Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Les Tuffeaux is located halfway between Tours' celebrated Saint Gatien cathedral and the Loire River. The restaurant is housed in a renovated 17th-century farmhouse that features stone walls and rustic wooden ceiling beams. It is run by Gildas Marsollier, a chef known for putting an avant-garde twist on classic French fare. The menu changes regularly, but chef Marsollier prepares dishes like slices of roasted rabbit topped with bacon and almonds, grilled crayfish served with partridge-stuffed ravioli, and oysters bathed in a pungent egg-and-blue cheese sauce. His signature dish is a crisp roasted pigeon fillet on a bed of tangy chunks of pink grapefruit. The restaurant offers a prix-fixe meu.
Les Tuffeaux
19 Rue Lavoisier
37000 Tours, France
011-33-02-47-47-1989
Château Belmont is often called Jean Bardet, after its chef. If you're in the mood for a splurge, the Château Belmont is widely considered to be among the best restaurants in France. Bardet is a two-star Michelin chef who runs a restaurant in several rooms and gardens of a 19th-century château. His food is sophisticated and health-conscious; unlike most French fare, his dishes are made without an excess of butter and emphasize fresh herbs, vegetables grown in estate's gardens and lots of flavorful ingredients, such as truffles and exotic fruits. The menu changes weekly, and specialties include lobster ragout, Muscadet-poached oysters served on a watercress purée, sliced pork with caviar and scallops served with truffle cream, and a purée of shallots. Expect to spend a minimum of $100 per person. Closed Tuesdays.
Château Belmont (Jean Bardet)
57 Rue Groison
Tours, France 37100
011-33-2-47-41-4111
jeanbardet.com
Despite the influx of trendy, new bistros and restaurants on rue Colbert, Le Petit Patrimoine is continues to be favorite local eatery that has been a longtime fixture on the street. It features old-fashioned, rustic decor with stone walls and country charm. The tiny bistro has a mid-priced (by French standards) menu, and is known for its traditional and tasty French dishes. The menu changes daily, but diners can expect to find dishes such as grilled steaks topped with goat cheese, fish cooked with wine, onions and baby vegetables and a torte made with goat cheese and rillons (pork belly).
Le Petit Patrimoine
58 rue Colbert
Tours, France
011-33-02-47-66-05-81