Chez Agnes - Lapenty

Walking into a new restaurant for the first time you don't really expect to be greeted with handshakes from ALL of the staff but that's the way it is at Chez Agnes. To say that you will receive a warm welcome is an understatement. Instantly, you feel valued as a customer and very much at ease.There are few frills in this establishment, though it is a very nice place. It would appear to be open only for lunch and the menu complet consists of a cold starter, a hot middle course, a main course, cheese, dessert and coffee - and all for the modest price of just 14 euros 50. Oh, and a bottle of wine or cider is thrown in for good measure.There is something for most palates here. The waiter arrives with some 6/8 cold starters on a tray and you simply choose the one you want. He then offers 3/4 hot middle courses and some 4/5 main courses and you place your order. The meat options, like steaks, are cooked over an open fire in the room.On a Monday lunchtime the place was pretty busy with all sorts of people from expat residents, locals and workers on their breaks. We were advised by the gite owner who recommended the place that we should probably book in advance or get there early. The restaurant is buried out of sight in a little village that you would never come across by chance so you really do need to either live thereabouts or be recommended, as we were.If you find yourself in the area of St. Hilaire du Harcouet make it your business to seek this place out. Truly French, truly welcoming, truly great value for money and truly great quality.

At the bottom of a small village in the south, it is an address not to be missed under any pretext. the reception is warm and the kitchen (house) is excellent for a prize within reach of all the scholarships. a recommend without problem !!!

Attentive friendly service. Really tasty but very reasonably priced menu with many choices. Open only for lunches which is a pity. Watch out for holiday closures ,call before going, can be full with good reason. Dreamon

The outside of this place is not very impressive, but once through the doors you will be in for a treat. Every day there is a wood fire at the back of the very large room, where the grilled meats are cooked. For the full menu you are offered a choice of cold starters, then there will be a hot starter, usually one of fish (the cassoulet is scrummy) and the other choice maybe something like gammon in sauce. There will always be at least one dish of the day. The Pot au Feu is especially good, as is the Boeuf Bourguignon. There will be a choice of meats to cook on the open fire, such as steaks, pork chops, sausages, black puddings or belly pork (petit salé). They do wonderful chips to go along with it and of course there is always bread on the table. Next comes the cheese platter that is handed to you to serve yourself and then the dessert. There is usually a good choice of mousses, creme caramel, maybe rice pudding or a home made cake or tart. Should none of these appeal then they will provide you with an ice cream cornet. It you have a corner left that needs filling then the small coffee will fill it. I haven't yet mentioned that all this is washed down with as much red vin de table and/or cider as you want. We do have vegetarian friends that have eaten there, provided we call ahead first, but the range of vegetarian food is not imaginative.

I wondered if I was at the restaurant or if I was going to sit at Agnes' table.As at home, good, cheap. and a great kindness.