Hôtel Restaurant Anne de Bretagne | Mathieu Guibert — Restaurant in Saint-Nazaire

After last year France 3 stars challenge, repeating the Parisian stars, this year was the big 2 stars. I did more than 50% of them, follow me for all the reviews and updates (I’m publishing with a delay)

Being a Grande Table du Monde, Relais et Chateaux and a Gault et Millau 4 toques, Anne de Bretagne was obviously on the list. It was not the only reason, I also had some very positive feedbacks from sources I trust. So what’s extraordinary here? The Loire estuary. And the rest. The Loire estuary got me confused and delayed this publication. Yes, sitting there I first got confused, like some other critics. You see the ocean, you focus on the seafood. Well, it’s not an ocean, it’s an estuary. And your gaze sees the arrival after a long journey. A journey that brought you here, so of course the main local ingredients will be from the sea, but you’ll arrive with the taste of the land and the river still in your mind. The eels risotto with a langoustine carpaccio and Parmesan would be the classical demonstration to my point but it’s the Lobster that did it for me. It’s not a lobster like a guy from Brittany would do it (classical or the one who traveled and brought some spices from across the oceans). No a guy from the land, who traveled through, met some people along the way (Alléno, Le Squer) and arrived at this estuary. The one that did it for me is lobster with wild garlic (bear’s garlic), vin jaune, mushrooms and more… it’s not about the ocean, it’s an estuary, it’s the end of a journey through the land with the sea as an ultimate inspiration.

The best dish, was the main one, which is the sign of the true master, like the rest. The rest is everything. The chef himself, genuinely touching, gastronomically and humanly. The service with different voices, different telling of the dishes. The wine list with its gems at an unbeatable price for a two stars (even compared to some one star). Definitely, lately, it worths the travel to take the A11 or A10 and go down to the Pays de la Loire (Loire’s countries), with Fleur de Loire, Bagatelle, La bergerie, all the Vendée stars and a this one (to name the one that I reviewed). Actually, I would recommend to do this one and finish by La Marine. You would have done the journey, the Estuary and then the Ocean with the intensity of the emotions it can create.

It’s a top...

As I have already commented in my review of the gastronomic restaurant, Anne de Bretagne has a truly exceptional staff. Everyone we encountered was kind, charming and focused on making sure we and other guests felt pampered.||It is an older property with a long tradition of hospitality. The current ownership has certainly taken many steps to enhance its value and vitality. The setting is exquisite. The Relais and Chateaux high standards are generally fulfilled. While we didn't use the pool and spa facilities, they are part of its strong suit. ||There were a few minor and correctable deficits. To us they were pretty obvious, and that is why I haven't given the same Excellent rating that I did with the restaurant. ||The bed in our room could/should have been 10-12 centimeters longer. It is not very pleasant to have your feet hanging over the side. All of the bed pillows were as hard as seat cushions. I don't think it is asking too much to have a few down or synthetic soft pillows.||To plug in a laptop or recharge a phone, one has to pull the plug on a lamp or a coffee machine. Even in a "non-business" hotel these days, these are common requirements.||The shower head was "adequate", if not of a full modern standard. Clarins makes nice products, but those tiny, 5 or 6 centimeter travel bottles are more suitable for budget motels.||As a hotel catering to many international guests, why is there no English language television news? The television guide lists CNN and MSNBC or CNBC, but they were "unavailable".||For a hotel with a 2 star restaurant, the breakfast was surprisingly "ordinary". Yes, the service matched the warmth of the restaurant, and the slow cooked scrambled eggs were interesting, but breads, pastries, juice, coffee and yogurt were more 3 star hotel standard.||The porch attached to our room was quite lovely, overlooking the pool and countryside.||We have stayed in 17 hotels on this trip alone, and this one needs to up its game. Still, we would be...

As I have already commented in my review of the gastronomic restaurant, Anne de Bretagne has a truly exceptional staff. Everyone we encountered was kind, charming and focused on making sure we and other guests felt pampered.||It is an older property with a long tradition of hospitality. The current ownership has certainly taken many steps to enhance its value and vitality. The setting is exquisite. The Relais and Chateaux high standards are generally fulfilled. While we didn't use the pool and spa facilities, they are part of its strong suit. ||There were a few minor and correctable deficits. To us they were pretty obvious, and that is why I haven't given the same Excellent rating that I did with the restaurant. ||The bed in our room could/should have been 10-12 centimeters longer. It is not very pleasant to have your feet hanging over the side. All of the bed pillows were as hard as seat cushions. I don't think it is asking too much to have a few down or synthetic soft pillows.||To plug in a laptop or recharge a phone, one has to pull the plug on a lamp or a coffee machine. Even in a "non-business" hotel these days, these are common requirements.||The shower head was "adequate", if not of a full modern standard. Clarins makes nice products, but those tiny, 5 or 6 centimeter travel bottles are more suitable for budget motels.||As a hotel catering to many international guests, why is there no English language television news? The television guide lists CNN and MSNBC or CNBC, but they were "unavailable".||For a hotel with a 2 star restaurant, the breakfast was surprisingly "ordinary". Yes, the service matched the warmth of the restaurant, and the slow cooked scrambled eggs were interesting, but breads, pastries, juice, coffee and yogurt were more 3 star hotel standard.||The porch attached to our room was quite lovely, overlooking the pool and countryside.||We have stayed in 17 hotels on this trip alone, and this one needs to up its game. Still, we would be...