LA CORNICHE : Brousse-les-Antibels, St Antonin.
The modest entrance of this delightful country restaurant leads into a small dining room and further to a terrace overlooking the Aveyron valley. The building is very simple and the interior cosy rather than super smart which suits us fine and the view from the terrace is spectacular.
Michel, the proprietor/chef welcomed us (a group of 14) with aperitifs on the terrasse, took our orders and then proceeded to prepare and serve a meal of exceptional quality in the dining room. We chose a menu at €29 which offered a selection 6-7 traditional main dishes of which a couple were specific to the day. I choose a monkfish starter and a pavé of veal - perfectly cooked with a selection of market vegetables. Little extra touches, like an amuse-bouche of cracked wheat and pigs trotters presented in an egg shell on sea salt and a simply served fish soup, underlined the quality of the cuisine.
We've been to La Corniche quite a few times but never more than once a year and each time we ask ourselves why we don't go more often - probably because it's a bit of a drive for us. It's a bit special and doesn't aim to cater the quick €12.50 lunch. La Corniche definitely deserves a 4.5 rating.
The restaurant is open every day apart from Mondays and Sunday evenings. Best booked in advance (0563 682 695) to ensure space since the arrival of large group such as ours could slow down service. The restaurant is signposted on the road from St Antonin to Montauban which leads you through dramatic gorge scenery to Brousse.
Hugh Williams
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