Le Pichet, Loches
Tucked just below the château walls on Rue du Château, Le Pichet is the kind of reliably excellent, unfussy French bistro that every small French town should have but increasingly doesn't — linen tablecloths, a chalkboard menu that changes with the market, and a cellar stocked with local Touraine AOC wines. Locals fill it on weekday lunchtimes, which is always a good sign.
What to Order
The formule du midi (two or three courses at lunch) typically runs €15–22 and represents extraordinary value. Expect starters like terrine de foie de volaille or a warm chèvre salad, followed by a slow-braised pork cheek with lentils or pan-fried sandre (pike-perch) from the Loire.
The cheese course is non-negotiable: a proper plateau with Sainte-Maure, aged Selles-sur-Cher and a local Valençay will arrive whether you planned for it or not, and you will be grateful.
Wine & Atmosphere
Ask the patron for a glass of Touraine Amboise rouge — a light, peppery Côt (Malbec) that is criminally underknown outside the region and pairs beautifully with the charcuterie starters.
The dining room is small (around 30 covers), so book ahead for Friday and Saturday evenings, especially in July and August when the château draws more visitors to town.
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