Le Cafe de Gavaudun sur Gavaudun

We visited Restaurant L'Essentie last night with our good friends and neighbours Francois and Valerie to belatedly celebrate the New Year. At the end of the festive season he might think one celebration too many, but Pauline and her husband who is the chef never disappoint and served up a truly fantastic dinner to start 2026. Salmon en croute with mushrooms and Cavalo Nero cooked with incredible imagination and to finish pears poached in red wine with cream and toasted hazelnuts fantastic. Definitely the best restaurant around, if you’re looking for a quiet intimate place to enjoy master cooking we’re friends and family.

Always a very warm welcome and excellent food

Great food and wine in a classical southwestern France setting.

A quick stop on the way to vacation. We chose the restaurant online, and it was a very pleasant surprise. A seemingly simple menu, but the dishes are refined, with beautiful flavors and equally beautiful presentation. A wonderful discovery. Thank you.

Absolutely delicious, charming staff, inventive chef. The terrace is super pleasant, but as it was raining we were brought inside, to an equally pleasant room. The only downside: why allow unleashed dogs in the room, who come and sniff under your plate in the middle of your meal?

An intimate place where the dishes are refined and delicious. The octopus was extraordinary. A detour not to be missed.

A wonderful, quiet, and delicious restaurant. It was recommended to us by a former artisan chef at a market, and we weren't disappointed during our hour-long drive. A refined, creative, seasonal dish in a truly relaxing setting. A lovely castle to visit nearby, too.

Very, very good. Really excellent. If you're really hungry, opt for a starter and main course because the portions aren't excessive. The service may be a little slow, but that fits in with the relaxing setting, so it doesn't matter.