Auberge de Noves - Châteaurenard

We had the menu Gourmand de Nature 85EUR/person with the starter being Foie de Canard which was vey tasty and a good beginning. The second dish was fish which was average with a hint of too much fish taste and boring garniture. The main Epaulet l'Agneau was well served and very tasty. The dessert was fine - a Souffle. The cheese plate was a disapointment with to little bite. Wine list is long with most wines being in the +150EUR range. There were some choices in the 35-70 range, but more from different regions in the range would be preferable. Alternative a selected wine menu to follow the food menu. Generally the impression was very positive and especially the service was very good. Compared to similar experinces the problem is value for money and when it comes to be numbers the place is approximately 20% overpriced and lacks the little details and extra "I am impressed effect" to charge the prices they do.

We had been meaning to go for years. The local buzz is that le Petit Auberge is not what it once was and we had somehow never got around to it. An anticipated birthday celebration was the spur. I am glad we were tempted.The lane to the hotel from the Noves-Chateaurenard road runs firstly through a parking lot for root-balled olive trees wrapped in plastic, awaiting the chequebooks of garden designers and the impatient, then leads to a wooded area that provides welcome shade around the hotel. The parking area is a short walk to the restaurant. We were warmly welcomed by the young staff and elected to eat outside on a terrace with views over the treetops towards the mega-hamlet of Chateaurenard (pop 15934 in 2012 up from 2343 in 1793)!Over the years the trees in the dining area have been cunningly trained to provide shade for diners. We arrived unfashionably early at 19.30 when the main heat of the day was over. Most other diners seem to have made reservations for eight or half past when the sun was setting. Through means magical, or chemical, the stridulating armies of cigales are kept at some distance from diners so their overwhelming expressions of joy made an agreeable background rather than an intrusive distraction. Similarly, tables are set far enough apart so we did not become involved in the joyous celebrations of other diners. The restaurant provided citronella spray to discourage local mosquitoes.The Petit Auberge no longer has its three Michelin stars but the cooking is precise and based on the best of what the Region has to offer. The three of us opted for different menus. However, rather than force the more restrained among us to look on enviously as the less restrained enjoyed a second excellent starter , the chef sent out a complimentary semi-savoury sorbet. This was what the French might call a délicate attention. It was all good. Of particular note was the mini blanquette d'agneau with morels and the flowers of courgette stuffed with a light scallop mousse. The Somellier's recommendation of a Viognier and a rich dark Cote du Rhone from the outskirts of the Gigondas appellation were spot on as was the house champagne.The total cost for the three of us was 425euros which I didn't mind given we had pushed the boat out a bit, it was my birthday and I was feeling rather smug having topped up my Euro FX card some months before Brexit. We did think however that a couple could have a very pleasant lunch with a modest bottle of rosé for a quarter of that.

This place used to provide good value in a scenic and comfortable surrounding some years back (first visit in 1999). With years passing, the challenge of upholding a wonderful cuisine and a favourable price/performance ratio somehow became a challenge. At irregular intervals we still tried and sampled the kitchen, but consistently came out with an impression of too high prices and food on the slightly "heavy" and uninspired side.Last week, however, we were pleasantly surprised that the restaurant indeed seemed to have bounced back to really good form. As this is the low season in this area, the restaurant had been sectioned into a smaller venue with a large intimate fireplace welcoming guest escaping from a relentless and cold "Mistral" wind. Seating was very comfortable and service discreet and efficient. The "mise en bouche" were excellent and created the prelude to a really good meal. We tried one of the more reasonably priced sample menus and found it very pleasant and good value.As we over the years have seen restaurants come and go (unfortunately too many are "going" these days in the village of our 2nd home) in this area, we are very pleased to note that the restaurant at Auberge de Noves is now really an attractive culinary proposition. It´s a good place even now during the quiet wintertime, and in the summer it´s terrace is just wonderful.

I dined here solo one Saturday evening. I found the service average as well as the food. Lamb chops were bland although they were described as grilled with garlic. No taste of garlic and they appeared to have been steamed.

Professional and friendly reception.Beautiful terrace and dining room.Lunch.Very well prepared veloute de tomates,different textures.Main: one cod,one agneau with morilles..Well prepared ,fresh, and cooked with love and attention.Good desserts.Wines served by the glas ( red: Rhone,white: Herault,second wine of Mas de domas Gassac) excellent and included.Attantive service.Good restaurant.