Restaurant Le Grand Bleu

An absolute gem. We had such a good dinner. The chef's wife was hosting and her service was perfect. The food is DELICIOUS! The magret de canard and the beef were just melting on our tongues- just perfectly cooked and soft as butter. From starters to desserts, we were delighted with everything we tasted.

This place is a hidden gem. My wife and I were delighted to discover that the chef, a former Michelin star chef, chose to leave the star behind for a more tranquil environment, yet his food remains at the highest standard. You are essentially getting Michelin star quality in a relaxed, welcoming setting. It outshines any other place in Sarlat. Every dish is executed with superb quality, and the service is exceptional thanks to the perfect team of the chef in the kitchen and his wife looking after the front of the house. You can feel that both of them genuinely love what they do. We are so glad we stumbled upon this gem. It is now our go to spot in Sarlat.

We came here because of the great reviews, and were very pleased that they were able to sit us even though we didn't have a reservation (and were dressed for hiking). The service was very warm, attentive, and efficient, and the place had a nice, laid back ambience. In terms of the food, however, it was a mixed experience: Foie gras, beef carpaccio, and langoustine appetizer - 5/5. This was the best dish by far, with the flavors melding together beautifully. To be honest, this set us up to expect all other dishes to be great, but this was unfortunately not the case. Sweet breads with vegetables - 4/5. Still good, but we've have had better versions (sauces, accompaniments) in other places. Steak main - 4/5. Same as above, nothing to write home about - good but not much more remarkable/impressive versus even how we cook at home. Duck main - 2/5. This was the most disappointing dish as the duck was incredibly tough (we've been having duck throughout this trip and this was the toughest by far), and the sauce it came with didn't really go well with it. The onions (I think?) that came with it were also a bit burned, leaving a sort of bitter taste so I didn't even eat them. Macaron dessert - 3/5. This was very creative and interesting, but didn't quite work as well in flavor execution as in theory. I appreciated the ingenuity of the olives, and asparagus, etc but felt like it needed something to tie everything together, and make the dish more pleasurable, not just interesting. Fruit jelly dessert - 2/5. This was also quite disappointing - likely lots of thought and effort put in it, but the final flavors were flat/bitter/simplistic, and could definitely be improved. Overall, we liked around half the dishes, didn't like the other half, but truly appreciated the nice, friendly service.

2021 update: still an amazing restaurant. Photos updated. Their pork was some of the best pork I had in France on this trip. A great Michelin starred restaurant with reasonable prices. Lunch menu on Saturdays are comparable to other restaurants in the area (cheap for a Michelin star restaurant, so great deal). excellent attentive service that explains their food well.

On my last day in Sarlat, I found its best restaurant (so far). Clearly a cut above the rest. The degustation menu is very good value considering the wonderful quality and presentation of the dishes. The decor is modern and welcoming. The staff is exceptionally attentive and the Chef is a cracker. Booking well ahead of time is unsurprisingly essential. Thoroughly enjoyable dining experience. If you have reservations towards French coffee (like me), don't order it.

We made a telephone reservation at approximately 8:30 p.m. and were greeted by the manager, who created a very pleasant atmosphere. You can always expect top-notch food and service here, particularly with the pan fried foie gras, which are truly impressive! They will present the food with true introduction and good vibes. I would highly recommend this to anyone who wants the best service!

We really enjoyed our dinner at le grand bleu. The servers were friendly and helpful. They all spoke English which was helpful for the little questions about the menu. I enjoyed a foi Gras appetizer and a beautifully cooked cod and the dessert of soufflé was a perfect way to top off the evening. My wife enjoyed the sable fish entrée and beautiful dessert with ice-cream and other yummies. Thanks to Maxime and his staff.

We ate very well here! I went with a vegan friend, and I don’t eat milk products and they graciously accommodated us. The chef came out to take everyone’s orders and he prepared a special meal for my vegan friend. My vegan friend was very impressed and felt that the meal was delicious as well as thoughtfully planned and researched. The restaurant itself is simple as well as the service - not fancy or ostentatious, but the food was incredible. I would definitely recommend for foodies who enjoy eating a very good meal. Also, if you have any food allergies, I would recommend telling them when you make the reservation. This will help their team plan in advance.

Probably the best restaurant in Sarlat. Food is original, many hot / cold combination (Grand Marnier soufflé / Basil ice cream) and a blend of different texture, with noble ingredients and master realization. Excellent ris de veau. The only drawback would be the setting, near a road and the train station. The room is nicely arranged but we would expect something more impressive or grand like a Manor / property with more character. Good value for money. One Michelin star to follow.

Food is ok but beware of sour faced waitress with bad dismissive attitude. She will make your dining experience quite unpleasant.