A few weeks ago we had a day in Cognac first visiting the Hennessy Cognac Experience which was followed by lunch in Le Bistro Claude in the heart of the old town of Cognac.
I found Le Bistro Claude through my Viamichelin app, which informed me that this was the best place to eat in Cognac vieux ville.
One thing we have learnt in our short time in France is that the french like to eat at lunchtime rather than the evening. By law restaurants have to offer a “Menu du Jour“, a menu of the day. Usually consisting of three courses, the food on offer is usually seasonal, local & features on the a la carte part of the menu. Even Michelin starred restaurants have to offer this.
The price varies depending on the type of restaurant, but you can pay anything from 10€ upwards. Our lunch was €25 for three courses and the food was delicious. Unsurprisingly the place was packed with people eating off the rather expensive a la carte menu, this is certainly the place to have a business lunch.
Locally smoked Gensac fish with avocado mouse and poached eggs with a chorizo crean sauce and a parmesan crust were the starters.
This was followed followed by loin of lamb and a cod fillet dish, the pictures do more justice to the food rather than my description!!
Dessert was a white chocolate pannacota which was followed by coffee. We drank a local Charantais red wine and had some rather pricy beers as an aperitif, but all in all great value for such a high quality of food. We will be back.
chateaucrow.com 