Le galoubin

With nowhere else nearby, this is well worth stopping at. It's a 2* hotel out in the middle of nowhere, so keep your expectations modest when you arrive. We did, and it turned out to be a delightful surprise. The short menu isn't cheap, but the home cooking is good, the service is pleasant, and the wine list is very good value. We had a Kir for 2€ a glass before dinner, and the 14€ Cotes du Rhone was more than acceptable. The regional menu focuses on Franche-Comte specialities with deep, developed flavours. The twice-baked soufflé was delicious, so much so that my husband ordered it again on our return visit. The Café Gourmand was also a very good example of its kind. We stopped in on the way upriver, enjoyed the meal, then came back on our way down. On the first visit, our main course arrived cold. Our charming waitress cheerfully took it away and reheated it when we asked. The second time, the Entrecôte was disappointingly thin, but cooked perfectly, and it was the best tasting meat we'd been served in France so far. The vegetables on the side looked like a dog's dinner, yet tasted absolutely delicious.

The cooking is down home and the prices are reasonable. If you're not staying at the Hotel, the service can be a bit short on politeness.

We booked seven rooms for our wedding guests. The manager was very friendly, and the room quality and owner's kindness helped redeem the stay. His wife, though, gave us an appalling welcome, with no smile or kind word. It's a shame one person's behavior could spoil it like that, and she should definitely think about a different line of work.

The welcome was very good, but the meal left me disappointed. There wasn't much to choose from among the appetizers, main courses, or desserts, and the prices seemed high for the quality. My chicken was dry and had very little sauce. The frozen fries and cinnamon-spiced vegetables weren't to everyone's taste.