Auberge du Grand Rocher 66720 Caramany

As you drive across the bridge spanning the lake at the entrance to the village of Caramany it is difficult to imagine that under all that water lies a whole section of the old village which was flooded about 15 years ago to create a dam providing water for the villages downriver and Perpignan.  Sometimes though, when the water level is very low, the spire of the church comes popping  out of the lake,  a really eerie sight!

The Auberge du Grand Rocher, which overlooks the lake, has recently changed hands and what a transformation!

From the moment you step over the threshold Yves, the smiling enthusiastic chef , and Patou his lively wife, make you  feel  totally at home and do everything they can to make your stay enjoyable.  They have both been in the restaurant business before,  having  moved from a restaurant on the coast,  and they know their stuff.

The dining room is bright and airy, and in summer there are tables out on the terrace which overlooks the Caramany lake –  there are not many restaurants around with such a breathtaking view.

As well as the a la carte menu, there are several  fixed priced menus, and having tried them on my three recent visits, I have never been disappointed. On the last occasion I chose the Euros 25 three course menu  which was excellent value.  The starters included  foie gras in bric pastry and grilled goat cheese salad,   followed by roast lamb, braised pork cheeks (don’t be put off – it’s delicious!) or monkfish with chorizo.  The desserts were chocolate fondant, crème catalan or poached nectarine with icecream.

The wine list , which is mostly local, is reasonably priced  and there are also pichets available. We settled for the palest of  pale pinks from Lafage, which despite its low-key colour turned out to be 12.5 degrees and  a delightful dry wine with distinctly fruity overtones .

This restaurant merits a visit and I wish Yves and Patou all the best in their new venture.