Restaurant 29 - Saintes

We ate here at lunchtime and the food was delicious. I had the "chefs suggestion" which was €31 per person and excellent. The chef is British and has worked with Tom Kerridge and the quality shows. This was the best meal that we had in our 3 week tour of France. We travel to France each year for our summer hols and next year we will ensure our route allows for a trip to Restaurant Vingt Neuf.

Our first time at this restaurant but definitely not the last. We had the three course lunch menu at 19€ and it was incredible value for the quality of what we ate. Starter of poached type egg, covered and fried in breadcrumbs served on a bed of diced potatoes and spinach in a mild curry sauce. Followed by excellently cooked steak pieces with cabbage and purée, my wife had filet of pollock served on a bed of sea vegetables which she said was wonderful. Dessert for me was a type of eclair filled with orange slices etc and served with a very delicately flavoured lemon grass ice cream, amazing !, my wife had elderflower flavoured cream, coulis, with fresh strawberries with mascarpone ice cream, again amazing. Excellent choices of wine at very reasonable prices, all served by very helpful and friendly staff. The chef, Michael Durkin, worked in a lot of quality restaurants, including working with Tom Kerridge, and it shows. His attention to detail, use of unusual ingredients etc makes this restaurant a winner every time.It's in Saintes, a wonderful old town with Roman amphitheatre, statuesque cathedral, vibrant markets etc, which is a great place to visit and explore. There is also car parking opposite the restaurant, next to the river, with more about 200 metres further on, making it a great place to relax and enjoy good food before or after you've explored the town.

Well worth a visit! Very friendly staff and exceptional food! Top 5 restaurants in saintes for sure !!!!!!

We dropped on here by chance on a lunchtime walk-up. Situated slightly outside the city centre, close by the river and a convenient car park, it's a respite from the hustle of the city. The menu and the restaurant looked attractive, and you can dine...outside. The food was excellent entrées of cauliflower velouté and a fantastic beef cheek with foie gras; mains of mackerel and confit chicken both perfectly cooked and packed with hidden delights and flavours; I finished with a 'Bounty-style dessert' which was actually deliciously toasted coconut topped with dark, dark chocolate. Excellent value at for either two or three course lunch menu. Accompanied with a glass each of Charentais wine (notably an interesting house Colombard) and coffees, the bill came to just over Chef Michael and his staff are very friendly, and present a quality that tells of his experience in high-end kitchens. Excellent food at a great price, served in pleasant surroundings. Can't wait to return. Absolutely recommended

Excellent food, great service, the English chef knows how to cook and the restaurant is definitely my favourite in Saintes

A really good family meal. Nicely cooked veal and excellent cheese board. Very friendly and attentive service. Highly recommended

We visit this restaurant for lunch often but last night had a superb dinner there with friends. The food was absolutely delicious and beautifully presented. The service was flawless with both waiting staff very welcoming and friendly although still being very respectful and discreet. I...cannot recommend highly enough

Having lived in France for Years really good fish and chips is one thing I miss. And chef Durkin exécutés it beautifully. Lovely thin batter, good quality fish and beautiful crispy chips. Really what more could you want