Restaurant Le Vendôme (Place du Marché)
Tucked beside the old covered market hall, Le Vendôme is the kind of unpretentious, linen-tablecloth bistro that French provincial towns do better than anywhere else — a short, seasonal menu built around Loir-et-Cher produce, a wine list heavy on Jasnières and Coteaux du Vendômois, and a prix-fixe lunch that represents extraordinary value. This is where local professionals eat on a Tuesday, which
What to Order
The terrine de gibier (game terrine) served with cornichons and sourdough is a perennial starter worth ordering whatever the season. In spring, the white asparagus with mousseline sauce is sourced from farms barely 20 km away; in autumn, look for a pigeon or venison dish that will remind you why French bistro cooking endures.
The cheese trolley — a genuine trolley, not a plate — rolls out after the main course and includes regional stars like Vendôme Bleu, a soft blue-rinded cheese with AOC protection that you will struggle to find outside this corner of the Loire.
Wines of the Vendômois
The Coteaux du Vendômois is a tiny, little-known AOC producing crisp Pineau d'Aunis rosés and mineral Chenin Blanc whites that pair brilliantly with local fish and charcuterie. Ask the patron for a glass of the local Jasnières white — it ages like a serious Burgundy but costs a fraction of the price.
The restaurant's terrace opens in warm weather and faces the old market square — a genuinely lovely spot for a long Friday lunch after the morning market.
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