Logis Hotel L'Embarcadère

The view over the turquoise lake from our white tablecloth table was lovely, and the menu, with prix fixe and à la carte choices including the local quenelle, made us hopeful about lunch. The restaurant is in a charming little mountain town, but the visit on a Saturday afternoon fell short of the gastronomic experience suggested by the prices and setting. A sign said lunch was full, though only four or five tables seemed occupied, mostly by parties of eight to ten, and the dining room looked largely empty. We were seated kindly. The young servers seemed unsure about the menu, amuse-bouches, and bread and butter. Our starter came fairly quickly, then the main courses took a very long time, even though we had been warned of a 20-minute wait for the quenelle. I had the local roasted hen, which was bland and dry, with wilted green beans. The quenelle was interesting, but its texture reminded me of South Asian fish balls. After the meal, we waited around 30 minutes for someone to offer dessert or coffee, then gave up and asked for the bill at the hotel front desk. It was an underwhelming meal. I hope they can improve things with more trained staff and a slower pace that doesn’t become unpleasantly slow.

Great location, but the reception needs someone who speaks Italian or at least English.

8 May 2025: Sadly, the food has gone downhill a lot. We’ve been back to the restaurant twice since July 2024, and the meals were well below standard, although the service was good. I ordered jambo a l’os, but got pork chops with a sort of mushroom sauce instead. They were overcooked and chewy. The other dishes were okay, but this no longer feels like fine cuisine. It’s a real shame because the location is so nice and the service has been very good. 😢🙁 7 July 2024: We used to come often for the restaurant and its lovely view of lake Nantua. The staff were very friendly, and the food was refined French cuisine. On our last visit, half the menu was unavailable, but they made up for it with good alternatives. There’s private parking behind the hotel.

The hotel is very nice and right across from lake Nantua. Our room was comfortable, clean, and modern. We had dinner at the restaurant, which was quite good and had a children’s menu, though it wasn’t any cheaper. The service, however, wasn’t up to the same standard.