LE BOEUF NOISETTE — Restaurant in Saumur

Quite simply magnificent. What a find! This is one of those places you just wish was closer to home so you could revisit over and over again.

A very warm welcome from the attentive and friendly waiter (with perfect English) this restaurant has been thoughtfully decorated in a chic, traditional manner.

The starters of rabbit terrine or salad and comte were both lovely.

With just two main courses on the menu, you know they do it right! The beef was just delicious - served with an optional buttery drizzle. We had chips and veg. We didn't try the fish, but it looked lovely on the table next to us.

Desserts were simple but refreshing - grandmother's cake is always a winner.

Our 2 older children (14 and 12) were both fine with the half price, half portioned kids menu - it's so refreshing to see kids food treated as simply smaller versions of adults (rather than nuggets and beans).

We took advice on the wine and had a lovely local bottle La Folie Lucé.

Centrally located tucked behind the museum just by the old bridge into Saumur and conveniently by the car park (free after 6:30pm).

Highly recommended - with booking essential even in early June when most places were quiet. Booking was very easily done on the web site. Like many places in France, tips are cash only - we left to get cash and came back as it was...

Choice is unnecessary when the two options are as on point as they are here. I've seen menus with dozens of choices, none of which are the light this moth flies towards. The rump steak is about as good as this cut gets, and the assembly with the mushroom mustard and brown butter puts it over the top. Similarly, the walnut and orange make the decadent monkfish crudo as special as that birthday you had that you actually enjoyed. The desserts, too, are excellent. The chocolate mousse is as close to mine in quality and execution. The flan is the best I've ever had, though the promised kaffir lime got lost somewhere over the pacific. The syrup is as excellent as the crust. The appetisers are very good too. I'd like the terrine warmed to 30c, so the rabbit fat loosens the flavours to escape. France seems to love thin shaved raw courgette currently. It's not winning me over, but the rest of the dish is splendid. The only let downs are the sides. This town has terrific levain naturale baguatte about 80m away. The chips are a little stale, and the vegetables diced too small to be effective or photogenic. But these are small quibbles around a wonderful meal. Great service from the family team and a room as pleasurable as a hug from your...

Wonderful little Bistro with very friendly informal vibe. Two mains to choose.....rump steak cooked to perfection with charred exterior and then sliced to reveal the pink middle served with brown butter and infinite bowls of home made frites and steamed veg. The other choice is line caught fish of the day. Both were just perfect! The wine list is small but high quality eg we had a chenin from Jacky Blot at Montlouis and a more local cabernet franc. Dessert was Grandmother's orange cake drizzled with the Saumur orange liqueur. Definitely a place to book for simple high...