Auberge Les Deux Anes - Linxe

Have visited this place for several times for now. Will stop there again if happen to be around there. Almost always the food there is perfect. And I mean perfect. There are many mediocre restaurants around, so for me, this one stands out. Maybe it has been good timing from my side, but it really has been really good experience going there, again and again.

We often stay around Castets and Linxe in South-west France. This local restaurant (which also doubles up as a hotel, hence the name "Auberge") serves good simple food (obviously with south-western influence (canard/duck!) with an original twist to the accompaniment (asparagus with mushrooms). The new owner is a younger guy who is ever so friendly (and let you sit use the wifi for just one espresso) while his staff are very helpful. A lot of local people come here too (when we were there the 35 members and spouses of the local fishing-club had their annual lunch:) So a good place to have a lunch-break or more, while only 15 minutes driving from some out south-west France most beautiful beaches.

.Last year we loved this restaurant. This year, not so much . . .We gave it a good try, mind you. Went there three times, although to be honest that was partly because, apart from the not-very-good takeaway pizza place, it's the only food place in the village. But we were just not as pleased as in the past.:-(Yes, the little outside terrace at the back is just as charming.Yes, the inside dining room is as traditional as ever.Yes, Mine Host and his Lady Wife were friendly again.But the food wasn't up to last year's in quality or value.In our 3 visits we tried most combinations of the different menus, and were disappointed, just a bit, each time. The biggest disappointment was with the "Assiette du Pays".This is a sort of tasting plate with a variety of things all on your plate at one go - no first course - second course. It comes with a glass of bog-standard wine.Last year it was the "Grande Assiette du Pays". This year it was just the "Assiette du Pays". Last year you also got a dessert after, a slice of the local Gateau. This year you were charged €7 for the gateau. Last year the servings of the different things - cheese, foie gras, duck, etc, were generous, it was a good taste of each. This year, half the plate was taken up with sauté potatoes with very meagre servings of the main elements. We were similarly disappointed with the menu choices on the two other nights.It was never bad, just all very ordinary. 3 stars, not five as last year.Auberge des Deux Anes? Were we the donkeys, or were we taken for a ride . . . we should have trusted our instincts the first evening and not gone back twice more to give them a chance..

W e enjoyed three excellent dinners at this pretty Auberge our French is not too good but we managed to order from the delightful set menu with the help of a very kind and patient waiter there is a pretty outdoor terrace which was pleasant on a warm evening cannot wait to return next year.

.We went back, And back again. And we took some friends there . . . Every visit was a delight.We came for lunch, we came for dinner. Some days we walked there, some days we came on our bikes, one day it was tipping down so we came by car and parked right in front of the door.We sat in the cute outdoor terrace at the back, and we sat in the cool dining room, decorated with various agricultural instruments. At least, I think they were agricultural - could have been Dentist's, I suppose.:-)We tried all the different menus at the different prices, and enjoyed them all.The young couple in charge are new there, we were told in the Baker's. They have certainly got off to an excellent start. Lunchtimes they have a very reasonable menu - I think it was 12€ - and there were a number of local workmen eating there. Evenings you may need to book in summer - it was packed out when we went there.The only slight negative - the young lad who was serving one lunchtime had never been told that when you bring the food to the table, you serve the ladies first. Highly recommended - we shall go back there next year. Several times!.