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Albi

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France

La Table du Sommelier is a distinguished restaurant located at 20 Rue Porta in Albi, France. Known for its exquisite French cuisine and an impressive selection of local wines, this eatery has earned the prestigious Bib Gourmand award, making it a must-visit for food enthusiasts. With a focus on fresh ingredients and masterful cooking techniques, La Table du Sommelier offers a delightful dining experience in a cozy and inviting atmosphere.

At La Table du Sommelier, guests can indulge in a variety of expertly crafted dishes that highlight the flavors of the region. The restaurant's menu features: 

Crispy Shrimp Salad - A delightful appetizer featuring tender shrimp in crispy skin.

Raw Beef Tartare Salad - A classic dish that showcases the freshness of the ingredients.

Fillet Steak - Cooked to perfection, though diners should note the presence of bacon.

Grilled Sea Bream - A highlight of the menu, featuring perfectly grilled fish with a saffron sauce.

Genius Desserts - Creative and unique desserts that may surprise the palate.

Situated in the heart of Albi, La Table du Sommelier is conveniently located near several notable landmarks. Guests can explore the stunning Albi Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site, or take a stroll along the picturesque Tarn River. The restaurant's central location makes it an ideal spot for both locals and tourists looking to enjoy a memorable meal after a day of sightseeing.

https://www.google.com/local/review/rap/report?postId=ChdDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSUNueE5DWXRRRRAB&d=17924085&t=1

places/ChIJ8a8mbx3orRIRjkaJb-vH7Dc/reviews/ChdDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSUNueE5DWXRRRRAB

Food done well in an unfussy environment. Service was prompt and friendly. Opted for the chefs menu with wine pairing and was not disappointed.

https://www.google.com/local/review/rap/report?postId=ChdDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSUM1MGZhcW9BRRAB&d=17924085&t=1

places/ChIJ8a8mbx3orRIRjkaJb-vH7Dc/reviews/ChdDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSUM1MGZhcW9BRRAB

This place has been awarded the Bib Gourmand. Surprisingly, they don't have an English menu! Thankfully, the French descriptions are quite clear, and Google's translations provide relatively accurate and comprehensive translations. Since it's a "Bib Gourmand" restaurant, the prices are twice as much as other rests, which naturally raises diners' expectations.

Elegance in presentation is a given in "Bib Gourmand" restaurants, but as an excellent restaurant, the freshness of the food, mastery of cooking times, the appropriateness of dish combinations, and the quality of seasoning are the focus. The dish names are named based on the ingredients' combinations (in English):

🥩Crispy Shrimp Salad
This is an appetizer. What's delightful is the quality of the shrimp, which is tender and placed in crispy skin with a touch of salt, enhancing its freshness. It's a perfectly paired creative dish. The vegetable salad is slightly overdressed with vinegar, awakening the taste buds. The garlic sauce, pine nuts, and shoots are crushed and mixed into a sauce, creating a perfect appetizer. It's a dish where diners might want to use bread to wipe their plates clean.

🥩Raw Beef Tartare Salad
Naturally, raw beef is tender, combined with mushrooms, pickles, and seaweed. However, the seaweed, which is already flavorful when eaten on its own, becomes overpowering when combined with raw beef. If this dish had a more balanced focus on the raw beef, adding some flavors or textures would have worked better. Diners with sensitive digestion, be cautious.

🥩Fillet Steak
This is the main course, but the server didn't inform us that there's bacon in it! In France, bacon defaults to pork. Diners who don't eat pork should be cautious to avoid it! This steak is served fully cooked by default, and diners aren't asked about their preferred doneness when ordering. However, it appears that local chefs don't excel at preparing steak. In all the previous non-Michelin restaurants I've been to, there was an issue with overcooking the steak (including medium). If those chefs are just lacking in skills, trying a "Bib Gourmand" restaurant and still experiencing this issue suggests it might be a regional problem. Steak, when not prepared with any prior marination, grilled directly, or pan-fried, often leads to overcooking, causing a dry texture.

🥩Grilled Sea Bream
Luckily, the fish was well grilled with a perfect texture – tender flesh and slightly crispy skin. The sauce for this dish is the highlight, reportedly using saffron, butter, fennel, and mayonnaise, a style reminiscent of Marseille fish soup. The seasoning is mild, not overly salty. Diners who have lost confidence in French steaks might consider trying the grilled fish.

🥩Genius Desserts
It seems that the common issue with French desserts is excessive sweetness! Diners with sensitive tongues can tell: Things like walnut praline are not tasty, as they're very oily, with a strong pork fat flavor, which ruins the whole dessert! Walnuts, by themselves, have a limited audience. Adding them to a set menu isn't appropriate! Another peculiar dessert is the "parsnip" dessert. Parsnip, as a side dish, works well roasted, but when caramelized, it's unbearably sweet. Imagine extremely sweet carrots, daikon radishes, or zucchinis. These vegetables are sautéed with salt, so is making them into a dessert a good idea? Creative dishes aren't dark experiments; they should respect the inherent flavors of the ingredients and not be overly seasoned!

As for truffle cheese, I can only say that locals don't appreciate truffles like Italians do. The combination of dried truffle on the steak is more reasonable and far more delicious than truffle sauce stuck to cheese. Unfortunately, the menu doesn't clearly specify whether it's dried truffle or sauce!

https://www.google.com/local/review/rap/report?postId=ChdDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSURJOGU2VzZRRRAB&d=17924085&t=1

places/ChIJ8a8mbx3orRIRjkaJb-vH7Dc/reviews/ChdDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSURJOGU2VzZRRRAB

The best restaurant I've been to in France. The staff were great and tried to help as much as possible with translations where they could. The food was well presented and tasted amazing, there was many quality wines to choose from including some local wines that were excellent. The service was quick but professional.
We sat in the rear of the restaurant which is really cosy. The menu we chose had an option to include a glass of wine with each course, selected to compliment the meal(and they did). The wines were also available to purchase to take home, very reasonable prices.
I would definitely recommend this place, it is not cheap but you get more than you pay for.

https://www.google.com/local/review/rap/report?postId=ChdDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSURCbmEyTnB3RRAB&d=17924085&t=1

places/ChIJ8a8mbx3orRIRjkaJb-vH7Dc/reviews/ChdDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSURCbmEyTnB3RRAB

Probably the best restaurant in Albi, and consistently one of the best dining experiences we have ever had. We have been eating here for about 15 years. The food is always superb, and the service is attentive, friendly and respectful. The dishes are beautifully presented, and the cuisine is interesting and varied, with plenty of local produce. This restaurant is also a cave and really understands the complexity of pairing wine with food. They also understand the nuances of tradition, making experiences of aperitifs (such absinthe) fun, and important touches such as the amuse bouche are an integral part of the overall dining experience. The atmosphere is welcoming, vibrant, and perfect whether you are visiting Albi or looking for a great location for a business lunch. A first rate restaurant. We highly recommended.

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places/ChIJ8a8mbx3orRIRjkaJb-vH7Dc/reviews/ChZDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSUNibnRYTkpBEAE

The food and wine pairings are outstanding. But unless you INSIST, they will seat you outdoors even on the hottest summer day the with caveat, « c’est l’été! » And yet they advertise that they have an air conditioned room. When a couple decided to start chain smoking directly upwind, I couldn’t stand it. So we moved indoors without permission. Fortunately, they allowed it and we continued the meal.

PS: if you want to know which wine they’re pairing you’ll either have to ask.

Experience Fine Dining at La Table du Sommelier, Albi

Dine In

Takeout

Delivery

Restroom

Live Music

Reservable

Serves Beer

Serves Wine

Serves Lunch

Serves Dinner

Good for Groups

Serves Dessert

Outdoor Seating

Parking Options

In the heart of Albi, La Table du Sommelier invites you to indulge in a culinary journey that celebrates the finest of French gastronomy. The restaurant features a warm ambiance with rustic beams and elegant decor, perfect for romantic dinners or joyous gatherings. The menu showcases seasonal ingredients sourced from the Tarn region, complemented by an extensive selection of wines.

La Table du Sommelier

Savor exquisite dishes at La Table du Sommelier in Albi. Experience gourmet flavors in a charming setting. Reserve your table now!

Experience Fine Dining at La Table du Sommelier, Albi

Dining & Culinary Delights

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