Hello Fodorites, We will be spending a couple of nights in the Loire Valley on our way from Sarlat to Mont Saint Michel. I have been researching b&b type properties which offer evening meals as I think it would be convenient especially on the night of arrival. One of the places on my short list is Le Dixmeresse which is located in Restigne. Looking for input from anyone who has a personal experience with the b&b itself and/or the area generally. Many thanks!

I don't know the B&B but I tend to stay in Saumur or Chinon. The Fontavraud abbey might we worth looking at.

Thanks so much for your reply. Fontevraud is on my list of must sees having read a few books about Eleanor of Aquitaine. It looks like a short drive (22 km approx.) away.

The old priory offers a hotel/B&B experience with the restaurant being in half of the quad. There are better restaurants in the village but this one is good and you can visit the abbey gardens at night for the full Plantagenet experience.

Indeed, if Fontevraud is an intended stop, do stay there. I have & also had dinner in the restaurant. It's the ambiance that counts for we are there for the history.

Thanks very much for the various replies. I originally planned to stay at Fontevraud but it does not get great reviews so I decided to look elsewhere.

This is one time when I wouldn't worry much about reviews. I'd think about that when there are a number of options, but this is a one-off, staying in such an historic place, unless reviews are always your biggest deciding factor. We all have our priorities, of course.

Kiddo, we did the Loire years ago and stayed at Hotel du Nord in Dijon (it was perfect and great starting point south), then stayed at the gem right across the way from Chateau Chenonceaux: Auberge le Bon Laboureur. Accommodations and restaurant excellent and reasonable. To be able to literally walk across the street was such a plus. From there we went down to Chambord, Amboise, and looped back to Paris

We really liked Le Moulin Fleuri, a mill-hotel at Veigne. Those owners have since retired and the next generation took over since we were there, so I don't know if it's still good, but the restaurant was excellent back then.

We have a favorite B&B in the area but last I checked they weren't offering table d'hote. Worth checking with them though because it's a pretty and very comfortable place, warm English (she) and French (he) owners, and there's nearly always an international group at breakfast. It's also near my favorite village in France,Chedigny, which is the only village in France that is a Remarkable Garden (Jardin Remarquable). Come to think of it, there's a good restaurant in that village so that's a dinner possibility if La Bihourderie isn't able to provide dinner. It's near the town of Loches which has a lot going for it including a Saturday market that's a lot of fun.

https://www.labihourderie.com/en/home/#&gid=1&pid=11

Thanks so much for your suggestions. I must admit I do rely heavily on reviews to narrow down my choices. I contacted La Bihourderie and they are able to offer dinner so thank you Coquelicot for that suggestion.