Le Cottage de Clairefontaine

I visited this restaurant with high expectations due to its Michelin Guide mention (Bib Gourmand), but was disappointed in several areas: Service: Wine was not refilled, and no explanations were provided about the dishes, such as the cheeses on the platter. Ambience: Lacking placemats or tablecloths, and using small bistro-style wine glasses, which seemed inappropriate for an €80 bottle. Food: Acceptable but unremarkable; vegetables were soft, and the tarte tatin tasted reheated. Wine List: Uninspiring, especially for a restaurant in a wine region affiliated with a starred establishment. Overall, the experience did not meet the expectations set by its Michelin mention (Bib Gourmand).

Not really a cottage but a very modernised country building with the occasional wooden beam but otherwise ultra modern French decor with a lot of grey tiles, orange leather seating, mirrors and grey floors. Like a small conference centre - there seemed to be some sort of small conference there the morning we left. Private secure free parking. Breakfast is 13 Euros a head and is not included. Dinner good without being exceptional and not particularly good value. Wine very reasonably priced. Staff generally nice but not particularly speedy service. Bedroom large but absolutely hideous - lots of grey and orange with a contorted light fitting. Dark grey carpet, grey and white tiles in the bathroom, grey wallpaper. Not cheerful or pleasant at all. Had a very institutional, charmless feel. Noisy air conditioning or similar (maybe kitchen fan?) all night and noisy builders in the morning. So much for peaceful country place. Staff very nice about the noise. Would not recommend or stay again - there are so many other nice places in France. Probably the ugliest place I have ever stayed.

Excellent food, well priced, convenient location on the south axis of France. Friendly and customer focused service except for a “faux pas” when taking our order: when we asked to take out an ingredient from the dessert in the set lunch due to allergy, it was “not possible” and choosing another dessert means everything is charged “à la carte”…

Clean, well appointed room. Not the height of luxury but all you could need. Lovely staff and big airy restaurant with perfectly pleasant bistro food, if not terribly extensive menu. Don't be confused with the name. This isn't a cottage being let on the main Domain estate. This is new modern building housing an hotel with reception and restaurant on the other side of the village and no discernable relationship with the Domain or the "main" chateau hotel. Albeit doubtless they are similarly owned or have a business connection. Cheap and cheerful comes to mind. The common parts do have a sort of hostel feel about them. But it's clean and pleasant. And easy to park.

The rooms are quite functional but fine. The jewel here is the restaurant, with great service and fantastic food. Very flexible staff you could accommodate minor changes to meet the needs of guests....have breakfast at the sister hotel....which is also nice. The staff seem to take service seriously here, despite the relaxing holiday atmosphere....||To wake early, open up the window and listen to the birds singing is a fantastic way to start the day...

Le Cottage is the modest sister establishment of the Domaine de Clairefontaine and, although omitted in the Guide Michelin, offers rooms in addition to an excellent brasserie.||First the rooms: there are 12 in total - 9 'simple,' 2 'de-luxe' and 1 apartment - decorated in a modern style with tasteful colours and decor. They are well but basically equipped (showers only, no shaving mirror in the bathroom).||The brasserie offers a limited menu - however, catering for all tastes (including vegetarian). The set menu offers outstanding value at 30 € and a broad and well selected (French) wine list accompanies the menu. The dining room is bright (with lots of natural light) and pleasingly styled in a modern manner with red, white and black the predominant colours. Outside dining on a broad terrace is offered in summer.||There is lots of car parking and the whole is located above the local village on a generous, quiet site with extensive greenery. Surprising since it's only 10 minutes from the busy A7 autoroute.||Dogs are welcome, including in the dining room (unlike in the nearby, Michelin-starred Domaine de Clairefontaine).||Although the breakfast is very French (a selection of breads and Viennoiseries plus honey and jams), the friendly staff satisfy additional requests (eggs, cheese, charcuterie, freshly squeezed juices etc) both efficiently and with a smile.||The nicest surprise, though, was the bill. A quiet, overnight stay in top surroundings for two people plus two dogs with a quality three course dinner (including apéritifs and wine) and breakfast for a total of 350 €. And the dogs enjoyed their walks in the garden and appreciated the abundance of litter bins for depositing their deposits.||We shall return. Viatores ed canes Coloniae

The restaurant was overpriced for what it was. The volaille fermier was ok but rather basic for the price. The servers were mostly very inexperienced; forgetting items, dropping things and sliding plates across the table. Shame because it’s a nice location.

What a relaxed place! And called a cottage! The definition comes from the detail. Don't get fooled and turn up at Domaine de Clairefontaine which is restaurant plus chateaux accommodation 1 km away; and closer to the highway. Drive by and out of Chonas-L'Amballan to the Cottage, essentially a bistro, also with accommodation.||We were running late after leaving four days of indulgence in Burgundy; and ate lightly before visiting Guigal nearby in Ampuis. It was very sunny so we sat outside at a large round table, black table cloths keeping us radiated too; first plate being gazpacho. Great iced soup, a Spanish classic; here an equal, local fresh and own variety of tomato topped off the experience. Wine was white Rhone of course- for Aussies, marsanne and friends. ||Next was risotto, capturing the seasonality of asparagus; it was literally everywhere, including wild foraged examples; grand. It was washed along with recent vintages of Cotes du Rhones; 2015s.||The cottage was excellent; great sunny deck, other French chilling over casual lunch; top service; very good place to be as the second tier of chef Philippe Girardon. Good value when I arranged a common menu; though very difficult to convince the restaurant by email from Australia of what was required, and to take my booking. Eventually my hotel called to transfer my inquiry, and email worked (writing in French).||Lunch Score 15||The writer is a wine and travel professional; hosting this tour.|