La Gentilhommiere

If I could, I would give it 3.5. It's good. Not very good, not average. Just okay but too expensive for what it is. The building is magnificent; it really has character. But our rooms were dated, both in the decor and in the bathroom. On the other hand, the bedding was perfect. The restaurant is very good. The menu is nothing extraordinary, so we turned to the à la carte options with appetizers at €30 and main courses at €40. That quickly makes the bill climb extravagantly. They have a huge wine list. Trust the sommelier; he gives excellent advice. The breakfast is very good as well.

We came for two nights. Very beautiful old building with a glazed tile roof. Motel-style rooms with, a big advantage, the possibility of parking right in front. The room itself (€139) was quite dark but with very good bedding and shutters in addition to thick curtains. Disappointing bathroom with a shower in the bathtub, not very practical, and non-separate toilets. Housekeeping OK. We ate very well the first evening and, at the request of the breakfast waitress, we booked again for the second evening. Arrived at the appointed time, no reservation recorded. We were told that everything was full, terrace and dining room, with just a rather casual "sorry." Although the mistake was their fault, no effort was made to accommodate us even though there were only two of us. We ended up at 8:00 PM in Nuits-Saint-Georges where everything was full or closed, of course, on a Sunday evening. Pointing out the problem again at the front desk when checking out the next morning, another "sorry" from a receptionist who did not care at all. Strange attitude for a 3-star hotel!

We were guests at this restaurant for the second time today – the first time was about 15 years ago. Back then, despite the high price level, we were thrilled: excellent quality, surprising flavors, and a culinary experience that has stayed in our memory. The disappointment today was all the greater. After almost four weeks in France with numerous restaurant visits, we unfortunately have to say: That was by far the weakest meal of our entire trip. First, the positive aspects: The ambiance is beautiful, the presentation of the dishes is visually at the highest level, and the service was generally friendly. Unfortunately, the positive aspects largely end here. In terms of taste, the dishes were in no way convincing. The menu promises culinary experiences at nearly two-star level, but what was served remained at best in the lower range in terms of flavor. There was a complete lack of refinement, depth, and the promised finesse of the combinations. Particularly disappointing was a dish that was so over-salted that it became inedible. And that means something – normally, I am someone who adds salt in restaurants. However, I could not eat this dish. After complaining, a replacement was served without hesitation, but unfortunately, this dish was also massively over-salted again. In the end, I only ate it because it was already late and we had no realistic alternative left. The price-performance ratio is also absolutely incomprehensible to us. The portions were far too small for the price level. With a bill of over 200 euros for two people – with only one drink each plus an aperitif – one should at least leave satisfied and culinary delighted. Instead, we left the restaurant hungry and disappointed. And we are by no means people with an exceptionally large appetite. There were also weaknesses in the service: Water and bread had to be actively requested multiple times instead of being attentively replenished. Overall, we are left with a very sobering conclusion. Of course, one also pays for the ambiance in such a house – and it is undoubtedly beautiful. However, at this price, we expect significantly more than just beautiful plates and an appealing backdrop. Perhaps it was an unfortunate evening, perhaps there were issues in the kitchen – we do not know. What we do know is: Our final evening in France, which was also my husband's birthday evening, was supposed to be something special. Instead, it was primarily disappointment. Unfortunately, it is no longer an option for us to return.