Le Moulin de l'Imaginaire — Restaurant in Sarlat-la-Canéda

This recently opened restaurant in the heart of France's famous Périgord region is run by an up and coming chef trained in Paris and New York Michelin starred restaurants. Our lunch was well worth the short detour on our way to the region's famous castles and Lascaux caves nearby. The ambience by the river and the service were as expected, superb and in line with France's famous high end restaurants. What was more surprising was the transparency brought to a new level: the kitchen is glass walled so you can see the chef preparing the dishes and all the dishes are made with locally sourced fresh ingredients. As a side note to international travellers unfamiliar with french customs and (like me) wonder how such a restaurant has many perfect reviews with 4 stars, French people are perfectionists and thus often symbolically refrain from giving...

Lovely place with friendly and well dressed staff. Amazing setting. My plate of Scallops was very badly presented, it was not appealing and I was disappointed. Like a scoop of leek soup had been dumped on the plate with 5 scallops on top. Lack of flavour also. My husband's beef was tough and tasteless (unfortunately that's what you get in this region as Limousine cows' meat don't have any fat). I cringed when one waitress replied to my Thank you with "pas d' souci". The new generation seems to have forgotten the appropriate way to speak properly. I do miss the "je vous en prie", especially in a beautiful setting where you expect a certain standard. The decor, the views and the smiles were compensating a bit but I am not sure I would come again, with a bill above 100 € for 2 people and main courses that disappointed us. Good potential but...

We live in Montignac, but had English friends staying, so booked, our second visit, again not disappointed, fabulous service. I was recognized from my previous visit. A slightly different menu, a lovely choice, we were explained all the menu we didn’t understand. We all had Pate en croute, three had Skate wings, my husband , chicken. The desserts were to die for, two chocolate puddings for the men, we were told, possibly a ten minute wait as they were cooked to order, raspberry tart and ice cream, me , I had three different ice creams, plum, lavender and poppy, wow they are delicious. This place is really worth a visit, value for money and attentive, polite and...