L'essentiel - Saumur

Une salle magnifique et une équipe de serveurs aussi sympathiques les uns que les autres. Les saveurs sont délicieuses et les présentations dans l'assiette sont impeccables. Nous avons vraiment apprécié notre repas.

Lors de notre voyage à vélo à travers la Loire pour l'anniversaire de ma chérie en mai dernier, le hasard des étapes nous a conduits à Saumur, et surtout à l'Essentiel. J'avais repéré ce restaurant sur TripAdvisor pour ses excellents avis et réservé une table bien à l'avance. Mais une fois à l'intérieur, nous avons été époustouflés ! Un design épuré et discret, un service ultra professionnel et très sympathique, une cuisine remarquablement savoureuse, tant par la qualité des ingrédients utilisés que par l'association réussie des différentes saveurs. Mais la véritable star du spectacle est la cave. Grâce au sommelier de la maison (un type génial), nous avons dégusté un Bourgueil Grand Mont 2020 à tomber par terre (à l'époque de notre visite, le restaurant n'avait que 6 bouteilles en cave en raison d'une production très restreinte, le vin étant vendu sur pied). Rien que pour cette bouteille, nous avons été définitivement conquis par cet établissement et nous y retournerons absolument si nous repassons dans la ville. Essentiel.

Experience without fault: presentation of very well-kept dishes, quality products, tastes and cuisine mastered to perfection, originality, chords and wines very fair, all for a reasonable price. we will finally regret the size of the portions (it is so good that we would eat more) service at the top. You can go with your eyes closed!

We're probably evaluating our meal here among the top 20 we've ever had! it was excellent in every sight and this small atmospheric restaurant deserves its michelin recognition we were 3 nights in the hotel anne d’Anjou and I had assumed that this was the hotel restaurant and she asked for a reservation in our first night. I had not searched any details and only at the arrival I discovered that it was actually owned and managed independently of the hotel and in the did, while a part of the building has separate access. the personal was perfect. and friendly, without being ott. we chose one of the flavors that came with different amuse bouche extras. the scallop essence was especially good. our starter was foie gras followed by the best cooked lamb I tasted. my soufflé was also done and the cheese card of my wife offered a great selection of well-presented local products. the wine list was comprehensive and favorable. we chose a local saumur wein. there is a master chef here. we wanted to book again before we were gone, but unfortunately the restaurant was already fully booked. they would be very happy to get a table here without reservation. only one problem occurred when my bill was raised by a wrong decimal point by 10x. I even signed it! this was immediately determined by the staff and an immediate refund. the last bill represented really excellent value. we would like to return and recommend L’essentiel best.

I had been looking forward to visiting 'L 'essentiel ' for quite a time since discovering it while wandering around this atmospheric 'quartier ' of Saumur in the summer. We don 't eat out very often but as it was our son 's birthday we decided to book the restaurant, anticipating something very special. The positive elements: Excellent service, especially the head waiter friendly, welcoming, efficient, the order taken swiftly and about the right amount of time before the starter and ensuing courses. The restaurant is as I said, beautiful, with subtle decor; warm on a very cold evening non invasive jazz, and the sound balance is great no overbearing sound of voices even though the restaurant was busy. The more negative points: sadly, the food . . .apart from my husband 's starter of delicious but rather paltry) roasted celery, my son 's main course and the dessert which I will come back to, I felt rather cheated. The portions hailed back to ultra 'nouvelle cuisine ': tiny, fussy, but without being particularly creative, and on the whole not well seasoned. I had been given an elegant fish knife with which it was impossible to tackle the very muscly tuna I had been served. Maybe it 's me but I was expecting something succulent and tasty sadly not. But then, what do I know ... Gault&Millau said theirs was sensational... I had asked about the 'plat végétarien ' as I was curious to see what the chef would come up with, but was told in a rather disparaging tone that it was 'just little vegetables '. Odd this, in a time when people are beginning to realise that vegetables are in fact superstars of the plate, and! we are very blessed in this region with some of the best producers of organic vegetables. Last final whinge, it would be nice to be able to choose a decent house wine without re mortgaging the house. I appreciate that many people are passionate about wine and are willing or able to spend a great deal on a bottle; sadly, we are not, but are used to good establishments having an adequate choice for more modest budgets. Ending on a higher note: the special birthday cake we had ordered a fantastical melange of cream, sponge, fresh fruit, chocolate and with its accompanying raspberry coulis was truly memorable, in a good way!