Chateau d'Ygrande

We stayed there with a Groupon for 2 nights with our daughter. The service especially at check-in and the cleaning lady were super friendly and helpful. The breakfast was served outside on the terrace with view on the parc and the horses. Breakfast included diff. cold cuts, cheese, pasteries (delicious pain au chocolat and super yammie mini-croissants) as well as cereals and eggs to boil at your liking. The last day they were out of bread with was a bit of a damper but not the end of the world. We also ate at the restaurant one night and it was ok. The portions were rather on the small side. Price-value was heavier on the price than the value. We ate at the Talleyrand in Bourbon where you got more bang for your buck. The room, Nr. 23 on 3rd floor, was a big room with a small bed (I think max. 140x200cm). We were under the roof, so it can get hot in summer, but they also have aircon. The bathroom was nice but the showerhead was of cheap quality, the fake "chrome" came off at parts and was not very nice to hold. My hubby got a glimpse of other rooms that seemed to be nicer, which led him to call our room "the Groupon room";) We absolutely loved the fact that the hotel has its own horse stable. We rented a pony for an hour for our daughter to go for a walk.

A good selection of menus, including a la carte. Presentation inviting, food delicious and lots of extras throughout the course of the meal! A delightful experience with well organised and friendly staff. You are made to feel like family visiting. Lovely.

Tradition and style are the hallmarks both of the hotel and of the restaurant. For years, I had not had my French high-school staple of "fromage blanc" served with cream and sugar or herbs. Not surprisingly, I found it here and enjoyed it thoroughly. All of the dishes I tasted were hearty, delicious and ideally suited to the country setting.

I have enjoyed this restaurant over a number of years and went at least four times in 2013. The interior is classic without being exceptional but dining on the terrace on a summer's evening is difficult to beat anywhere in France. The cuisine is of a very high standard and often merits a higher rating than it has but you need to be sure that David Martin is in the kitchen. On one occasion last year he wasn't and it showed! I understand that he lost his sous-chef last year and he has not been replaced. The service is poor for a restaurant aspiring to the top level. There is no lack on bodies or of enthusiasm, it’s just that all but two of the serving staff seem to have an average age of 18 and have just started their training, in fact, one feels one is in a training school. Given one in paying Paris prices, it's a little frustrating and not helped by a proprietor who pays a lot of attention to some guests, none to others and then disappears after all the orders have been taken not to be seen again for the rest of the evening. Nevertheless, I am sorry that I won't be able to enjoy at least one evening this summer on the wonderful terrace enjoying David Martin's delicious food particularly as I understand that he has a new dish on the menu this year; Rôti de Barbichette which I believe is a particular favourite of the proprietor's, M Tissier.

We love this place. When you like horses, a good view and nice food, this is where you need to stop! Rooms are very expensive, food is ok. Service is impecable!