Reviewer abroad: A fine dine in Bayeux at Le Pommier
Our evening meal lasted almost three hours, but we didn't notice. Time slows right down in the quaint little town of Bayeux, where enjoying the serenity of the cobblestoned city is more than enough for a night out and about. It also helps if your dinner is as steadily and confidently impressive as that found at Restaurant Le Pommier.
After enjoying an aperitif of Bayeux’s famous apple cider wine, we sat down to a three-course menu for €34.70 (AU $47), including a choice of some of the Normandy region’s finest cheeses. The house specialty of countryside foie gras was subtly smoked and soft, paired nicely with a slightly spiced apple chutney and fresh bread. The warm goat’s cheese salad was vibrant and flavoursome, a sizeable wedge of fine, strong, high quality French cheese lightly fried and drizzled with vinaigrette atop a bed of fresh salad and red currants.
For our main, we sampled a three-meat mix grill and a pork fillet with Neufchatel cheese and cream sauce. Both were excellent, each serving of tender and moist medallions served alongside a crisp potato gratin, herbed halved tomatoes and a fresh zucchini and gherkin compote. We sampled the chef’s selection of cheeses sourced from nearby regions and especially enjoyed the soft, smooth and creamy variety named after the proximate town of Pont L’Eveque.
Several hours later we decided to round off our feast, opting for the chef’s apple pie and the chocolate trio. Drizzled with cider’s caramel made from Bayeux’s famous cider wine, the fresh warm apples were encased in filo pastry and served alongside a light bourbon vanilla ice cream. The incredibly rich chocolate trio was a chocolatier’s dream, with a warm chocolate ganache sauce poured heavily over a dense chocolate souffl and a generous scoop of dark chocolate ice cream.
After a day exploring the tragic history of the Normandy coast, whiling away an evening in the outdoor dining garden at Le Pommier was the easiest task of the day. The service was friendly, helpful and not over-bearing and the atmosphere pleasant. A reasonably-sized restaurant in the heart of Bayeux, Le Pommier is one of the finest restaurants in the Western region of France.