendly and when we wanted to change rooms it wasn't an issue. Bedrooms in the main building were more traditional while those in the annexe were larger and modern. So far, so good and when we went down for dinner there was a really good feel about the very busy dining room. We were sat at a table and left with a wine list. Thirty minutes later the waitress returned to ask Pate or Terrine and then Chicken or Pork. Where are the other menus we asked to be told the Chef was off for the night and this was their Menu Unique. Unfortunately for a place whose website shows that it wants to be taken seriously as a restaurant for fine dining what they managed to serve up was very very average. A slice of pate I could have bought in the local shop and the two dry drumsticks that was my Poulet Roti was very poor.||We have long ago come to expect hotel restaurants in France closing on Sunday evenings and also on Mondays but for the chef to be off on a Wednesday in the middle of the summer season at a place that has intentions of being taken seriously for its cooking this is ridiculous.||I would imagine that when the chef is working the food is really good but unfortunately we didn't get the chance to find out. When we booked the room we stated we wanted a table for the evening and nothing was said at the time and If I had read the small print at the bottom of the website perhaps I might have realised there would be a problem but I didn't and hence...

Looking for a last night stop on our way home and wanting a place with a good restaurant the hotel website meant this looked the ideal choice. The greeting on arrival was extremely warm and friendly and when we wanted to change rooms it wasn't an issue. Bedrooms in the main building were more traditional while those in the annexe were larger and modern. So far, so good and when we went down for dinner there was a really good feel about the very busy dining room. We were sat at a table and left with a wine list. Thirty minutes later the waitress returned to ask Pate or Terrine and then Chicken or Pork. Where are the other menus we asked to be told the Chef was off for the night and this was their Menu Unique. Unfortunately for a place whose website shows that it wants to be taken seriously as a restaurant for fine dining what they managed to serve up was very very average. A slice of pate I could have bought in the local shop and the two dry drumsticks that was my Poulet Roti was very poor.||We have long ago come to expect hotel restaurants in France closing on Sunday evenings and also on Mondays but for the chef to be off on a Wednesday in the middle of the summer season at a place that has intentions of being taken seriously for its cooking this is ridiculous.||I would imagine that when the chef is working the food is really good but unfortunately we didn't get the chance to find out. When we booked the room we stated we wanted a table for the evening and nothing was said at the time and If I had read the small print at the bottom of the website perhaps I might have realised there would be a problem but I didn't and hence...

We decided to stop here for the night on our way to Brussels avoiding the busier routes. The small town is atttractive and the hotel is set in an imposing centre of fine buildings.||The hotel has been in the same family for five generations and the family has its own farm where the beef and lamb are raised for the restaurant. We arrived on a Sunday afternoon obviously too late to expect lunch, but all the same we were able to tuck into a cheese salad washed down with the local cider to tide us over to dinner. Meals are served either on a Terrace overlooking the square, or in an atttractive dining room. Tables are set well apart and have comfortable chairs. We enjoyed a lovely meal on Sunday evening choosing the €27 menu. The food was served attractively, and was superb. Our room (9) was on the first floor and down a few steps. It was spacious with a sofa/daybed three small armchairs and a balcony overlooking a courtyard. The en suite bathroom was spacious. Breakfast is served in a separate room and for €10 there was a selection including boiled eggs ham cheese yoghurt fresh fruit apple and orange juice bread croissant etc. The hotel has been brought up to modern standards, the staff are friendly polite and helpful. We found it a delightful place to stay and intend to return, perhaps to explore the area. There is plentiful parking...