Place Plumereau is set out with
the tables of expensive
cafes
and
restaurants ; the
bars in this area can be
overpriced but many have a lot
of character. The most promising
restaurant streets are rue du
Grand-Marché and rue de la Rôtisserie,
on the periphery of old Tours,
and rue du Commerce and rue
Colbert. Sugar and chocolate
freaks should make a detour to
pâtisseries
like La Marotte, 3 rue du
Change, and La Chocolatière, 6
rue de la Scellerie. The main
market
halls are to the west of
St-Martin at the end of rue des
Halles.
Académie de la Bière
, 43 rue Lavoisier. A serious
establishment near the cathedral
for those dedicated to good ale;
you can choose from among 200
types of beer while playing
darts.
Brasserie de l'Univers
, 8 place Jean-Jaurès (tel
02.47.05.50.92). Big and
beautiful Belle Époque
brasserie with its original
painted glass. Grilled meat and
fish, pizzas and menus from
85F/?12.96. Service till
midnight.
Brasserie de la Victoire
, place de la Victoire. Simple
brasserie in one of the less
touristy squares. Moules
frites for 55F/?8.38.
Au Chien Jaune , 74
rue B. Palissy (tel
02.47.05.10.17). Serves simple
good food. Menus at 75F/?11.43
and 98F/?14.94.
Le Franglais , 27 rue
Colbert. This bar-cum-restaurant
serves up enormous plates of
meat with chips and salad for
60F/?9.15, including wine. The
owner and cook is English, which
explains the name, but the
cuisine is decidedly French.
Jean Bardet , 57 rue
Groison (tel 02.47.41.41.11).
Tours' top restaurant and one of
the best in France. Extremely
sophisticated, health-conscious
food with a minimum of butter
and cream and a maximum of rare
herbs and old varieties of
vegetables. 500F/?76.22 à la
carte, and fixed menus from
250F/?38.11.
Le Molière , cnr rue
de la Scellerie & rue
Cornielle. Directly in front of
the Grand Théâtre, this vast
Belle Époque café has faded
frescoes and a relaxed
atmosphere.
La Rôtisserie Tourangelle
, 23 rue du Commerce (tel
02.47.05.71.21). Salmon
pancakes, beef from Chinon,
guinea fowl and other goodies,
and excellent-value menus from
95F/?14.48. Closed Sun evening
& Mon.
Le Singe Vert , 5 rue
Marceau (tel 02.47.20.02.76).
Another Belle Époque brasserie
with lunchtime menus from
68F/?10.37. Open till midnight.
Trois Caïmans , 91
rue Jules-Charpentier (tel
02.47.37.71.26).
Senegalese-African restaurant
serving specialities such as brochette
d'antilope and chèvre
yassa (goat in onion and
lime sauce). 65F/?9.91 and
95F/?14.48 menus. Closed Sun
& Mon.
Les Tuffeaux , 19 rue
Lavoisier (tel 02.47.47.19.89).
An attractive setting for
delicious classic cuisine; menus
from 110F/?16.77. Closed Sun
& Mon lunch.
