Roussillon
David

David

pl. de la Poste, 84220 Roussillon, France

Français • Européen • Provençal • Restaurants


"David's chef Emmanuel Champion left in the New Year and the restaurant was closed for redecoration. This is the first time we have been there since then and I am very sorry to say that, although the patron and one waiter are the same everything else has changed.Gone is the stylish but comfortable decor, the fresh table linen and in their place are wood-effect topped tables, heavy and rather low chairs but worst of all to traditionalist me, fake leather table mats.The two set price menus have the same offering of two choices for each of three courses but with a couple of exceptions these were neither seasonal nor especially local. The wine list is pretty much as it was.This new chef has a great deal to learn. His cooking is somewhat lacking in finesse.The first course of foie gras was not melt in mouth and was strangely topped with a chocolate flavoured jelly which I thought didn't work. The toasted brioche served with it was welcome as was the very small serving of chutney.The main dish was just clumsy. It sounded hopeful: John Dory with a boullabaisse sauce. The sauce was a lacking-in-flavour foam and the overcooked fish was sitting on two huge pieces of potato, also overcooked and a lump of carrot. I couldn't finish mine.Both desserts contained chocolate and I chose the bananas flambeed in rum on a biscuit. The bananas were cold cut into identical cylinders with a mousse in the middle, but the rum had escaped. I asked for the accompanying chocolate ice cream not to be served.I feel really sorry having to write this review because we have known and loved David since the early 1980s through the then third generation owner and chef, the present owner and his first chef to last night.I know, things, especially in food have to move on but............"

Le Piquebaure

Le Piquebaure

Route de Gordes, 84220 Roussillon, Gordes, France

Steak • Poisson • Français • Végétarien


"Mid August, the height of the season, on a very warm evening. We had reserved in advance essential if you wish to have a table on the terrace with its superb view across the valley to the Vaucluse hills, with Mont Ventoux rising majestically behind....We had an enjoyable and tasty meal. Starters were either a group of four mini starters or in my case a delicious chilled tomato velouté. We both had a braised beef dish which melted in the mouth wonderful. Desserts were refreshing and perfectly adapted for a very warm evening. A tiny cup of black coffee rounded the whole thing off perfectly. Wines are predominantly Provençal Rhône Valley, some a tad pricey but our bottle of rosé from the local Domaine de la Royère was quite simply the best rosé I have had in years. Service could not be faulted friendly and perfectly paced despite every table being taken. With a champagne apéritif the bill came to €130 for two, good value considering the pricey but wonderful rosé. (There is an additional foie gras course for an extra 6 euros each. So: where's the snag? It is that, on a calm evening, one couple, apparently unaware of the effect they were having on everyone else, was smoking on the terrace. The smoke drifted around the terrace and we all got the benefit at one point or another. I want to give five stars for value but alas can not in this case. However, I shall not hesitate to return to this fine restaurant."