Auberge du Sauvage

This providential granite inn located on the Millevaches plateau is run by locally-born restaurateur Gilles Charannat, who is diligently backed up by Floriane, in charge of the kitchen (both sweet and savory), the wines and the service. The owner, who is not at all a sauvage but more of a former world traveler (from Réunion Island to Asia), teases his dishes with faraway spices, all while relying on solid local resources (the meats, fruits, vegetables and cheeses are organic whenever possible). Seated on the lovely terrace in the summer or under the arches of this former presbytery the rest of the year: precise homemade shortbread topped with paprika-spiced goat cheese, button mushrooms and Laos pepper for an amuse-bouche; mild brown trout rillettes from the Pisciculture du Bugeat, served with a classic coleslaw; tender country lamb tajine with plenty of flavor (spices, fresh cilantro, preserved lemons, plums, dried apricots) and crisp, first-rate vegetables (carrots, turnips); and the ultimate treat, a chocolate tart with toasted buckwheat, plus Grand Marnier and vanilla whipped cream! // Adrien Nouviaire 

FEELING THIRSTY? : Pure, local options, from the Treignac water to the hard cider from La Ferme du Bost, not to mention the beers (Brasserie des Anges, Brâm, etc.), the Limousin pastaga and the very rare Corrèze straw wine from the Domaine de La Gardette for your apéro (€6.50 for 50 ml). As for the grapes, there’s a lovely Languedoc rosé served by the glass (€2.75) and 80 natural or organic labels: Étraire de la Dhuy produced by Thomas Finot (IGP Grésivaudan, €36 a bottle), L’Amusette, an Aveyron white from Rols (€26), a vouvray from Pinon (€30) or a Côte-de-Brouilly from Rémi Dufaître (€31). 
PRICE: : À la carte €26-29.