For the Love of...: Les Papilles (Tours, France)

Overall - 9/10
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Food - 8/10
Service - 9/10
Ambiance- 9/10

The Avenue Grammont is one of main streets of Tours and is the location of a number of great restaurants including La Chope. Les Papilles is another one that we had the fortune of discovering. French for 'taste buds' Les Papilles definitely delivered when it came to taste but also hit it out of the park with the super friendly service and chic yet comfortable decor. We knew we were in for a good evening when upon walking into the restaurant we were greeted with big smiles from every server we passed on our way to our table.

Again as it seems in France the  price fixe menu for 28€ each for a starter, main course and dessert was the way to go. We began with a house made terrine of poultry and the friccase of girolle mushrooms. The terrine was well prepared with strong herby flavours of parsley and chervil. The mushroom fricasse was essentially sautéed girolle mushrooms with shallots and ham. The mushrooms also called chanterelles are a local variety that were in season. We could tell this not only by their intense flavours but also the quantity that made it onto our plate. This was one of the best tastes we've had in France!

Our main courses included a poached monkfish in a Moroccan style sauce and a slowly braised veal dish loaded with more of those girolle mushrooms. The veal stole the show and was the epitome of the great French food that can be had in Tours. Even though it was a simple dish of slowly braised veal with girolles and buttered carrots the perfect execution and intense flavours in each mouthful brought it to the next level, The monkfish though cooked well just didn't stand up to the awesomeness of the veal. The dish was described as 'Moroccan tagine monkfish' but reminded us more of a curry that seemed a little one note in flavour. 

To finish we had the obligatory cheese plate and a molten chocolate cake served with a passion fruit sorbet. Both were a great way to end another excellent meal in Tours!