The Lock

We visited and tried 2 midday formules: Menu Côt and Menu Fie Gris. Service was lovely and it was very enjoyable to sit outside under the large trees in the shade on a warm day. The food presentation is a work of art, just stunning. Unfortunately, we found some of the flavor combinations to be overly complex resulting in a mixed experience. For example, the terrific chocolate dessert was brought down (in our opinion) by the addition of corn kernels. It’s a provocative choice but to us the flavors did not harmonize. This was the case for the entrees (starters) as well. It was an expensive lunch (130 euros including a half bottle of wine) so a bit disappointing to not have the food be exceptional.

We had dinner here with a French couple who had been wanting to try this restaurant. It is a very popular restaurant and for good reason. The food was delicious, the service was excellent and we had some great local wine. There are 3 menus for dinner and you can choose how many courses you want, including cheese, etc. They provide ipads on multiple languages so you can view the menu in your language. This is a true French experience. We had the veal dish and dessert on one of the menus and it was delightful. The desert was lemon with meringue, cream and sorbet and was also delicious. If you are in Amboise and want a great meal on a lovely atmosphere and are not on a strict budget, then visit this restaurant. The amount you pay for the food and the experience is good value but this is fine dining. You must make a reservation as it is always booked out, even at lunch time.

My recent visit to L'Ecluse in Amboise was unfortunately marred by an unexpected and deeply unpleasant encounter with a waiter. While the food showed promise, the shocking rudeness we experienced overshadowed everything else. Our high expectations based on online reviews were quickly shattered by the behavior of the waiter. Never before in our experiences dining in France had we encountered such blatant disrespect. This individual's attitude went beyond mere rudeness; it made us feel inadequate and belittled, which is entirely unacceptable in any hospitality setting, especially at a reputed restaurant. Despite the appealing dishes, the lasting memory of our visit is tainted by this negative interaction. It's disheartening to see such behavior tarnishing what could have been a memorable dining experience. In conclusion, while L'Ecluse has the potential to excel in the culinary arena, urgent attention is needed to address the issue of staff behavior. The hospitality industry relies on creating positive and welcoming atmospheres, and encounters like ours only serve to drive patrons away. This individual's demeanor is simply unfitting for a profession centered on customer satisfaction.

I was taken to this restaurant by my local French friends, who had been wanting to go for some time. The restaurant offers various set menus for you to choose. The four of us chose the same menu, with variations. The food was fantastic. The service excellent. The price was fair & at first as the small plates arrive you think that its not very much food, however by the time that you leave you are quite full. There is an outdoor area, which would be nice for lunch or summer dinner. We ate inside for dinner with a table by the window, which was good.

Having eaten in most of the nicer restaurants in the area, this one really is one of the best! Beautiful presentation, wonderful matching of flavours and textures, friendly non-pretentious service, I highly recommend. My only advice is to try to reserve a normal chair and not one of the high tables with stools, to be a bit more comfortable.