Cristal Hotel Restaurant

Le Gambetta

➤ 12 Rue Gambetta, 49400 Saumur, France, French Republic

Européen • Français • Restaurants • Gastronomie De Premier Choix

---

"This is my third visit to Gambetta over many years. It has been consistently serving great experimental food , and with all great experimentation there are occasional things that do not work but that is acceptable. In general what works here is almost everything and there is a richness of variety and the experience is over all very enjoyable. I have always thought that thier tasting menu was what to go for because this is where you want to experience the wide repertoire. So the mise en bouche was remarkable with crab meat wrapped with smoked salmon and a delicious oyster amongst others. This was followed by a starter which was a modern take on Paella and this was very effective. John Dory based plate followed and then a sort of 'panache' of three different bits of lamb including some offal which is not to everyone's taste. The dessert was a mixture based on lemon and was excellent but what didn't work was the wasabi 'creme brule'. This was indeed an amazing gastronomic experience. I chose the wine pairings with the meal chosen by the restaurant. This cost and extra 43 Euro per person for 4 glasses of wine of 10 cls each. This was not good value. The wine with the starter was a rather indifferent wine from the south west of France which was a blend of Ugni Blanc. The wine with the John Dory was a good Graves. But the greatest disappointment was the red which was a Morgon 2010 followed by a pleasant sparkling Saumur with the dessert. So why was the wine so disappointing in a region that is so rich with all sort of wines a sthe Loire valley? Why was there no dessert wine from Vouvray or cotes de Layon with the dessert. I already had a pink sparkling Saumur as an apparetif and another sparkling one with the dessert simply was an anticlimax. As to the red wine, this was unpleasant. The reason for this I suspect is that the wine has been opened more than 24 hours before and then treated with a vacu-vin. This method leaves a wine that looses it flavour but maintains all the heaviness. There is a distinct character to such a wine. I commented on this to the waiter and did not drink the wine but there was no reaction from the waiter or the owners and no attempt to address this in any way. A similar experience had occurred to me previously in a previous visit in which I mentioned this to the waiter who told me there was nothing wrong with the wine and refused to replace it. So this experience would not put me off Gambetta because of the quality of the food. What it would do however is to avoid the wine pairings and choose from the extensive and great wine list with numerous half bottles. I would advise others to do the same."

La Bourse

➤ 1 Place de la Bilange, 49400, Saumur, France

Gril • Barres • Français • Européen

---

"Beginning of September on two occasions we have dinner with a terrace menu in this establishment. Rarely we attributed a 5/5. But here all the positive points were at the rendezvous, welcome, setting, service, presentation of the dishes and there notes all smoothly... We highly recommend. Good continuation to the three people who contribute to these good times spent in Saumur. A couple from Liège... Public parking is three minutes free after 6:30pm..."

Keating Steak and Wine House

➤ 1 Place Saint Pierre, 49400, Saumur, France

Steak • Sushis • Français • Asiatique

---

"excellent meat (the word is low, a cast iron and an unmatched taste) and perfectly grasped. original entries. beautiful room for this restaurant well placed on one of the beautiful places of saumur. I recommend for meat lovers and a good atmosphere. impeccable service and very pleasant."

Le Pot de Lapin

➤ 37 rue Rabelais, 49400, Saumur, France

Sushis • Poisson • Européen • Français

---

"There was six of us for dinner - celebrating my wife's birthday. My wife and I had been here before and we were so impressed she wanted to come back here for her birthday dinner.We had lots of drinks - Cremant de Loire for an aperitif - excellent.... , a very good local white wine with starters a great local red for mains and a superb sweet with puddings. All the wines were excellent. We also had a couple of beers and ciders. All the drinks were very reasonably priced and excellent.The food was all very lovely and cooked perfectly, and all looked great and appetising. All food is on a daily blackboard - no set menus - everything fresh very day and a changing menu according to local product availability.The staff / owners were extremely friendly and made us very welcome. Food and drinks were explained when required. Service was excellent and unobtrusive. We were seated outside on a pleasant and warm evening.We will certainly return again next time we are in Saumur.Highly recommend."

Auberge reine de sicile

➤ 71 rue Waldeck Rousseau, 49400, Saumur, France

Kebab • Poisson • Européen • Français

---

"We have been going there for 18+year's it was was excellent then but it has got better, the family is very friendly and accommodating excellent food and wine we always leave with a big smile John and Ann."