La Boule D'or

We attended a seminar here, and although everything looked appealing at first, the rooms turned out to be very uneven in quality. Some had only a fitted sheet, while others had cold water and a sink that wouldn't drain. We'd told them the day before that we wouldn't be there for some meals, yet we were charged for them. We were also pressed to go to the restaurant at the set time, which cut our meeting short. Then the food took a very long time to arrive, even though we had a train to catch. For a 3-star hotel and restaurant, the customer service was far below par.

The food was excellent, and the portions were generous. Our room was spacious, with very comfortable bedding, and the location was ideal. We did feel a bit cold in the room, though we understood it was mid-December and a very old house. We had a wonderful stay at La Boule d'Or, and the welcome was warm. Highly recommended.

The service at the table was excellent, and the meal was great value. I only went to the restaurant, where the food was high quality, nicely presented, and full of lovely flavors. There was a good range of dishes, and the desserts stood out: familiar classics with a modern touch. Well done!

Chinon is lovely to wander around, and its fortress is worth a visit. The restaurant is very good, nearly gourmet, and offers good value. I especially noted the chef's current signature dish, a traditional cassoulet reworked with regional ingredients, particularly rillon. The regional cheese platter was lovely too. The setting is beautiful, with a warm welcome, right in the heart of Chinon near the banks of the Vienne River.