L'atrium - Salies-de-Béarn

We had not planned to eat here but the setting of the hotel looked so inviting that we decided to have lunch, a meal that turned out to be excellent and very good value compared to the prices in Biarritz where we were staying. It seemed to be popular with the locals which is always a good sign. The food was beautifully presented and perfectly cooked there was plenty of choice on the menu and dishes came with vegetables which after spending two weeks in this region where they are rarely seem was a pleasant surprise. Our waitress was friendly and efficient. We would love to return.

One of the best meals I have had in France or elsewhere. 28 euro set menu, 3 wonderful courses with great choice. Lovely terrace overlooking a garden. Truly imaginative food and loads of it. Foie gras and smoked duck salad starter (or sesame seed dressed chicken); main St Pierre (like plaice); dessert a simply superb lemon moelleux cake with home made curd and sauce. Decent wine at 1.80 a glass and free water.

The food is tasty, fresh and the plates are full. The salads are particularly huge.The service is a little too fast as we would have liked to have time to digest before having the next dish. The receptionist at the restaurant (never the same one) was not always very welcoming. The room is beautiful, end of 19e century. The tables are not next to each other so you can have privacy while you eat. The tables next to the windows are the most interesting as you have the view on the park. The decor is sober, shade of greys. Prices are very reasonable including the wine although not very much choice for the wine (2 local white wine for example).

On arrival in Salies before the start of the season, Au fils du temps was one of the restaurants open regularly... consequently we ate here a few times during April. While the menu is a little stuffy, the dining room is part of the renovated art deco casino in the thermal town of Salies de Bearn. The service is consistently well meaning but hit and miss and the food while conservative is nicely presented and pretty tasty. Very good value with menu du jour at around €16 - €20 depending upon selection. Also offer a great tapas plate (and beer) for €6 after 5pm... Great on the balcony overlooking the garden.If you are in Salies, definitely worth dropping by if only for a coffee or a beer on the balcony.