Le Cairn - Millas

We happened in to Le Cairn while looking for someplace to have dinner around 8:30 on a Wednesday night, and were very glad we did. The atmosphere is clean and casual, but tables are properly laid and service is correct. The owner was very gracious and attentive, and accommodated my husband 's lack of French by talking to him in English, rather than having me translate. We ordered steak frites and grilled salmon, and the steak came with some of the best frites we 've ever had in France! The salmon was perfectly cooked (not rare in the middle like many places do in the US), and the side salad was simple but well dressed. The bread was fresh and obviously artisan made, and complemented the meal nicely. When it came time for dessert we went with two of the house specialities (both made on premises), a walnut cake and the most mouthwatering pear tarte I 've had in ages. Both were perfectly delicious, the walnut cake served with cream anglaise and the peart tarte with creme chantilly, which wasn 't even necessary as the tart was so moist and full of pears. Total for two with wine and coffee came to under 50 euro. We 're not sure why the other reviewer had such a poor experience, but ours clearly was not, and we are looking forward to returning to Le Cairn during our two week stay.

Well, we should have realised that on a busy Sunday, with the market, that an empty restaurant wouldn't be up to much! The place itself was clean and tidy, but it would be really, with no one in there! Our food, when it came, after the wrong meals were brought originally, was cold, and had obviously been cooked before and kept warm, but not very well. We were served sprouts with our confit de canard,which in the middle of July seemed a bit strange, but when we tasted them, we could understand it they had been cooking since the middle of February, I should think! The patron said he was off back to where he came from, as no one liked him not him, just his food! Stay away!!

Had high hopes of this new restaurant in the village. Food was cold, service was equally cold. Would not recommend.