Hôtel du Lac

This dinky establishment, in the hands of Cyril Auboiroux for some ten years now, rolls out a concise, inspired menu composed of a choice of three starters, three main courses and three desserts. Local produce steals the star roles (Limousin beef, Corrèze veggies, sturgeon and caviar from Dordogne), albeit with the occasional more far-flung gourmet escapade and unexpected creations like an amber beer ice cream. Artistic plating enhances the perfectly paired contrasting flavours. Delightful, professional front-of-house team.

Don’t miss this opportunity to discover the work of a jovial, self-effacing chef, as modest as his food is good. Premium seasonal produce takes front stage in his dishes: free-range duck breast, purée of quince and prunes and a spicy gravy. Rugged, deftly crafted, lip-smacking food! In fine weather, head for the pretty terrace in the back garden.

At Olivier’s Table, Pierre is in the kitchen, while his partner, Fanny, a talented pastry chef, oversees the front-of-house. Normandy-born Pierre has enthusiastically embraced Corrèze, his land of adoption, in this town centre stone house, whose modern furnishings and designer lighting are the epitome of elegant. The repertory, in tune with the zeitgeist and at bargain prices, ticks all the boxes: enticing, polished and colourful. Examples include poached oysters, marinated seabass with citrus fruit and a lemon-vodka sorbet; veal scallop and sweetbread, ravioles of chanterelle mushrooms and bl

This restaurant in Égletons, between Tulle and Ussel, was opened by a young couple from the Basque Country, who are winning diners over with their commitment and unpretentious cuisine. On weekday lunchtimes, the food is deliberately simpler, with a good-value set menu that attracts regulars. In the evening, the menu pushes the envelope: grilled Basque blood sausage with potato patty and golden apples; crab mayonnaise enhanced with a carrot and curry cream, blini made with walnut flour.

On the main road to Brive-la-Gaillarde, you are bound to notice this Corrèze-style building with its characteristic local stone walls and slate roof. You will immediately feel at home inside, thanks to the soothing decor (wooden floors, oak tables, leather- and fabric-upholstered seating) and the beaming smile of the laid-back chef. He cooks by instinct, devising blind menus out of locally sourced ingredients. His delicious dishes, such as Limousin veal belly, smoked beetroot, carrot ketchup and mashed parsnips, lack neither colour nor precision.

The ground floor of this 19C sous-préfecture is now home to a fashionably appointed restaurant that welcomes with a cheerful vibe. At the helm, Ludwik Crosnier, with stints in some prestigious establishments under his belt, signs a seasonal score depicted by local ingredients, stellar technique and delicately balanced flavours. Claire cheerfully and attentively supervises the front-of-house, adding a gracious flourish to this fine dining experience.

Julien and Marion are the driving force behind this restaurant housed in a renovated municipal building, in which original old stonework meets contemporary furnishings. In the kitchen, Julien carefully crafts his dishes, loyal to local producers; Marion oversees the dining room with discretion and genuine warmth. The chef may revisit traditional dishes such as pâté en croûte and soufflé, but he also devises more contemporary dishes: crispy boudin noir dumplings, apple compote and sage-pineapple oil, or grilled Duroc pork with sauce charcutière and herby polenta.