Located in the rolling hills just west of Punta's La Barra, this acclaimed French dining institution is often touted as one of the best foodie-sanctuaries in South America. It's the only Relais & Châteaux-member restaurant in Uruguay, a haute travel chain whose other member restaurants include Guy Savoy and French Laundry. The restaurant interior is cutesy cozy, with a bi-level dining room of raw oak furnishings, unremarkable tile floors and arched dark-stained widows. With a few too many ruffles and gold-framed artwork for our taste, it's the type of restaurant where bloated tourists flock with NY Times clippings in hand and camera in the other. A far-quainter patio is located adjacent to the main building in a garden of lavender and rosemary, perfect for private parties and more-intimate gatherings.
The Food
Chef-Jean-Paul Bondoux masters one of the most authentic French menus you will ever eat in a resort town. Utilizing fresh locally harvested vegetables and meats, the menu accentuates the finer tunes of this regional agricultural area. The wine list includes a lengthy collection of domestic and imported wines, we suggest drinking the Argentinean that are usually better priced. Appetizers include terrine of foie gras, grilled langoustines and fresh-cut mélange of herb salad. Entrees include gamier selections like rabbit with Uruguayan caviar or roasted duck confit with spiced port wine, as well as the usual grilled fillet and lobster specialties. Those arriving earlier in the day should also indulge in the downstairs bakery, serving-up fresh breads and sweet local treats.
Last Word
Acclaimed gourmand masters complicated, multi-syllabic French cuisine in cozy rural enclave outside of La Barra in Punta del Este.
