RESTAURANTS WE HAVE LOVED AND SOME WE HAVE LOST.

 L'AUBERGE DU VAL DE VIENNE, SAZILLY.

We first visited this restaurant many years ago, possibly in 2010.  It was a recommendation of Jim Budd, as being handy for lunch during a wine buying/tasting day.  It's not far from Chinon and the numerous wine makers along the Vienne valley.  

I love the saucepan sign that hangs outside.  It is always nice and shiny and I wonder whose job it is to keep it perfectly polished.

These photos were taken in 2012, when we were doing a winetasting tour of Chinon with Ken and Walt.  The restaurant has been redecorated and updated since then.  The food remains excellent value, being not expensive for a really good menu du jour.

We learned early on in our gastronomic adventures in France that it pays to arrive early unless you have booked a table.  12.00 midday is our usual aim.  Any later and you may find that all the tables are taken, or, if you're much later, that if there have been no customers the restaurant has decided to close for the day! 

Another thing we learned is that it's always worth having an apéritif because with that you get the amuse bouche.  This is a selection of little appetisers, or nibbles, usually home made and very tasty, sometimes the best part of the meal.

I'm always pleased to see a small number of choices on the menu because that means they're more likely to be freshly made.

As there were four of us, between us we had one of everything on the menu. 

We've been back to this restaurant at least once and often two or three times most years.

  It was still open when we were last chez nous in the summer of 2020 and you can see its website here.