pre du moulin - Sérignan-du-Comtat

...all for the wrong reasons. After all the glowing reviews we were very excited to have a nice meal at the Pré du Moulin. We were able to make a reservation for the same evening and arrived a little after 8 pm. We were promptly...seated inside as requested and that is where things started to go wrong. There were only three staff serving that evening, one who looked like the head waiter and two other servers who looked like more junior staff. After we had been seated it took another twenty minutes for someone to come to our table to ask whether we wanted something to drink. We asked for a bottle of sparkling water to start with and with two choices we were given the one we hadn't ordered. Not that this would be a big issue but it set the tone for the rest of the evening. Overtaxed staff that were rushing from table to table, unable to provide the sort of attention to a guest you would expect from a restaurant of this caliber. Some amuse gueules were provided which were nice but no bread was offered to us while everyone around us had been offered bread. It took a few pompts for the bread to arrive. The menus arrived very slowly as did the wine list. In the meantime we had run out of water with no one checking or asking whether we wanted more. It was only when prompted that the staff reacted when you could catch their attention. The wine list could have done with a little explanation or a recommendation. An interesting mix of very cheaply priced for a restaurant) local wines €25 €40) at the lower end and expensively priced wines from other regions Bourgogne, €100 and up). Not knowing every wine, the coniderable price gaps made you wonder what to expect from the lower priced wines. We ended up with a very nice Cote Rotie 2011 which was also well priced but there was no wine recommendation from the staff in general or related to the meal we were having in particular. One got the impression that the staff simply did not know or care. We ended up ordering from the alternative menu, the tables de campagne, and the food was fine. We were told that we could not mix the cheaper menu and the starred menu. Again not a huge issue since both menus shared a few dishes anyway but what a way to make your guests feel appreciated: Don't touch the expensive menu now that have opted for the lesser one... The starters were of good quality and tasted well but it was certainly nothing to drive over an hour for, which we had done. We ordered the Angus beef as the main course and asked for the meat to be well done. When it arrived it was medium rare and tough to chew. The veg and the mashed potatoes were tasty as was the beef but they really made you work for your food. After the main course we sat in front of our empty plates with no water for another twenty minutes. I am not about rushing a nice meal at all but when you get the sense that there is no flow and you have somehow been forgotten between courses it's not good. At that point we were keen to leave and not prolong the agony of uneventful food and bad service. Overall, the food was decent but even if you allow for the fact that we did not have the Michelin starred menu it was good to average at best. The wine was the one really nice surprise that evening. Excellent value for money. The single biggest let let down was the service and the attitude of the staff. How can you have only three people, two of which are seemingly in training or junior, run front of house in a one Michelin star restaurant in the south of France in the middle of August on a Saturday evening?! It was like sitting in a traffic jam with someone looking in on you occasionally handing you tap water when you had been promised a first class trip on the TGV. I am not sure which restaurant the other reviewers went to but it almost sounds like it was different place. Also not sure what the Guide Michelin reviewers were smoking when they awarded the one star. Was it a blind tasting in a dark room? We have been coming to this region for over ten years and have eaten in many very good and sometimes more simple restaurants but this one has certainly been one of the more disappointing trips.

Our annual visit to the Rare Plant Fair in the nearby gardens. It is considerably pricy over the years, but it still guarantees you a good quality meal of seasonal products (Sparagus. strawberries) in an attractive environment. The Amuse Bouche and Dessert accompaniments compensate for the price.

An old favorite, where we often eat. Dinner recently came to scratches with two friends and was a happy experience. The family that leads the restaurant makes us love and feel special. This is a beautiful art and always appreciated.

We are happy to get a table here on Saturday at the Plant Fair, which is the only real restaurant in Serignan. It is located in a beautiful building that is also a hotel and has a courtyard for dinner. Back off the street, it wouldn't be loud. The restaurant is located in an attractive room with tables well spaced. They made a special menu for the plant fair at 35 euros and it was delicious, from the small extra amuseous bouches, to the asparagus in orange starters, duck or fish and fresh local strawberries and freshly baked terrace series. Coffee also came with extras. It has a quirky glass bottom plate under which you can see the wine cellar. Very good value for money.

Cadre très agréable, au calme, accueil sympathique. Cuisine de qualité et originale.Menu du marché, entrée plat dessert, produit locaux de saison. Très bien préparé, présentation originale, quantité suffisante, service efficace malgré la jeunesse des serveurs. Une très bonne soirée à refaire