Chez Celestine - Compiègne

Cooking is simple but interesting. All totally tasty...the deserts and cakes are brilliant, all home made, with fresh ingredients.

This is a cafe that serves a single set menu brunch/lunch plate - not a restaurant. The staff were extremely slow about seating us, and made a point of finishing whatever they were doing (like polishing a fist full of silverware) before responding to any requests, so I am a bit surprised at the high ratings on trip advisor. Food was perfectly fine (it was "Mexican" brunch the day we ate which consisted of 2 loosely fried eggs and a rather sweet bean tortilla wrap) and the cake selection was pretty good, but the rather charming decor of the place was a bit ruined by the numerous food stains on the table cloths and dirty cutlery - all in all ok but certainly shouldn't be #1 in compiegne - I suspect something fishy might have gone on with the reviews!

We had read about the excellent brunch at "chez Celestine" and decide to give it a try. The atmosphere in the restaurant (offering take away cakes and special tea varieties) was cosy. The brunch comes in two parts, a "salty" serving followed by a "sweet" serving or alternatively a selection from the cake buffet. Both servings are copious and tasty. Personally I preferred the sweet serving as I am no big fan of beans but the rest of the company enjoyed both equally. Quite commendable as a brunch place or for breakfast but the choice is quite limited if you expect a restaurant with a regular menu.

Charming welcome, good bagels, and especially delicious pastries! Not tarabic stuff, but a great choice of well-made and gourmet comfort food. Special mention for the lemon square, lemon cake and homemade Twix (pepper caramel chocolate!

Great reception Very nice place for breakfast or taste homemade pastry, it sees and it's so good that I advise the twix and I will come back to taste the others