Fewer than 12,000 people live in Isle-l’Adam and the surrounding area. They get to choose from at least 40 restaurants. Some of them are hard to miss.
For dinner, we chose a much more discrete, out of the way, place – a longer walk than we expected. But worth it.
We didn’t even open ‘la carte.’ We chose what is always the best choice, today’s ‘Suggestion.’
But before ordering, some Champagne.
One thought worried me. Only one other couple sat inside. And only one outside that I could see. How could this charming restaurant (TripAdvisor rates it as #1 in Isle-l’Adam.) survive without more customers?
The entrée was three conch-shell shaped pasta stuffed with finely shredded églefin (haddock), in turn stuffed with finely-diced sweet Roscoff onion and herbs – bound together with mascarpone. All of this on a bed of creamed, red lentils with a hint of hickory smoke.
The ‘plat’ was flétan (halibut) served on a bed of coarse mashed potatoes accompanied with seared leek and fennel – topped with tarragon-scented foam.
The dessert was Tarte fine aux pêche de vigne – served as only the French can do. The “pie” was a flaked pastry accompanied with pomegranate-stained peach slices. Alongside, vanilla-bean infused chantilly cream with a scoop of peach ice-cream. Words cannot describe how tasty it was.
The food was superb. One of the best meals we’ve had in awhile. No surprise the chef, Mathieu Silvestre is listed in a book of “The Best Chefs in France.”
Here’s hoping our Friday night dinner was an exception – that the lack of customers won’t happen again. This restaurant deserves not just to survive but to thrive.