A la Table Ronde

My wife and I arrived at Villedieu-les-Poeles on a Sunday afternoon. When we explored the beautiful city, we noticed that cafés and restaurants close or switch to drinks. On a quiet side street we found A La Table Ronde, where only a couple... still eat and where the staff was clean up. When we asked if we could order food, the server unfortunately said Non, but the owner / manager said Oui. My order of the Moule Frites and the ham steak of my wife with salad and fries were welcomed simple dishes for two of us who had eaten their way through Normandy. The receiving manager saved the day.

Visited here a couple of weeks ago on a Saturday evening and they accommodated 6 adults and 2 kids with no booking so that was great, off to a good start you think?? NO!!! Menu looks great if you're a meat lover but don't expect...too much! Steak was OK but roast pork was very fatty and had little meat. We asked for a bottle of the bordeaux off the drinks menu, priced at €19.90, quite expensive for france and when we inspected the receipt later that evening we realised the waitress had charged us €38.00 for wine!!! There wasn't even a bottle on the menu for that amount!! I believe this was intentional as she tried to take the receipt from us when she was taking the money. So be warned, food not great check your bill thoroughly. .. oh and better mention the waitress is quite forceful...

We have eaten at La Table Ronde on two occasions now once in the depths of winter and both times found it to be very good. This time we both decided to have moules frites (it has to be done at least once when...in season! and found these to be excellent. Last time we had a steak and the Plat du Jour and found these to be very nicely cooked as well. Vin de table is excellent and there is no need to buy the (fairly expensive bottle put on the table. Well patronised by both French and English visitors to the town and all seem to leave satisfied. There is a menu in English for those who struggle with the language.

Les pièces à rôtir à l'entrée donnent envie, mais c'est seulement pour la décoration (?) Les jarrets semblent plutôt cuits (et recuits) au four. Les frites ne sont pas assez cuites et leur "fraîcheur" tant vantée est douteuse. De plus nous n'avons pas pu finir la "fillette" de vin rouge tellement il était mauvais. Quant à l'addition, elle est exagérément élevée en regard de la qualité du repas. N'y allez pas !

La terrasse fait envie un soir de chaleur et on se laisse tenter: mal nous en prend car cette Table Ronde ci n'a rien de féérique La cuisine est simpliste et pour le prix pourrait être plus soignée et plus abondante. L'addition s'est trouvée parée d'une ''erreur'' bien sur en faveur du restaurant, l'expresso n'était qu'un café de cafetière réchauffé mais surtout la serveuse devrait changer de métier: elle n'est décidément pas heureuse de son job. Pour elle le client n'est sans doute qu'un gêneur qui l'empêche de fermer plus tôt et on fait ce qu'il faut pour qu'il déguerpisse au plus vite... Grand bien lui fasse, je ne l'embêterai plus !