Le Bistrot de la Cathédrale
Tucked into a half-timbered building on Place de la Cathédrale, this relaxed bistro has been feeding pilgrims, students and day-trippers for decades with honest Beauce-region cooking — think slow-braised pork cheeks, local asparagus in season and a decent wine list weighted toward Loire Valley bottles. The terrace faces the cathedral's Royal Portal directly.
What to Order
The weekday lunch formule (starter, main, dessert) typically runs €16–€22 and represents outstanding value for the location. The braised beef joue de boeuf with root vegetable purée is a reliable house signature, and the tarte Tatin made with Beauce apples is a worthy finish.
In spring (April–June) the kitchen leans heavily into local white asparagus, which appears in multiple forms — warm with hollandaise, shaved raw over a salad, or folded into a cream sauce with local ham. This is asparagus country and the bistro knows it.
The wine list features Coteaux du Vendômois and Touraine whites alongside a short Burgundy selection; the staff are happy to recommend a half-bottle if you are solo or just passing through.
Atmosphere & Booking
The interior is genuinely old — exposed beams, tiled floors, mismatched chairs — without being the kind of fake-rustic that gets applied to tourist traps. Lunch here on a weekday feels like eating in a real French town rather than a heritage theme park.
Reserve a terrace table in advance for weekend visits, especially May through September when the outdoor seats fill quickly with visitors wanting the cathedral backdrop. Call directly or book via the restaurant's page on TheFork (LaFourchette).
Le Bistrot de la Cathédrale on video
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