Last December Laurent Vialette opened this wonderful little restaurant in the centre of the old town in Bordeaux in a place where there used to be a Michelin-starred restaurant called Le Plaisir d’Auson. Laurent worked there as sommelier and when they closed he took over the restaurant, renamed it and at the same time he has opened a wine shop further down the street with an extensive selection of both old and new vintages. (Laurent is a bit of a specialist in old vintages and writes on the subject in La Revue du Vin de France). You can also buy olive oils, balsamic vinegar, and food and wine books.
The restaurant has a very interesting menu based around fresh products and “simple” preparation to keep and enhance the aromas and tastes of the ingredients. The cook comes from Chateau de la Chevre d’Or on the Cote d’Azur that has two Michelin stars. Many of the dishes are served in small or large sizes. You choose what you want depending on if you hunger, or depending on if you take it as a starter or a main course. An excellent idea. The risotto is a speciality that is served either with cèpes mushrooms or with langoustines.
If you feel overwhelmed by the choice or just feel a bit adventurous go for the chef’s menu surprise for 45 euro. Add 30 euro and the wines are included and you are guaranteed an experience of both food and wine. Or you can pick the wine from a wine list that does take a while to read (or ask Laurent and he might have something special to suggest). Only thing to add is that the decoration is a discrete and well made mix of old and new. Laurent has also designed a wine decanter that is both easy to pour from, easy to hold and very original (see picture). It will be manufactured and sold by Spiegelau that Laurent represents in France.
Unfortunately, this restaurant no longer exists.
