Auberge de Ste-Maure - Sainte-Maure

Stay in a no comfort spared gypsy caravan by the sun dappled river and be treated to the 5-star Champagne gastronomy of "Formule Privilige". A perfect menu, wine included, with the virtue of limited choice. Mme Denaux is charm personified. Ste Maure is near Troyes which is both half way there and half way back! So go twice.

The setting is enchanting, the service impeccable, the owner extremely kind and a delight in the plate. Everything is good, well prepared, all in a postcard setting, surrounded by nature. The singing of the birds will accompany you throughout the meal at the water's edge.

Rainy Sunday in the region of Troyes, let's follow friends' suggestion to head at L'Auberge de Sainte Maure. Off the main street of a small village a few kilometers from Troyes, the restaurant is close to a small river. Large windows and a generous terrace overlook the nature and the water.First impression, the setting is lovely. Quite muted tones, a fireplace in the middle of the room and cosy atmosphere make the place really welcoming. It helps that the whole team seems to know about its job and how to make people comfortable. Everything is smooth, efficient but not heavy.Then, food…As expected, this is a rather gastronomic experience. Overall feeling is very good, yet all dishes are not at the same level. Having have lunch alone, difficult to compare. The 49e set menu proves to be very generous.Started with "foie gras". Honestly good, but very tame. I would have expected something more textured, a bit more violent. It plays rather around an accord of gingerbread (which adds a bit too much sugary flavors). Yet, that was good.Fish, "ombre chevalier"…. simply extraordinary. Cooked to perfection, right serving, nothing more to say, a delight.Cheese was good.Dessert was a bit of a disappointment, but then it was rather my mistake. I was led to the lemon pie… well, a kind of twist around the lemon pie.. which was OK in itself but then includes parts with ice cream which i do not like.All in all, is it worth going? Yes.It is a kind of perfect vision for a Sunday lunch. Rainy or sunny.

We stayed here one night in a pretty wooden caravan. It sounds basic but had all facilities any en suite hotel room would have. The caravans are next to a pretty river where we sat and had 1/2 bottle of champagne on the first night of our holiday. The food in the restaurant was very good as was wine. Service was helpful and friendly. Was a great start to our holiday in France.

Stay in a no comfort spared gypsy caravan by the sun dappled river and be treated to the 5-star Champagne gastronomy of "Formule Privilige". A perfect menu, wine included, with the virtue of limited choice. Mme Denaux is charm personified. Ste Maure is near Troyes which is both half way there and half way back! So go twice.