5 Best Restaurants in Bordeaux and the Wine Country, France

Set in the heart of the town, this is Cadillac's top gastronomic address, serving regional specialties prepared with imagination and flair. Inspired takes on the French classics feature fresh local produce, fish, and game. Look for dishes like creamy watercress and asparagus soup with mushrooms and escargots, lamprey eel braised in wine à la Bordelaise, artisan-made charcuterie with country pâté, and a selection of scrumptious pastries from the in-house pastry chef all served with the top local vintages. Prix-fixe lunch menus (€13.50, €15.50) are an outstanding bargain on weekdays, and a pretty terrace delights in the warmer months.

This warm, intimate dining room is Blaye's answer to a gastronomic restaurant without the fuss and expense. Expect beautifully presented dishes, like suprême de pintade (a delectable slow-roasted chicken), smoked duck-breast salad with Osso-iraty cheese, beef carpaccio, or roasted salmon with baby vegetables all served with just the right local wine from an extensive list. Prices are almost too reasonable to be believed.

Decorated with rustic wood tables and old wine barrels, this popular bistro-wine bar serves a respectable menu of French standard dishes. But the real allure is the 48 local Côtes de Bourg and Côtes de Blaye wines served by the glass and more than 100 by the bottle, which can also be purchased to go from the "cave" on site, not to mention a breezy outdoor terrace with views of the river. Musical evenings and later hours make for a fun evening out.

Experience French country living par excellence at this charming restaurant in the heart of the Bourg vineyards serving up a classic French cuisine: wild cèpe mushrooms à la Bordelaise, cod braised with wild fennel and root vegetable purée, house-made foie gras, and a generous salade de gésiers (preserved gizzard salad) are just a few of the seasonal specialties you'll find here, all complemented by the local Côtes de Bourg.