Restaurant L'Oustau de Baumanière

One of a current total of 6, 3 star Michelin restaurants in Provence. We had the 10 course tasting menu and the experience was exceptional from beginning to end. The property is small and beautiful, the dining room simple but elegant. The food was divine, as expected at this level, experimental, tongue in cheek but ultimately sublime and priced commensurately. The chef takes a tour of the tables; a lovely touch. The menu was well paced. Service was restrained, as befits the ambience, apart from our waitress who was initially a bit miffed when we were impatient for the bread (as we were starving!), but she warmed up later. Dress is smart casual with some guests in jeans and trainers at lunchtime.

Quite possibly the best meal I have ever had. Summer lunch on the terrace with a sunny blue sky and a light cool breeze, set in between secular trees and the property. Ordered the 1987 A Partager vegetarian menu with produce from the estate garden and went for the non alcoholic grapes-based pairing. Every single dish from start to finish was excellent to sublime. Hard to pick one, all so different. The wilted beetroot. The artichoke leaf. The carrot dessert. Service was on point, light yet attentive. Atmosphere is relaxed, guests at ease and enjoying the moment. I loved the 1987 A Partager menu but I will have to go back one day for the iconic milk-fed lamb leg, the crepe soufflé and the millefeuille.

I don’t eat French or 3 stars very often so maybe this is subjective, but overall the experience we had was just OKAY. We had the traditional signature menu (I can’t remember the name) for lunch. The wine pairing was good. For the food, some dishes were good, I’d say roughly 1/3 of the dishes were either well cooked or slightly interesting, I.e. the cauliflower, the abalone, and the pigeon. But nothing really stood out. Nothing made me feel like, “oh I wanna eat more” or “this is very cool”. By the end of the meal there were two desserts and we didn’t know, so were trying to rush out of the restaurant after tasting the first one, and the waiter had to stop and remind us there was one more. What bothered me the most were the flies buzzing around our table the whole time. There were 3-4 flies, stopping on our food, on the plates and utensils, on guests near us, and even on the waiters’ hands when they were serving. I reminded a waiter once asking if she could do something about the flies. Maybe she didn’t understand us too well cause we only spoke English. Maybe those flies were benign. But it was really bothering during the meal, as we were not used to seeing flies at an indoor restaurant. The staff and chef were nice. Later during the meal, the chef came out and greeted each table. I’ve had other experiences before where I didn’t eat certain ingredients because I thought it was too exotic, but the chefs cooking changed my mind. So I do believe that good food should be somewhat universal. Unfortunately this just wasn’t that kind of experience and didn’t make me feel like Wow. You can still give it a try if you are in the area.

Wine pairing price = $161 Retail Value = $36 Markup = 450% A total of 7 pairings (full list below), w/ one standout older vintage of 2004, four from 2018, others from 2019 and 2020. The bottles were all moderately priced for French wine around $50. The food was exquisite. Despite not eating much that day, I was really filling up about 2/3 of the way in, struggling to eat the main savory and the desserts. Service was exceptional. Ambiance was lovely. The chef and owner really care about feedback and visited every table. I'd definitely return. Full wine list for tasting: Jean-Paul & Benoit Droin Chablis Premier Cru 'Mont de Milieu' 2018 $40 Domaine d'Aupilhac La Boda 2018 $32 Château de Vaudieu Clos du Belvédère Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2020 $60 Vincent Bachelet Santenay 1er Cru 'Clos des Mouches' 2019 $58 Château Sociando-Mallet Jean Gautreau Red 2004 $66 Hay Hop IPA Blance au foin de crau [Beer] $7 Domaine Huet Vouvray Clos du Bourg Moelleux 2018 $38

Absolute beautiful experience. Magnificent place. Thank you. PS: also to recommend "a Galette " for the 6th of January -so exquisite and tasteful.

We enjoyed a very nice dinner here! Long story since 1945, they lost the third star in 1990 and regained it a few years ago under the supremely talented and passionate new chef Glenn Viel. He has worked in many places but never ate at a Michelin Restaurant as he wanted to develop his own style. We were very impressed with his singular, authentic style and use of local products. The whole menu was nicely composed with many dishes offering unique flavors and great finish. Hard to pick a favorite dish! The service was flawless, the only thing I missed was a certain lightness in the service staff among the professionalism.

29th in my Michelin 3 Stars marathon in France (follow me for all the reviews and updates) The missed rendez-vous This review will be a bit different from the others. I made a mistake and I didn’t get to really appreciate and understand the chef. Don’t do the same. When I arrived, I saw the previous chef, the owner Chef Charial, greeting customers (which is always a great gesture). So when I discovered that you could have a « gigot d’agneau » as an hommage of the long history of this place, and its family, I couldn’t resist. Especially since I had just done 10 3 stars in 9 days, so I was looking forward for some good old fashioned piece of meat. The meat was superb. The side dish also. But the issue was that it messed up with me and I didn’t understand the actual chef, Glenn Viel. The red mullet was very interesting indeed, but I guess mixing two chefs and different style is just like reading a book and suddenly one chapter is from another book and author. It confused me. One way of looking at gastronomy is a bit like an author. One star, he has a character. Two stars, the character has something to say. 3 stars, he s telling a story. So for me, my choice, broke the story, I could see the character but I switched author before he could tell me a story. It’s really frustrating because I’ve heard so much good things about him from other Michelin chef. So bottom line, although it’s really superb, don’t take the lamb if you want to navigate in his universe. So I’ll focus on practical stuff. The “new” chef came at the tables and spoke with everyone. It’s really nice, especially with the size of the restaurant (one of 3 stars that has the highest number of tables). We had a good conversation, which means he is really trying to exchange with everyone (and just a quick hello). Most likely you will also speak with him. I’ve also noticed most got invited to visit the kitchen ( sadly not me, for unknown reasons, but I think I was the only one, and it was more by mistake, so you should be able to see the kitchen). The sound level is quite high due to the walls but it’s also the charm of the place. To be fair, the space between tables does provide enough intimacy. I’ve seen that on good days you eat outside, I think it’s optimal (or at least have the coffee outside). The crowd was family, friends and couples. Although on a Monday, I didn’t see business but it could fit. Especially since the size fits for bigger tables. I guess the location fits more for holidays goers than business men. It clearly deserves its 3 stars. I just need to go back and “go full Glenn Viel” to do a deeper review.

We ate at the restaurant twice during our stay ! Once for the tasting menu and once à la carte. Everything was impeccable from A to Z. A real 3 * experience both times with excellent service were all our requests were accommodated. The lamb and the millefeuille were truly outstanding there is no going wrong no matter what you eat !

You know how have some meals that you will remember for the rest of your life, this was one of them. We decided to order the chef tasting, prix fixe menu. It was expensive but worth the once in a lifetime cost. The scallop course was the best scallop dish I have had in life. They were seared to perfection and the meat was so tender and sweet it was incredible. I also loved the pork and ravioli dish and the artichoke dish. We dined in the off season and it was cold and drizzly outside. They had a nice fire going in the fireplace for us. The dining room wasn't very busy. We were the first diner to arrive and our first coursed arrived very quickly. Once others started to arrive it slowed down quite a bit. At the end when were starting to tire, it slowed to a snails pace. (Speaking of which I also loved the escargot dish. I have never had them prepared this way and loved every bite!) That would be our only complaint. Otherwise a perfect evening.

Freaking awesome! Pricey but hey it's a two star Michellan Star restaurant so it is to be expected. This time of the year they seat everybody outside which is perfect. Okay now to the review. My wife and I did the smaller of the two tasting menus which was still plenty of food. First dish was the Large Dublin Bay Prawn with a sheet of pasta on it. I did not know prawns could be so tender. I now know I have been eating prawns over cooked my entire life. Second was the squid small and big. Perfect! The croutons filled with soup was a nice touch not to mention I could eat a bowl of them like cereal. Third was The pigeon costieres. Fantastic with summer spinach. Cheese trolley came after and I don't think I have ever had unpasteurized cheese before. We just asked for an assortment and the selections they choose from us was thee goat and three cows milk. The desert was light cream with vanilla ice cream. Extremely light with the millefeuille. A nice touch and perfect close to a wonderful meal.

Without exaggeration, this is quite simply one of the finest meals I've ever had anywhere on the planet. Twice (once in 2002, again in 2019). The food is equisite: brilliantly conceived, flawlessly prepared, and artfully presented. And the service is simply off the charts. 50 years later, Jean-André Charial still emerges from the kitchen and works every table -- *multiple* times! If you can suspend all normal considerations for what things should cost -- particularly if you can talk yourself into the Dégustation menu -- you are sure to be treated to a multi-hour dining experience, the memory of which is likely to last a lifetime.

Amazing place! Excellent food and service! The food is artwork! I went here in July of 2016, and my mind keeps wondering back to this place. I can hardly wait to go back when I am in France again. If you are a foodie, you need to go to this restaurant.

One of our best meals ever. Anywhere. The setting is part of it. It nestled in the mountains of Provence, with awesome views across the countryside. The restaurant is on a hotel terrace, so the outdoors, but still very formal, setting adds a great deal to the meal. We started by sharing a duck fois gras, with a fabulous bottle of St. Joseph white wine. Melt in your mouth delicious, as it should be. I couldn't pass up having sweetbreads as my entre in a restaurant of this caliber. I wasn't disappointed. They were soft, tasty, with a slight crunch - just perfect. For dessert we shared a millefeuille (a Napoleon). It was very good, but I thought 25 Euros for a single pastry was a bit over the top. The free dessert cart that followed helped ease the financial pain. It included some delicious caramels, candied peaches, almonds, and more. I ended with a great Camus cognac, as well as the best cup of Earl Grey tea I've ever had. Service was impeccable, never friendly, but not too formal. The setting and the food made it seem like a dream.

I think Michelin has said most of what needs to be said about this gem. The setting is unparalleled; the food perfect, with an understated flair. True greatness always carries a sense of humility and L"Oustau's quiet confidence is expressed in every element of the service, food and setting. Enough, but never too much. I gave the somm the opportunity to bring any wine that truly moved him. He offered a reasonably-priced, local bio-dynamic wine from Domaine Hauvette that was exquisitely expressive of that meal, that time and that place. Perfect.

This is primarily a review for the restaurant. However, as we stayed a few nights here, I will also, briefly, comment on the hotel as I go along. The restaurant is very much a destination restaurant, having held 2 or 3 Michelin stars for more than 50 years, and draws diners from across France, Europe and the World as would become apparent from the buzz of different accents and languages which greeted us in the dining room. This was our reason to visit, hence the focus on the food rather the hotel. The restaurant is situated in a stone vaulted room inside the 16C residence which forms part of the hotel. However, before walking inside, we took pre-dinner drinks outside on the restaurant's patio under a canopy of fig trees as dusk fell. I can't imagine a better place to enjoy an aperitif and peruse the encyclopaedic wine list and menus. Once drinks were finished we were escorted inside into the stone vaulted restaurant. This was unlike anything I have eaten in previously - it felt like something straight out of a fairy tale. The vaults were beautifully lit resulting a beautiful and romantic dining experience. So, to the food, which is undeniably expensive. For those in the US, think French Laundry/Per Se prices, for those in the UK, the Fat Duck is the closest comparison. There are three routes to choose between, an A La Carte and two tasting menus. We were choosing between the later. The first was said to be inspired by the 3 generations of chefs who have worked at the restaurant, something akin to the restaurant's greatest hits. The second represented the current chef's dishes. We went for the later, hoping that this would be modern and inventive. We were not disappointed. The menu featured some challenging combinations (lobster and vanilla - not my favourite as I found it a little too sweet) theatrics (our desert sat in a bowl of dry ice) and a truly stellar dish (our starter which was an amazing mix of textures and flavours). However, it was not the most enjoyable meal we have had. This was partly because some of the dishes did not quite work but I think it was also because the restaurant's style was quite formal (perhaps this is unsurprising given what I have already said) and as a result we found it difficult to relax. This said, each dish was technically excellent and beautifully cooked - it just wasn't our cup of tea. Consequently, I cannot imagine returning anytime soon because there are other restaurants which have been more memorable. If we did return, it would probably be because of the hotel which was understated elegance turned up to 11. Our room was not especially spacious but was finely decorated and featured a balcony overlooking the perfectly kept grounds which are a joy to walk around. We especially enjoyed taking breakfast on the fig tree patio I have mentioned above. It was truly the best breakfasts I have ever had, featuring wonderful bread and pastries together with delicious fruit and yoghurts in a beautiful setting. If all breakfasts were like this, I would be an extremely happy (and extremely large) man.

This place is as delicious and beautiful as it is expensive. We at at 3 Michelin star restaurants that we no better, and maybe a little worse, than Oustau de Baumaniere.

My wife and I have been here before....it WAS our most favorite restaurant in the world.....we drove for almost an hour in order to have lunch.....everything was perfect EXCEPT I hated the main course menu selections....all of my favorites have been removed.....this wonderful gourmet restaurant has gone too gourmet with the entrees......we had the leg of lamb as our main course....because the other choices were a little too exoctic for me......I ate maybe half of my main course...it was nothing special....the rest of the courses were excellent.... If I went again I would have appetizer and a great bottle of wine....the to die for bread and dessert and coffee..... serving pigeon with the heart is not for me....wonderful asparagus with eel is again not for me......the foi gras was exceptional..... If they put the duck back on the menu I may go back.... PS.....LUNCH FOR 12 WITH 90 EURO WINES WAS €3600.......with tax & tip.