We cannot praise highly enough the contributions of the Fagegaltier sisters, who—following in the footsteps of their parents and grandparents—elevated local cuisine to the level of fine dining and enabled subsequent generations to join a movement with a sustainable future: that of local production in the service of authentic signature cuisine. Le Vieux Pont was once awarded the Gault&Millau “Lauriers du Terroir” (once again, GM was a pioneer), and the inspiration has never waned, thanks to the bountiful Aveyron region, which provides priceless treasures all around the inn. The charcuterie, cheeses from Rouergue, and the fine poultry from Cruéjouls form the foundation of the menus, but Nicole doesn’t shy away from a few oceanic detours, such as line-caught sea bream with lemongrass-ginger broth and yellow zucchini, creating courses that consistently offer excellent value (five-course menu for €92). Desserts feature seasonal fruits (roasted Reine-Claude plums with caramelized puff pastry, verjuice granita, tonka bean ice cream, and vanilla cream), and there’s an excellent wine cellar with many hidden gems at reasonable prices.
