Le Cottage de Clairefontaine — Restaurant in Vienne

Le Cottage is the modest sister establishment of the Domaine de Clairefontaine and, although omitted in the Guide Michelin, offers rooms in addition to an excellent brasserie.||First the rooms: there are 12 in total - 9 'simple,' 2 'de-luxe' and 1 apartment - decorated in a modern style with tasteful colours and decor. They are well but basically equipped (showers only, no shaving mirror in the bathroom).||The brasserie offers a limited menu - however, catering for all tastes (including vegetarian). The set menu offers outstanding value at 30 € and a broad and well selected (French) wine list accompanies the menu. The dining room is bright (with lots of natural light) and pleasingly styled in a modern manner with red, white and black the predominant colours. Outside dining on a broad terrace is offered in summer.||There is lots of car parking and the whole is located above the local village on a generous, quiet site with extensive greenery. Surprising since it's only 10 minutes from the busy A7 autoroute.||Dogs are welcome, including in the dining room (unlike in the nearby, Michelin-starred Domaine de Clairefontaine).||Although the breakfast is very French (a selection of breads and Viennoiseries plus honey and jams), the friendly staff satisfy additional requests (eggs, cheese, charcuterie, freshly squeezed juices etc) both efficiently and with a smile.||The nicest surprise, though, was the bill. A quiet, overnight stay in top surroundings for two people plus two dogs with a quality three course dinner (including apéritifs and wine) and breakfast for a total of 350 €. And the dogs enjoyed their walks in the garden and appreciated the abundance of litter bins for depositing their deposits.||We shall return. Viatores ed...

What a relaxed place! And called a cottage! The definition comes from the detail. Don't get fooled and turn up at Domaine de Clairefontaine which is restaurant plus chateaux accommodation 1 km away; and closer to the highway. Drive by and out of Chonas-L'Amballan to the Cottage, essentially a bistro, also with accommodation.||We were running late after leaving four days of indulgence in Burgundy; and ate lightly before visiting Guigal nearby in Ampuis. It was very sunny so we sat outside at a large round table, black table cloths keeping us radiated too; first plate being gazpacho. Great iced soup, a Spanish classic; here an equal, local fresh and own variety of tomato topped off the experience. Wine was white Rhone of course- for Aussies, marsanne and friends. ||Next was risotto, capturing the seasonality of asparagus; it was literally everywhere, including wild foraged examples; grand. It was washed along with recent vintages of Cotes du Rhones; 2015s.||The cottage was excellent; great sunny deck, other French chilling over casual lunch; top service; very good place to be as the second tier of chef Philippe Girardon. Good value when I arranged a common menu; though very difficult to convince the restaurant by email from Australia of what was required, and to take my booking. Eventually my hotel called to transfer my inquiry, and email worked (writing in French).||Lunch Score 15||The writer is a wine and travel professional;...

What a relaxed place! And called a cottage! The definition comes from the detail. Don't get fooled and turn up at Domaine de Clairefontaine which is restaurant plus chateaux accommodation 1 km away; and closer to the highway. Drive by and out of Chonas-L'Amballan to the Cottage, essentially a bistro, also with accommodation.||We were running late after leaving four days of indulgence in Burgundy; and ate lightly before visiting Guigal nearby in Ampuis. It was very sunny so we sat outside at a large round table, black table cloths keeping us radiated too; first plate being gazpacho. Great iced soup, a Spanish classic; here an equal, local fresh and own variety of tomato topped off the experience. Wine was white Rhone of course- for Aussies, marsanne and friends. ||Next was risotto, capturing the seasonality of asparagus; it was literally everywhere, including wild foraged examples; grand. It was washed along with recent vintages of Cotes du Rhones; 2015s.||The cottage was excellent; great sunny deck, other French chilling over casual lunch; top service; very good place to be as the second tier of chef Philippe Girardon. Good value when I arranged a common menu; though very difficult to convince the restaurant by email from Australia of what was required, and to take my booking. Eventually my hotel called to transfer my inquiry, and email worked (writing in French).||Lunch Score 15||The writer is a wine and travel professional;...