La Cuisine D’Alain
Hotel Orsay (Opposite Le Gare)
29 Rue Roger Salengro
Mountauban
Tel: 05 63 66 06 66

I was in a slight panic when I trundled into this restaurant: it was Sunday lunch time and I had decided on a Michelin selected restaurant but found to my dismay that I was waved off: complete! I drove around Montauban in some desperation before I finally followed a sign to La Cuisine D’Alain, but I was put off by the proximity of the railway station. When I found the place open and with a table I was more than happy. Of course I then saw the sign that said Maitres Cuisiniers de France and realised I had been stupid: I had that guide in my car and it has never failed me yet!
When I arrived I was told, rather grandly, that I must eat off the menu. I said I had no problem with that: well I was desperate! I was escorted through a large restaurant and offered a seat on the terrace: this was joy indeed as that Sunday was the first day, since my arrival in France, it had been warm enough to sit outside and this attractive geraniumed terrace was just the kind of place I wanted to be. The menu was limited but adequate for me as I selected Duck foie gras followed by beef and then the offering was cheese followed by the desert chariot.

I worked it out half way through the meal as I watched the desert chariots (note the S) being wheeled around and the loving way in which the head waiter prepared the deserts with dribbling of this and that coulis, then finished the pattern off with knife. The foie gras was good and nicely cooked, the little steak was excellent served with the interesting addition of a small tortilla type pancake, the cheese board was massive and the cheese was in great condition but the whole meal was about the desserts! Not only was the desert offering lovingly presented and on offer was virtually every type of desert imaginable, then in addition each helping was three deserts on the gloriously decorated plate. Before the chariot arrived a couple of taster style desserts including an éclair was presented: just to get you in the mood so to speak. I know places where those tasters would have been the dessert!
Do not get the impression that the desserts were the only good part of the meal: they were not; However they were magnificent but I can get foie gras and steak elsewhere, and to be fair the cheese trolley was worth a few lines as well. Worth a decent detour: especially for a sunny Sunday lunch!

La Cuisine D’Alain
Hotel Orsay (Opposite Le Gare)
29 Rue Roger Salengro
Mountauban
Tel: 05 63 66 06 66

I was in a slight panic when I trundled into this restaurant: it was Sunday lunch time and I had decided on a Michelin selected restaurant but found to my dismay that I was waved off: complete! I drove around Montauban in some desperation before I finally followed a sign to La Cuisine D’Alain, but I was put off by the proximity of the railway station. When I found the place open and with a table I was more than happy. Of course I then saw the sign that said Maitres Cuisiniers de France and realised I had been stupid: I had that guide in my car and it has never failed me yet!
When I arrived I was told, rather grandly, that I must eat off the menu. I said I had no problem with that: well I was desperate! I was escorted through a large restaurant and offered a seat on the terrace: this was joy indeed as that Sunday was the first day, since my arrival in France, it had been warm enough to sit outside and this attractive geraniumed terrace was just the kind of place I wanted to be. The menu was limited but adequate for me as I selected Duck foie gras followed by beef and then the offering was cheese followed by the desert chariot.

I worked it out half way through the meal as I watched the desert chariots (note the S) being wheeled around and the loving way in which the head waiter prepared the deserts with dribbling of this and that coulis, then finished the pattern off with knife. The foie gras was good and nicely cooked, the little steak was excellent served with the interesting addition of a small tortilla type pancake, the cheese board was massive and the cheese was in great condition but the whole meal was about the desserts! Not only was the desert offering lovingly presented and on offer was virtually every type of desert imaginable, then in addition each helping was three deserts on the gloriously decorated plate. Before the chariot arrived a couple of taster style desserts including an éclair was presented: just to get you in the mood so to speak. I know places where those tasters would have been the dessert!
Do not get the impression that the desserts were the only good part of the meal: they were not; However they were magnificent but I can get foie gras and steak elsewhere, and to be fair the cheese trolley was worth a few lines as well. Worth a decent detour: especially for a sunny Sunday lunch!