L'Essentiel
A Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant in a tuffeau stone house at the foot of Saumur Castle, serving modern creative French cooking at excellent value.
Housed in a tuffeau limestone building at the foot of Saumur Castle, the restaurant has a sleek modern interior and a terrace for fine weather. Chef Anthony Vaillant cooks modern creative dishes with international influences. It is recommended in the Michelin Guide's Bib Gourmand category. Diners can build their own set-menu combinations, and vegetarian and children's menus are also available. Signature dishes include a 65°C slow-cooked egg with Indonesian vanilla shortbread, sesame and mustard crispy-skin duck breast, and a hot coffee soufflé. Expect about €30–70 per person. Booking ahead by phone is advised; the restaurant is a short walk from the city center.
Opening hours
Tue–Fri 12:15–13:00, 19:15–21:00; Sat 12:15–13:30, 19:15–21:00; closed Sun & Mon
Nearby sights
- Château de Saumur
- Saumur Old Town & Place Saint-Pierre
- Notre-Dame de Nantilly
- Distillerie Combier
- Musée de la Cavalerie
- Musée des Blindés (Tank Museum)
- Dolmen de Bagneux
- Maison Ackerman Cellars