My spouse and I
visited Cave-Bistro Le Volet Qui Penche for dinner on a Friday evening in early
September 2017. In general, the restaurant/shop serves lunch and dinner on Mondays
through Saturdays (although just dinner on Saturdays, no lunch). Additionally,
the bistro is closed on Mondays during the winter months. Reservations are
highly recommended; this is a popular dining spot. We stayed nearby at
the Villa Lara, and it was less than a 5-minute walk to the restaurant.
Le Volet Qui Penche,
whose name might have something to do with “shutters” or “blinds”, is located
in a little house that overlooks the Aure River, across from the waterwheel and
next to the smallest house in France. This wine bar and bistro is tiny,
offering just a few tables positioned among the racks shelved with wines chosen
by its wine connoisseur and caviste (cellarman) owner. Several windows, a sort of suspended
staircase, a small free-standing cozy fireplace, and a decorative bar (used for
serving drinks and food rather than for sitting and drinking) create an
inviting atmosphere.
The bistro serves classic
seasonal farm-to-table French cuisine. At lunchtime, a plat du jour and a glass
of wine costs about 10 Euros, whereas for dinner, a three-course menu du jour
is less than 20 Euros. Cheese and charcuterie plates are available between
mealtimes, as are salads, omelets, and escargot.
We ordered one of
the three-course menus du jour, which consisted of a sort of croque-monsieur
as a starter, a main dish of cod
with ratatouille, and finished with a profiterole dessert). My spouse ordered a
la carte, including 6 huitres (oysters) as a starter followed by a generous beef
tartare as a main course. We initially began with a glass of Poire Verre and a
soft drink (they offered only regular soda, but not diet/”light”), but then
shared a bottle of Pouilly V Blanch. Not normally patrons who purchase a bottle
of wine with dinner, we were pleased to accept the host’s recommendation, and
even happier when the bottle turned out to be affordable. (Oh, how we wish that
were the case in the United States!) Our dinner and drinks totaled about 100
Euros.
We loved our dinner at Le Volet Qui Penche; the food was
tasty, the setting was adorable, and the host/owner offered pleasant
interaction.
