"We had been told that we could expect something out of the ordinary. If we wanted loads of chips, large portions and a hearty country menu then it would not be for us. We arrived to a cheerful welcome, really cold beer and a local aperitif. A choice of three starters, three main course and three desserts – sometimes, we were told, there might be less choice. Tomato confit for my wife. I had the cured salmon. Both visually beautiful, both immaculately prepared with subtle, clean flavours. Then lamb cutlets on a bed of potato fingers plus myrtle berries, peas and BBQ’d maize and a red and yellow sweet pepper. The fingers were thin layers of potato that had been gently pressed in a terrine then smoked! I had the cod plus a mixture of peas and beans plus very young asparagus on a bed of avocado puree. The cod (as was everything) was cooked to perfection. Both dishes were beautifully presented. For desert I had strawberries, many were wild, with a home prepared strawberry sorbet that had an intense clean flavour. My wife had the chocolat gateau that looked dry but tasted moist (gluten free), served with wild cherries plus home prepared cherry sorbet. So good. All this served on the terrace which has lovely views over the valley. Totally tranquillity and amazing food. Such perfection would normally cost an arm and a leg but no, only €12.50 each. The chef and his partner previously trained and worked at the Ritz. It shows as this food is rarely found outside of very up market restaurants. They are very young and, of course, at their age cannot be expected live and work in the middle of nowhere for ever. Their aim is to serve refined, beautifully prepared and presented food. They succeed. If you want the experience of the year at a price that will never be bettered then you had better eat here before they move on to greater things. Totally exceptional and the best food I have eaten for a very, very long time."
