aViné

Located somewhere between Amboise and Romorantin, this cavern with arched ceilings carved into the tuffeau stone is rather hard to find… Arnaud Erhart, a former restaurateur in NYC (where he introduced his partner Tania Puell to natural wines), distills good vibes here, cooking up small, mouthwatering plates in a far-out space featuring a communal table, colorful tablecloths, a fireplace and a sofa corner. For us, we had a properly refreshing gazpacho; a hearty croque monsieur; crisp haricots verts served with peach and lemon verbena, or even a cheeky vitello tonnato. The desserts are just as good as the rest: strawberry tiramisu; Japanese cheesecake; chocolate-coconut pudding; or cherry pavlova. // Henri Depecker 

FEELING THIRSTY? : A local wine list of low-intervention and affordable options, including Les Hauts de Madron, a cheverny blanc from Christian Venier (€26 a bottle) or Les Ardilles, a red from Hervé Villemade (€32), and Gaia, a Côtes-du-Rhône from La Roche Buissière (€32). Glasses €4.50.  
PRICE: : Small plates €4-15.