The Mad Hatters Kitchen

Talented pair Emilie and Thomas Fournier have thrown themselves wholeheartedly into running this charming inn hidden deep in the Vienne, which gives pride of place to local producers. The delicious dishes are artfully plated and are good value for money. For example: asparagus and duck confit, served with a warm vinaigrette, or their version of devilled egg – flavoured with wild garlic. Well worth the detour.

Marc Paluszka and Alexandra Vincent have breathed new life into these premises, previously La Chênaie, long run by André Chenu. The couple has transformed this local institution without betraying its spirit. In the kitchen, local sourcing – suppliers are mentioned during service – underpins a small, clear and precise menu. This modern cuisine is dotted with Brazilian accents (a nod to the chef's origins), as evidenced by the cachaça in the baba.

The setting – a glass-paned box flanked by a terrace looking out over the greenery – is modern and elegant. David Seguin's inventive menu is devised around high-quality ingredients. The cooking is flawless, the plating exquisite and the flavours well balanced, a case in point being the langoustine and scallop boudin with samphire, celery and bisque.

The son and grandson of restaurateurs, Sébastien Boireau had embarked on a different career before ultimately following in the family footsteps. When his culinary vocation called, he opened this restaurant with an elegant little shopfront in the city centre. Here, he has created a refined dining room (wooden seats with cream leather cushions, white walls, mirrors framed by plants). His cuisine is fresh and modern, and as pared back as the decor: scallop carpaccio; veal fillet, carrot mousseline, blood orange jus…

One can't help but fall under the spell of this fine lock - keeper's house, which stands in the bucolic setting on the banks of the Sèvre. An enchanting environment, but that doesn't eclipse the main focus, which is the chef's meticulous and well - calibrated cooking. Ingredients are top notch and enhanced without frills. A real pleasure.