Although Le Bout de Sac is fully equipped for self catering, no French holiday is complete without at least one or two meals out.
This page is by no means exhaustive; Brittany is positively brimming with decent places to eat and drink. It's simply a few of our favourites that are easy to reach from Trébrivan. Please be advised that it's not a good idea to go for an evening out in any of the nearby towns intending to just hop in a taxi to get back; unless you've booked your ride home, it won't happen.
Firstly, Trébrivan's own newly refurbished bar/restaurant:
Bar-Restaurant L'Alsa-Breizh, 3 Place Ste Anne, 22340 Trébrivan. tel 0296 36 60 56
Weekday lunches served from 1200, booking not required but if you let Jean-Luc (the proprietor) know the day before that you're thinking of eating there he'd appreciate it. Three courses (excluding drinks) currently at €8.50. (Prices correct at Oct 2009).
Saturday and Sunday evenings from 1900. Tartes Flambées, an Alsatian speciality and very tasty, too. A meal for two consisting of two savoury and one pudding (all served one by one on plywood "plates" and eaten with fingers, not cutlery) is the region of €24 plus whatever you're drinking. Booking to eat on Saturday and Sunday evenings is essential. (Prices correct at Oct 2009).
To read a bit more about your holiday "local", click this link (opens a new window).
Another firm favourite spot is La Ronde des Mets in Carhaix.
La Ronde des Mets, 5 Place de la Mairie, Carhaix. tel 0298 930150
It's not the cheapest option in town (it's by no means expensive either) and offers several choices of menu ranging from approx 18€ for three courses up to about 32€ for a real blow out five courses (which, if you include sorbets and amuse-bouches, actually has seven). The cuisine is largely based on Breton peasant fare given a Gallic twist and beautifully presented. A real treat. The restaurant is in a little square just off the main street through Carhaix Plougeur. If you're driving in from Trébrivan the turn off is on the left after the town centre crossroads. In our experience booking is not usually necessary for a couple; families or larger groups should definitely book for weekend evenings. English is not generally spoken, but most of the staff have enough to be very helpful if necessary.
Open all week lunchtimes and evenings except: closed all day Thurs // closed Sunday lunchtime.
La Rotonde, Place de Droits de l'Homme, 29270 Carhaix Plouguer. Tel: 0298 933041. (Just head for the church in the town centre, the restaurant is behind the church tower)
La Rotonde is another favourite place. My apologies for the photo, I promise to take one of the restaurant itself next we're over there. In the meantime this shot shows a lunchtime outside the restaurant.
Traditional French fare based on food cooked on a wood burner. Not a terrific place for vegetarians (even the carrots come with lardons), but excellent for anyone else. Very well priced and with friendly service (English is not spoken, but the staff will do their best to help if you smile nicely). There are sample menus (in French) at http://www.breizhargalon.com/fr/larotonde/. Booking is only necessary on Friday and Saturday evenings, but they do get busy at lunchtimes.
The restaurant is closed on Sundays and on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. Open at lunchtime (1200-1330ish) every day (except Sunday) and all day every other day.
Ty Gwechall, 25, place des Halles 29270 Carhaix Plouguer. Tel 02 98 93 17 00
Traditional Breton créperie, close to La Rotonde (see above). Very well priced eatery with a delicious selection of the local speciality dish. We've eaten here several times and have thoroughly enjoyed the food. The draught cider sold by the jug is scrummy as well. English is not spoken here, but service is friendly and helpful; any language difficulties will be quickly overcome with a smile and willingness to try on both sides!
We've never had to book, but occasionally there might be a short wait for a table at busy times. Very popular with the locals.
Restaurant Merlin, Pontivy Plage, Anse de Sordan-Saint Aignan. tel 0297 275236
This is a long way from being a cheap option, expect UK prices (and sometimes a bit above), but what you're paying for is very decent food in an beautiful location overlooking the Lac du Guerlédan. It's a real treat provided you're not too budget conscious. The place is about half and hour's drive from Trébrivan and we've only ever done lunch there. You can eat on a sunny terrace with fabulous views (shown above), or you can choose to sit at one of the (slightly posher) tables in the air conditioned salon. English is widely and well spoken by the staff and proprietors. They also hire out canoes to explore the lake if you're feeling energetic. They have their own website: http://www.restaurant-merlin.fr/ where you can check out the menu amongst other things, including a gallery of photos.
les Genêts d'ors, Le Bourg, 29530 Collorec Tél: 0298 73 92 90
Open weekdays for lunches from 1200.
This place is a lunchtime revelation. Current price (correct July 2009) for a four course lunch including wine is €11.50 per person. You get what you're given, and you are given loads. It's a solidly working man's (and woman's) lunchtime stop and it gets very busy indeed, almost exclusively with local working people. Lunch is served from 12:00 and it's necessary to arrive as early as you can after that - I wouldn't recommend getting there much after 12:15! Reservations are not required, and are probably not taken, just make sure you're there in plenty of time.
There's an article, complete with photos, detailing the fare on offer one day this year (2009) which can be read by clicking this link (opens a new window).
It's about a 25 minute drive away, and worth it as the day's excursion in its own right in our opinion. Collorec itself is an unremarkable (but quite pleasant) little town; les Genêts d'or is a destination in itself. You won't be needing an evening meal after a lunch here!
L'Éventail des Saveurs, 3 Place du Bourg Coz, 221110 Rostrenon tel 0296 291071 or 0820 201920.
Reservations required at least 48 hours in advance.
Closed Sunday evening, closed all day Monday and Weds evening. Opening hours 1200 - 1400 lunchtimes; 1900-2100 evenings. High quality restaurant, high reputation – very popular with local gourmands. We keep wanting to try this place, about a half an hour's drive away, but haven't yet had the opportunity. From comments in our visitor's book, it's fair to assume that its reputation is well deserved. Expect to pay €50 a head for dinner. A sample menu can be found at http://www.idealgourmet.fr/413-329-restaurant-leventail-des-saveurs-decouverte-menu.html. The restaurant's website says that English, Spanish and Italian are spoken (presumably they manage in French as well).
