Du Commerce - Paulhan

Gave this restaurant a five star review last year. Regrettably following our last visit our opinion has turned full circle. Gone has the friendly warm welcome that we once received and clearly this establishment is now suffering from overcrowding and lack of staff at the lunchtime opening.Standard of meals has deteriorated as has the sanitary facilities. Regrettably we will not be returning and would advise other to do the same.

Every Sunday there is a vide grenier (empty attic the French equivalent of a car boot sale) in Paulhan. The sun was shining as we circled the stalls before sitting outside for a cup of coffee at the Café du Commerce. One of our party, who lives in the village, had booked a table for lunch. I held out no hopes for anything decent to eat and, because the sun was shining, a table was laid for the six of us on the terrace. I 'd imagined lousy food brought to the table via freezer and microwave. How wrong can one be! This book 's cover was totally misleading. Madame, who has a wicked sense of humour, brought out one steaming dish after another, the food was delicious and the portions generous. Three plates of huge gambas (six each) cooked in garlic and parsley with a salad and homemade chips. The other dishes chosen by our party of six were baked Camembert and mushroom omelette. It was all scrumptious and a joy to be eating outside in the sun on the 28th February. We were lucky; next day the whole of the Hèrault was deep in snow!

We've had a secondary residence in Paulhan for almost 15 years and we always make a pilgrimage to The Commerce Bar -- perhaps the only restaurant in town that has been owned and managed by the same people since we arrived. Before A-75 bypassed the town and N9 - a National Road, this was The Place truckers ate, showered, hung out, and got refreshed to continue their trips.Some truckers still pay homage and eat very straightforward food and socialize. For the rest of us -- we get the luncheon menu at that price in the evenings when the ingredients are still fresh. It's a relatively cheap meal and always well portioned and very well served and always with a very nice house wine and homemade desserts... I could tell many Commerce Bar stories.... my friend Harry winning the pumpkin weight competition and my wife learning the values of pumpkin soup... the World Cup match screening in the courtyard as the lone Italy fan was taped to the tree and ridiculed until Zidane's head-butt.... or the recently made marry widows who do coffee almost every morning at The Bar and have their hands shaken or cheeks air-kissed thrice by everyone... yes, everyone... who enters the bar because they knew these woman when they and their husbands were regular customers who managed their French with English accents and very delightful smiles.As my profile will tell you, I've been many places and eaten in many restaurants and The Commerce Bar is one of the must-stop and be-seen places in this region.Don't waste another moment... visit it and tell them Ann and Clair sent you!

Best bar/restaurant of my life Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 5

Cabaret meal