66 replies to this topic

[menton1]

The 2 restaurants I mentioned above are Michelin 1-star. As a mater of fact, ironically, the Conde Nast Traveller (British Edition) has an article about Bordeaux in this month's edition. Don't know if the British version is online, though. And they mentioned both restaurants.

St-Emilion is about 40 km from Bordeaux.

Edited to add:

We have a review and photos right here on Egullet of the Hostellerie de Plaisance:

http://forums.egulle...showtopic=82594

Edited by menton1, 20 February 2006 - 01:58 PM.

[Phil Ward]

Good day all,
Heading to Bordeaux next week. Have three nights for dining. No need for romantic as this is a solo trip.
Would like: regional, casual, fun, wine focused or screamingly good.

Thanks
Phil

[Kate Hill]

In BDX itself, the fab La Tupina for traditional SW fare and the Cafe des Arts near the Opera for a good crowd and people watching. And there are some interesting 'workingmen's' cafes located near the wholesale market and abbatoir section of the city (east of the train station) specialising in offal and other traditional fare. This turns into a club area at night and can be more fun that you bargain far! Also the newly arranged river walk area along the Garonne is attracting cafe and bistros worth visiting along with the city's hip set and an easy walk from the city center hotels. enjoy!

[John Talbott]

From tinyhandfull’s comment on the Map thread

ps-if anyone has any dining suggestions in the bordeaux/bergerac region & surrounding areas, it would be very helpful!

You should consider La Cape, see upthread, which now has a star.

[tinyhandful]

thank you so much kate, for your suggestions (your blog is fabulous btw!). a girlfriend of mine says that her "favourite restaurant in the ENTIRE WORLD" is in bordeaux. too bad she can't remember said favourite restaurant's name. *sigh*

clue #1: by the opera.
clue #2: only serves beef dip & fries

does this ring a bell to anyone?

apologies for my ignorance, but is beef dip/french dip even really french?

[tinyhandful]

clue #1: by the opera. 
clue #2: only serves beef dip & fries

does this ring a bell to anyone? 

silly me... found out it was actually just STEAK & FRIES and the restaurant is L'Entrecote. has anyone been? is it worth the trip?

i will be making a rezzo at La Tupina shortly, but when googl'ing Le Cape, i couldn't find any information. does anyone know of a website, address, or phone number?

thanks much!

[John Talbott]

but when googl'ing Le Cape, i couldn't find any information.  does anyone know of a website, address, or phone number?

It's technically located in Cenon, which is the Pest to Bordeaux's Buda, but it's just a few minutes across the river. La Cape, 9 allee Morlette, 05.57.80.24.25 closed 1-21 August, Christmas holidays, Saturdays, Sunday and holidays. It just got a star so I'd reserve. It's #22 on the via Michelin map.

[millions]

I've just returned from a wonderful vacation in France, where we were able to visit 3 Michelin starred restaurants (Jean Bardet and Hostellerie La Briqueterie being the other two), and Hostellerie De Plaisance was our favorite of the three.

The service was impeccable, the atmosphere refined without being stuffy, and the food absolutely delicious. In addition, the dinner was by far the most affordable of the three. We chose the lightest tasting menu, which was to be 3 courses for, IIRC 55 euros (we also had the wine parings for 50), but were treated to 2 wonderful amuses, as well as an incredible selection of petit fours.

It truly was a spectacular meal. I'll be dreaming of the foie gras and wild mushroom ravioli for some time.

[Ptipois]

i will be making a rezzo at La Tupina shortly, but when googl'ing Le Cape, i couldn't find any information.

Probably because it is La Cape.

[John Talbott]

i will be making a rezzo at La Tupina shortly, but when googl'ing Le Cape, i couldn't find any information.

Probably because it is La Cape.

I've been repeating that error time after time. It's also in Cenon not Bordeaux. Google La Cape Cenon and you'll get it.

[Abra]

Has anyone done a review of cannelés in Bordeaux? I'm going to have a pastry chef friend visiting and we want to go to Bordeaux and stuff ourself with the best cannelés there are.

[Christopher Haatuft]

My girlfriend just moved to Bordeaux and is wanting recommendations on cheap and good places to eat. What are your best student-budget picks?

[Christopher Haatuft]

My girlfriend just moved to Bordeaux and is wanting recommendations on cheap and good places to eat. What are your best student-budget picks?

c'mon people? no good cheap places to eat in Bordeaux?

[bethesdabakers]

Well you can eat at La Tupina weekday lunchtime for 16€.

That's where I'd be.

Mick

[Abra]

Funny, I just read about La Tupina this evening on Dorie Greenspan's blog, and I'm already planning a visit. It sounds really lovely.

[Christopher Haatuft]

Well you can eat at La Tupina weekday lunchtime for 16€.

That's where I'd be.

Mick

thanks, thats a great! I'll tell her to check it out.

[PS]

La Tupina should be great on the cooler days of Autumn/Winter - we were there on a baking hot Summer evening and the massive range they cook beef, duck etc on just added to the heat. On a cold day/night, I'd imagine it will enhance the warm glow from the food no end.

[Duncan]

La Tupina should be great on the cooler days of Autumn/Winter - we were there on a baking hot Summer evening and the massive range they cook beef, duck etc on just added to the heat. On a cold day/night, I'd imagine it will enhance the warm glow from the food no end.

We went to La Tupina when we were in the Bordeaux region a couple of weeks ago (I've written about our visit on my blog). Perhaps we were lucky, but even though we ate inside the range was in another room entirely, so apart from an impressive display as we came in the door it played no other visible role during our visit.

La Tupina doesn't do dainty: make sure you are properly hungry when you go there as portion sizes are quite large.

The restaurant has its own valeted parking: Judy wasn't sure about trusting her right-hand drive car to some unknown parking system so we went for the nearby underground car park which was fine except that we missed the correct turn out to the main road on the exit and ended up trundling through the centre of Bordeax at 11pm behind a garbage truck. Interestingly when we ordered some wine the waitress asked if we were parked in their car park: I'm not sure if we'd have been allowed it if we had been (we got the rest of the bottle stoppered at the end of the meal).

[Christopher Haatuft]

How about a good brasserie in Bordeaux? Im there from thursday through sunday and so far I got a table at La Tupina for sunday night and I have a request for lunsj at Le Chapon Fin on friday. What do you guys know about Hauterive et rest. St-James? I see that you've all recommended La Cape, but are there other places in the town center that are good? Im on crutches and we dont have a car, so Id like to stay in the city if I can. But of course, if the food is a lot better on the other side of the fence...

[Christopher Haatuft]

What about Restaurant Gravelier?

[Christopher Haatuft]

Well I had a nice weekend in Bordeaux, with the highlight being oysters at the market and a nice dinner at La Tupina. We also ate at L' Entrecôte, but as much as I liked it at the time, Im left with a slight feeling of being ripped of. Not given a choice of wine and the dismal salad (semi-fresh salad, raw walnuts and vinaigrette) for a fixed price was just kind of boring. But I got a nice cheese plate. Dont get me wrong, the meat was good, but Id rather spend the hour standing in line somewhere else, next time. We also had lunch at La Bordelaise (spelling?), which was way under par. So next time I go, I will cook more nice food from the exelent supermarkets and mayby try on e of the one-star restaurants the city has to offer. The market on the last sunday of the month along the river is well worth checking out.

[FDE]

Just got back from our Bordeaux/Perigord trip. Visited the Capital of Black Truffle, but not as impressive as expected.

Had lots of foie gras during those few days, but this one in La Table was the best.



Full report here:
www.finediningexplorer.com/bordeaux

[John Talbott]

The March Travel & Leisure had an article by Alexandra Marshall on "Nouveau Bordeaux" that mentioned the following: Le Bar a Vins, Cafe Lavinal, Le Lion d'Or, Le Petit Commerce, Restaurant La Cape + La Tupina.

[John DePaula]

Does anyone know if La Tupina takes reservations or if they're needed? Their web site doesn't say.

Any other current (and inexpensive) recs for Bordeaux and environs?

[Weasel]

We turned up without a reservation and got straight in - but it was 9.45pm on a weeknight so I suspect that a reservation would be good if wanting an earlier slot. however, one of the good things about La Tupina and Bordeaux generally is quite late opening hours so lots of options for late dinners.

Would also recommend the sister place to La Tupina just up the road. A very small bar with simpler food but extremely cosy. When we were there some of the dishes were actually cooked at La Tupina and dashed up the street (eg cassoulet) otherwise the cooking facilities are limited to a stove behind the bar itself. Great for a glass of wine and saussison or pate.

Also, if you get the chance, take the train to St Emilion and eat at Le Clos de Roy - outstanding food at very reasonable prices. The 2 heaving cheeseboards and the delicate sweetbreads were highlights of my visit.

[John DePaula]

We turned up without a reservation and got straight in - but it was 9.45pm on a weeknight so I suspect that a reservation would be good if wanting an earlier slot.  however, one of the good things about La Tupina and Bordeaux generally is quite late opening hours so lots of options for late dinners.

Would also recommend the sister place to La Tupina just up the road.  A very small bar with simpler food but extremely cosy.  When we were there some of the dishes were actually cooked at La Tupina and dashed up the street (eg cassoulet) otherwise the cooking facilities are limited to a stove behind the bar itself.  Great for a glass of wine and saussison or pate.

Also, if you get the chance, take the train to St Emilion and eat at Le Clos de Roy - outstanding food at very reasonable prices.  The 2 heaving cheeseboards and the delicate sweetbreads were highlights of my visit.

Thanks you so much for the suggestions! I just got an email back from La Tupina and they were already full for the date I wanted; however, an opening at 22h30 was available. That may be a tad late for me.... Perhaps I'll give the sister place a try.

[Forest]

just bumping this up again as am wondering if anyone has any new suggestions on a place to eat in Bordeaux. I'm there for a weekend at the end of the month. We already have reservations for La Tupina on Saturday. I'm looking for something on Friday night - some of the girls get in a bit late, so something fun and casual that will serve after 9 or even 10pm. Maybe a bar a vins that serves munchies or light meals? And, bonus if it's close to our hotel which is the Hotel Continental 10, Rue Montesquieu. Any advice appreciated!

[pants]

just bumping this up again as am wondering if anyone has any new suggestions on a place to eat in Bordeaux.  I'm there for a weekend at the end of the month.  We already have reservations for La Tupina on Saturday.  I'm looking for something on Friday night - some of the girls get in a bit late, so something fun and casual that will serve after 9 or even 10pm.  Maybe a bar a vins that serves munchies or light meals?  And, bonus if it's close to our hotel which is the Hotel Continental 10, Rue Montesquieu.  Any advice appreciated!

Thanks for bumping this up Forest. Unfortunately I can't help as I have a similar question. We will be in Bordeaux on a Friday in March, and it is very hard to get a tour to the wineries at that time of year. So can anyone suggest somewhere to taste good Bordeaux wines and try some local foods at the same time? Thanks!

[John Talbott]

La Cape, said to be out of town but it's not. Click here.
Colette and I and Zouave have really liked it.

[Christopher Haatuft]

La Cape, said to be out of town but it's not.  Click here.
Colette and I and Zouave have really liked it.

I wanted to go when Annette and I was there, but we rented bikes which kept us within the city. I would recommend everyone to rent bikes to get around town. Its cheap and easy. Theres a bike rental place up at Place Gambetta.