A Madagascar sur Olivet

03/05/2026: An experience with a touch of vintage charm in terms of decor and service, but a very pleasant surprise. The meal was delicious and generous. We left delighted with our experience. The staff was attentive and friendly. An incredible wine list.

17/04/2026: There are meals you forget. This one? Impossible. You push open the door and immediately feel at ease in this traditional French dining room, which doesn't feel old-fashioned, like the image you have of your grandparents' house, complete with silverware. After receiving a warm welcome, you relax and let yourself be carried away. The "Pleasure" menu is honest and generous; it delivers on its promises from start to finish: to indulge without breaking the bank, either physically or financially. To begin, the poached egg with cream and smoked salmon as a starter is perfectly balanced, if I may say so; the kind of dish that appears simple but actually requires real precision, revealing smoky and bacon-like flavors without using a single piece of meat. You can tell the kitchen takes care to create a just-right sauce. The suckling pig ham confirms this; Melt-in-your-mouth delicious, accompanied by a golden-brown potato galette and an exquisite honey caramel sauce, so much so that you find yourself slowing down, savoring every bite, not wanting the plate to be empty. The cheese course that follows is one of those unexpected moments that ultimately define the restaurant's identity: Boulette d'Avesnes, Mimolette, Gruyère, ash-coated goat cheese... and with honey on request, generosity is the key word. The Caribbean pineapple and coconut tartlet finally arrives, but it's only at this point that the problem arises. Firstly, because it was chosen at the beginning of the meal due to its preparation time, it's no longer as welcome at the end when it arrives piping hot; a cooler note becomes preferable. Its warmth and frangipane-like base then overpower the much-anticipated tropical notes. The intention was admirable, and it was the only moment where a slight disconnect with the rest of the meal was felt. A colder or fruitier version would easily fit in, in my opinion. The criticism was received with a smile and genuine openness; this kind of kind exchange perfectly encapsulates the spirit of the establishment. Because that is perhaps the highest compliment I can pay La Laurendière: in three hours of dining, we didn't even notice the time passing. The entire staff deserves praise for their attentiveness, their friendliness, and their natural ability to put you at ease from the very first moment and make the time fly by. I am simply captivated, but I will have to return to peruse the extensive wine list, which I must have cursed while driving...