Allantoine, 66600 Rivesaltes, France

When you meet a chef like Antoine who is so enthusiastic and excited about his cuisine you know in advance that the meal is going to be delicious !  He goes through the menu with you in great detail emphasising the special highlights of each dish – many of which are Catalan specialities – and you will not be disappointed.

On my last visit I chose the  4 course menu,  though the Menu du Terroir with 3 courses was also very tempting.  After the amuse-bouche of tuna  fish sushi and boudin noir, there came a feuillete of gambas, in fact so many of them that they were bursting out of the puff pastry!  The main course was roasted local lamb with a medley of fresh vegetables in various guises including little stuffed courgettes, artichokes and a gratin of potatoes.  The dessert is always a surprise and is chosen by the chef. That day it was a roasted peach on an almond biscuit, topped by   a sorbet, and accompanied on the side by a little pot of peach pieces marinated in red wine and spices.

The wine list offers a wide choice of carefully selected local wines, and particularly several from Calce, the nearby village where the restaurant was previously located.  And if you are looking for a quick lunch during the week there is a plat du jour menu available every day at  15 euros which is a steal!

Menus  Euros 25.50 and 36.00.