Carre Gourmand - Gigondas

We stopped in Gigondas for wine tasting and lunch on a Wednesday afternoon, just before 2PM. After checking several places we were told that the Carre Gourmand would be our last hope of finding a table. What luck! Two tables on the terrace out front were vacated just as we approached and the 4 of us sat down. The menus arrived promptly and it was easy to make up our minds - then the hilarity began. We don't know if it was the proprietor or just the maitre' d but he immediately told us what they were out of and that there were only two lasagnas remaining. We had to make our minds up in a hurry, but then he came back and told us there was only one lasagna - and jokingly told us the price was going up! He was such a character, and he made the dining experience so fun - but wait! The food was excellent! All the dishes we ordered, the lasagna, the risotto and the ravioli were amazing! We wonderd how a little restaurant could serve such exceptional food! And then it rained,so hard that the outdoor awning couldn't handle it! Everyone was invited inside but by then we had consumed an incredible lunch. Give this place a try!

We visited this restaurant a little over a month ago, and apologize that it's taken this long to give a review. We were there on a Mon or Tues when a lot of the restaurants in this small town were closed. We were lucky to find this place before the lunch crowd arrived. We managed to get a table for two in the middle of this little restaurant. We had a great view of the kitchen, which is definitely where all of the action was. There are probably 10-12 tables in this place. It was packed full with the chef (who was obviously the owner) and a young waitress. That was it. She took all of the orders, and he made all of the food. The menu was limited, and can't remember just what we had, but it was a very nice lunch, in a cozy atmosphere. The waitress gave great, friendly service. During the hour we were there, a large number of people were turned away since the place was full. The food was wonderful, and the best part was the coffee at the end of the meal. We hate to say it, but coffee in France is just not as good as that in Italy, or in Spain. This place was an exception. We felt like we were in Rome or Madrid with our coffee treats! Would go back here anytime!

Recommended by the Caveau du Gigondas for lunch, this was an excellent meal. We had the pesto risotto and the cannelloni and both were very fresh and delicious. The service was great and the wine was excellent.

We had a late lunch on a Sunday in May. The restaurant was busy, so service was a little slow - there was one cook and one server - but the delicious food was worth the wait. The menu is primarily vegetarian. The house wine was AOC Gigondas from Domaine du Terme; very good and at a very fair price.

I really enjoyed my light lunch here - delightfully friendly and welcoming. Didn't mind me lingering over a coffee with my book, to dodge the rain.