Le Bernon

At lunchtime, the menu du jour is great value, and the restaurant draws plenty of locals and local businesses. There’s a good range of local wines, too. The French food is tasty, a mix of traditional dishes and more inventive cooking, all at a reasonable price. In winter, a big log fireplace sits in the middle of the pleasant, fairly contemporary dining room. The summer terrace fills up in season, and you’ll need a reservation on weekends.

A hidden gem, with a seasonal menu that uses local ingredients in creative ways. The wine list is great, and the prices are fair.

The food was fantastic, and the team were just as lovely. We speak very little French, but they were gracious and happy to help us.

The fish, lieu, was perfect for both of us. My husband’s salad with At Marcellin pané was excellent, and I tried it too. My warm calamars salad was good, though a bit heavy for a first course. For dessert, he had the nougat glace. My salted caramel and speculos “tiramisu” had an irresistible mix of flavours, but it was very rich and a little too sweet. There wasn’t a lady-finger-like layer, so it was more like a salted caramel and mascarpone parfait. Still divine, and I had to take a photo. Coffee was fine. The other diners were a delight to watch, with just a little pleasant, unobtrusive interaction. The children were adorable, quiet and polite, and the dogs behaved well. Service was young, efficient and agreeable, and the chef seems creative. Very nice, we were happy.