L'Essentiel - Pézenas

We were staying at the B&B hotel next door and thought we would try the set menu of €16 per person. Choice of help-yourself salad bar to start then fish or steak for main and a couple of choices for desert. The salad bar was average and quite tasteless my husband had the steak and I had the fish for main. Both bland and lacking seasoning. Accompanied by slightly over-cooked French fries. No vegetable side offered. The desert of mixed cakes (my husband) and pain perdu (me) was disappointing. However, the waitress we had was lovely. Very helpful and attentive and she spoke very good English. The restaurant itself is decorated quite tastefully if a little large and 'soulless' and felt chilly; I had to put my coat back on halfway through the meal. It's a shame as I think it could be a real winner being so close to the hotel which is a little way out of Pezenas. If we were to return I think we would by-pass the cheapest set menu and try the à la carte options.

Any restaurant on an industrial estate opposite a budget hotel doesn't carry immediate appeal so L'Essential was a pleasant surprise for serving a few non-standard dishes prepared well and delivered relatively quickly. It also has the nicest looking sharp knives I've seen for a while although I didn't get to put them to a proper test as I chose the grilled langoustines that were nice and meaty and came with double-cooked chips. The starter of smoked mozzerella with vari-coloured tomatoes was another pleasant dish. Wine by the glass was reasonably priced and of pleasant local origin. Like the hotel opposite, I'd have no hesitation in going back, especially if is during the warmer evenings when the outside terrace beckons. Staff members do speak English, if that helps.

Salad bar is gross. Not a warm environment at all. Like a school lunch room Very nice owner but thats not what I go there for.

As our hotel was on an industrial estate we didnt really want to have to drive into town. we had booked 7 rooms and some had flown in and some driven. The receptionais at the hotel suggested the restaurant opposite.We ate outside on a lovely warm evening. we went for the set menu, as the buffet was extensive. Mains were very good too and all good value. A very friendly waitresses had great patience and good service. An enjoyable first night.

We were driving down France and had chosen to stop at the B&B stopover hotel. Arrived later than anticipated and expected to be in an industrial estate with no restaurant but were pleased to see L'Essential opposite and open3 courses for 16 EOpen buffet for starters3 choices of main - mixed brochette fish or steak with potatoes pasta or fritesMixed patisserie for dessert (large)Generous portions, brasserie food (good) a find when we expected to struggle to eat