Villa Saint Laurent

I booked the room last minute via booking.com not expecting much. A small operation off the ring road round Bergerac. Room OK and hotel appears to be a one man band but don’t be put off! They are very keen to please and dinner was superb.

We had a very pleasant evening. Three set menus, each strongly reflective of local produce, ranging from €mid-20 to low 40. Wine came after consultation and careful advice from the owner. I commend the service, food quality and laidback ambience. Just what an evening meal in France should be like...

Went with friends for lunch on New Year's Day. It was a set menu (at 45 euros) but they were willing to change a course if needed, which they did for one of us. The food was good. Each course was beautifully presented and the waiter (owner I think) was very helpful with the wines etc. Even my partner who is so fussy enjoyed the meal. It was expensive, but that was down to the champagne and expensive wines we chose. The restaurant wasn't full, only two tables in our room and the same I think in the other room. Would have been a better atmosphere if we were all in the same room.

We had passed the hotel many times and made an effort to be there for lunch, but when we arrived it was all closed up. To complicate matters so was the hotel reception and as we were on our way back to the car someone, who we discovered was one of the owners cam running after us. So why the confusion. We were told that the hotel restaurant only opens in the evenings, but the bistro,in the grounds of the hotel opens for lunch. To be frank the bistrot is rather plain, with no real divisions between the tables in this square and uninteresting box. The welcome however, ' after our fall at the first ' was warm and welcoming, one of the owners having lived in an area of the UK we know quite well. The other owner, French was also very friendly, and talked to us about why they bought the restaurant and their future plans. There was also some confusion regarding the cost of lunch, flyers that were available at the hotel reception quoted €14.50, but this we were latter told only applied if you choose the set menu of the day, we did not so we paid €17.50, no big deal but perhaps their advertising could be a little clearer. The starters were really excellent, well prepared, well presented and full of flavour. Our mains to were cooked to perfection, we had the steak, which came from the UK and was bursting with flavour. We skipped desert as we were more than satisfied. In my opinion the quality of the food and service here is really very good, and we will return, in fact we were told that the hotel restaurant was even better, so looks like we must plan a dinner there.

We stayed here on our way down to Southern France. The hotel was originally the main house to a vineyard and all the rooms have been renovated to a very high standard in somewhat of a classy 'shabby chic ' style. We stayed in the economy room which was very comfortable with on suite facilities if a little on the small side but (which is most important) a very comfy bed. The proprietor could not have been more helpful and the food we had was delicious. We would defiantly stay there again and can recommend it . It would be ideal to explore the nearby city of Bergerac.