Le Pavillon de St-Aubin-Thierry Arbeau

Très bien good formulas for the menù. Complete and very honest wine list. The table service is not at the level of the food.

Restaurant Thiery Arbeau is clearly a superior restaurant: warm, ornate surroundings, classically furnished; ample table spacing and impeccable cleanliness, warm and professional staff. The menu was heavily influenced by the product of the season being fois gras which re-occurred in nearly every dish: fried, terrine, jus de fois gras..... all good stuff but there as little to eat if you can't do fois gras for moral or health reasons. Even the tuna maki had huge chunks of fois gras on top. Sadly, this was not the only issue. The restaurant was packed and table service can only be described as fraught: butter had to be asked for 3 times, we poured our own wine for most of the meal, each course was delivered sequentially for all 8 of us sometimes with considerable delay, and worst of all, the pork fillet mignon main course which 4 of us went for, was over-cooked and tough for all of us. We got the feeling that on another night the whole experience may have been better but sadly it was not for us.

If you're in the Medoc area for Chateaux visiting, one drag is that eatery choices are very limited, especially sophisticated ones. For that reason, we gave a try at this one. Because it was exceptionally chilly for this season, we were seated inside. Frankly speaking, the inside atmosphere lacks charm and style but services are very professional and courteous. Food is also reasonably good. If you complain, then nowhere can you eat in this vicinity. Price is a bit on the high side for quality.

I mentioned the restaurant in my review of the hotel, it deserves a review on its own, A large spacious dining room with views out to the garden, it is a comfortable setting. The food has a style of flavour that runs tthrough all the dishes, most are a succesful blend, the ingredients are all high quality, the only problem with this menu is the reliance on foie gras with almost everything, not a problem for me as I love it, but as a recurring theme it would be a problem if you stayed for a length of time as you would soon run out of options, but for our two days it was not a problem and I doubt if many people stay here for long periods as it is or appears to be business and weekend end orientated. A decent wine list at sensible prices completes a pleasant experience, recommend.

Very interesting menu formulas starting at a three course dinner for € 29, going to € 43, and € 59, . We chose the € 43, four course dinner. Starter with three different ways of foie gras. Very good except for the traditional foie gras which needed some salt to be added. But with the extra salt the foie gras was delicious. Other starter was a coquilles st.jacques excellently prepared. We all had as main dish veal cotelette. Very well prepared, delicious meat sauce, excellent smashed potatoes and vegebtables. We tasted two bottles of Bordeaux red, chateau Louvière and chateau Tronquouy Lalande, both from 2006. We preferred chateau Louvière € 68, against € 72 for the Tronquoy Lalande). Very good wine list, not exactly cheap. Dessert was fresh fruit and sorbet, nothing special. Service was excellent, nice restaurant to have dinner.