Le Logis du Guetteur

The property is really unusual, and check-in was fantastic, easily an 11 out of 10. The room was another story: during a very hot August, the huge three-story room had only one tiny, barely working AC unit, and sleeping was impossible. The bathroom lock was on the outside of the door, and with no curtain, water ended up all over the floor, leaving a lot of moisture and a smell. Dinner was just okay and could use a lot of work. Drinks, or even basic water, didn’t arrive promptly, and empty plates could sit there for 10-20 minutes. The pool was dirty too. The skimmer flap needs to float so it can pull water off the surface. Instead, I ended up swimming among someone’s hair. Still, staying in such an old place is a unique experience.

The location is absolutely gorgeous and deserves a visit. The meal, though, was my worst experience yet. There were three vegetarians at our table, but the menu had nothing vegetarian on it. The kitchen could only offer a green salad to start and what may have been the worst mashed potatoes ever served in France as a main. Eating out as a vegetarian in France is already a gruelling, unpleasant experience, and the staff at Le Logis managed to make it even worse. The French waiters and chefs here seemed completely uninspired.

The head waiter came across as arrogant and stuck up, which was a real shame. The young woman serving us was friendly and smiling, and friendly service matters a lot to me. If it weren’t for the quality of the meal, I’d have rated the visit lower. Dinner itself was superb. We were four people and ordered just one starter, so the other three were given a surprise courgette flower starter. Everything was delicious, including our three different main courses. The veal and beef were both tender and cooked perfectly. We also had cold tomato soup, gazpacho, as an appetizer. One of us had crepes Suzette for dessert, and two coffees came with petit fours for everyone.

This was the biggest disappointment I’ve had in years, almost a traumatizing experience. The downtown restaurants are 100 times better, and their price to quality ratio is definitely better too.