Can anyone recommend a good quality dining experience around Aulnay or St Jean? Tried Le Scorlian - food ok but lacking character / atmosphere Don't mind travelling for a proper meal Any suggestions please? I heard there is a Michelin star restaurant somewhere around cognac or jonzac?

The menu at "Le Moulin des Saules" in Pouzou is predictable but good (the menu doesn't change often), but if it is your 1st experience you should enjoy it, the setting is quite lovely.

http://www.lemoulindessaules.com/index.php

3 Passage de Margonelle 17400 Les Églises-d'Argenteuil, France
05 46 59 98 53

Hope this helps.

Hello

Hotel de la place St Jean (been for anniversaries, 40th b'day etc). For 'normal' food never had a bad meal at any of the places we've been to in St Jean

Grand Café Surgères (been lots of times... excellent)

Café Roma Surgères ( excellent)

Surgères is about 20 mins from Aulnay, 30 mins from St Jean......but worth the trip if it's for the food

Bon appetit

Isn't it strange how tastes differ. We've eaten at Grand Cafe, Surgeres many many times and never had a good meal there. However, La Roma is excellent if you want pizza or pasta.

Mel hi out of interest  why would you eat somewhere many many times if you never get a good meal there?

La Goule Beneze is the best place I've been to around the St J area.  I think it's closed on Fridays.  Agree with you about Le Scorlion - souless and too precious.

We prefer Le Scorlion to La Goule Beneze. The latter, while good, was not to the same standard.

I've heard that Le Petit Bouchon on the market square is not bad as a lunchtime sort of place, though I've never eaten there myself.