Hotel L'Ancienne Auberge

The bread and the bottle of Corbières wine were the only parts of the meal I really liked. I expected more from a place with that name, especially as someone who knows the region. The food was disappointing. We hoped for a generous charcuterie board, and the cheese board turned out to be just one slice of raclette. The little one ordered strawberry ice cream, but its topping had a rubbery texture and seemed a bit old. A child also had flan, with overcooked, bitter caramel at the bottom. With set menus costing €20 and €27, I found the whole thing outrageous.

We were on motorcycles, and the owners let us use a garage for them free of charge. The place is also handy for the Yellow Train, with the station about a 10-minute walk away. The owners and staff were very friendly, and the food was good and plentiful. Rooms are small but comfortable and clean.

The red wine was the one decent part, though it wasn't local. We came as a group of six expecting good food from Capcir and chose the €27 Catalan set menu. The charcuterie board was meager, just two slices of chorizo, a slice of sausage and a little pâté. Portions across the dishes were inconsistent, and the sharing plates seemed badly put together, perhaps because of a lack of skill. For dessert we got strawberry ice cream with a rubbery lid, which made it seem expired, even for a child. The three cheese boards were a joke too: only one slice of raclette cheese. Everything tasted lifeless. It was the worst restaurant experience of our lives.

The owners seem to care about making guests happy, and the welcome was perfect. Our room was comfortable, and we ate very well. The food was both plentiful and good quality, and the price was very fair. Nothing to complain about.