La Robe — Restaurant in La Roche-sur-Yon

For a break in my Paris Michelin Star Challenge, I tried some outside Paris. This one is between Nantes and Le Puy du Fou.

A daily star for less than 30€, the compromises are on the price, not on the Star material.

I rarely speak about the price, for this one and may be the next one, I will. Actually, you have to. The lunch menu is so inexpensive, that I do not even dare to write the price so the chef can rise it a little! It’s amazing how this chef is bringing Star worthy dishes for such a decent (or indecent) price. Living here, I would lunch every day and have a plate with my name on a table! It’s not just the difference between Paris and Province, it’s known to be amongst the best priced in France.

But don’t worry, you can spend more. There are longer menu and extra options (for dishes with ingredients that are more expensive). Which brings a good point: how can he do this ? How can one do this? Well, this is the beauty of the chef. No shortcuts by using expensive materials. No you have to do wonders with simpler ingredients, and with vegetables and herbs. And, at the end of the day, with your bare skills and technic. A true star.

The crowd was business and couples. I could not help wonder if they realized how lucky they are. Being relatively close to the Puy du Fou, I thought that they would have clients from there. But they told me they did not. Well, this is the best hack! Visit the Puy du fou and have dinner there, and stay in a nice Bed and Breakfast. The dress code/ atmosphere is quite relax, but just show respect for the chef and its team. The servers are well dressed as a traditional one star.

It’s a very solid one star. My experience: I want to come back because I want to discover...

I'm not often impressed. I came upon the old location quite accidentally. With no reservation, I was welcomed in, and delighted to find an excellent menu, and an even more knowledgeable staff.

It was a slow night. I enjoyed the conversations of the other guests whose attention was fixated on the dishes, on food, and wine.

The seabass was one of the best I've ever had. The sauces impeccable. And a fine pairing of the wines.

I believe I was the first in and the last out, that evening. Chef climbed up from that mystical basement, to greet the last few guests.

I hear the location has changed -- I hope the cuisine has only blossomed more!

Thank you for the great emotions, and the memory which still blesses my trip through your lovely town (and the great tea...

Highly recommended! Located in this small town house, La Robe disguise its true nature: a 1 star Michelin restaurant with few tables ground and 1st floor. You get there with a small street (not very nice though) to enter from the back of the house. Once inside, you forget all and let you floated and guided by the menu, the wines and this genuine soft atmosphere of comfort. The dished are exceptional, the wine cellar deserves some attention as they have some hidden secrets. At last, the service is gentle and precise, not too present which could have been the case for such a small place. One regret, the coffee... for such a place you must have something better and more refined than Nespresso... this was the only 'can do...