Franca's Birthday

Last weekend was Franca’s birthday so the occasion had to be marked in French style which means going out for a meal. Franca chose the restaurant and so early on Saturday evening we headed off to l’Essille in Bassac. www.hotel-restaurant-essille.com/. Strangely I was talking to Sue one of my fellow commuters on the way over to La Rochelle and she was singing the praises of this very restaurant, at the time I didn’t know that it was the same restaurant Franca had chosen.

Franca, her mother, Fleur and I set off for Bassac arriving at the restaurant bang on 7:30, making us first the guests of the evening. The restaurant was light and airy so they were off to a good start in my book as I do not like stuffy dingy restaurants, and l’Essille had plenty of charm too.

The meal was great and the atmosphere was good too, and by 8:30 it was pretty full, although the quality was reasonably high, the restaurant had a good relaxed atmosphere of people out to enjoy them selves. Sometimes high quality food means the atmosphere is a bit to still as if you are supposed to respect the food rather than enjoy the whole restaurant experience, and that was not the case with l’Essille. The food was well cooked and presented, everyone enjoyed what they ordered and the wine list was one of the better ones I have seen in our local area. The menu had a wide choice, but focussing on localish food, so lots of fish & seafood from the coast and meat from the Limousin.

We finished off the celebration with an excellent birthday dessert for Franca, so a good time was had by all and with Franca’s birthday well and truly celebrated we can recommend L’Essille the to one and all.