Les Machicoulis

Having just arrived at our villa in Castelnaud, the last thing we wanted to do was cook for ourselves! Likewise, having driven for a couple of hours, we didn't want to drive. The answer was on our doorstep. This restaurant was just a short walk up the hill to the castle. Quite often, cafes and restaurants in the immediate vicinity of a major tourist attraction can be less than wonderful, knowing that they have a captive audience. This little spot, however, bucks the trend by providing good food at reasonable prices and with excellent service. The views from the outside terrace were wonderful, the waitress spoke fluent English, and the menu du jour was tasty and well presented. Surprisingly, for the end of June, the place wasn't particularly busy. This, however, shouldn't put you off from visiting and taking advantage of this little gem.

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We arrived a little after midday, having spent an enjoyable morning at the castle. The restaurant is a minute from the castle, hidden down a side lane. We ate on the shaded terrace, with a lovely view of the castle and river. The menu is not very extensive, but each option sounded delicious. The children had croque-monsieur rustique and the menu enfant, which comprised a drink, breaded chicken breast with frites and a scoop of ice cream or a waffle. I opted for the grande salade Perigordine, a massive plate of salad with local duck and walnut specialities. It was delicious and filling. My husband had the set menu, choosing a chicken brochette with pilaf rice, and a prune and almond crumble. Both were well cooked and presented. Service is a little slow, but we were not in any hurry. It was a lovely experience.

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We found this little restaurant almost by accident. The location is lovely - perched right up near the castle in the old village, with amazing views across the rooftops to the castle and valley.The welcome was warm and the menu, although not extensive, was a really welcome change from the repetitive tourist fodder of the Perigord. There are 2 set menus, and a selection of lighter dishes.The food, when it came was surprising. Surprisingly good and surprisingly inventive. The first course of poached egg on a caper sauce was especially memorable. Our children pronounced their croque monsieur the best of the holiday.This is a really welcome addition to the local dining scene, and so good that we hesitated to review it, as we would selfishly like to keep this little find to ourselves. Bravo le chef!

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We went for dinner at Les Machicoulis after a visit to the château de Castelnau. The location is lovely with a terrace overlooking the valley, under some trees. The daily menus were reasonably priced and offered home made food, different from the usual tourist fares in the area. The pork loin was good and the service appropriate for a rather casual setting. Highly recommended.

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We found Les Machicoulis while biking down from the castle and loved it so much we returned for dinner. Rustic French food served by warm and friendly staff. Definitely one of our favorite places on our trip to France.

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