La Table du Château Gratien

The story

La Table du Château Gratien, Saumur – Chef Stéphane Rouville’s Fine Dining by the Loire

La Table du Château Gratien

On the banks of the Loire, just outside Saumur, La Table du Château Gratien occupies a 19th-century château set within a park of hundred-year-old trees. This is the domain of chef Stéphane Rouville and his wife Catherine, who arrived from Normandy with a shared conviction: that the best cuisine starts with the raw ingredient.

Rouville brings more than three decades of experience to his stoves, having worked in kitchens from the Basque Country to Paris, Monaco and Florida. He previously earned a Michelin star at La Galupe in Urt. At Château Gratien, his modern cuisine is built around respect for the product. He does his own market rounds, seeks out local producers, and constructs short, seasonal menus that change with his discoveries.

The result is a tasting experience that feels both refined and direct. The three-course "Simplicity" menu is an entry point, while the five-course "Symphony Table" gives the full scope of his cooking. Dishes evolve with the seasons, but recent examples include locally grown asparagus with smoked trout and pea-based ice cream, pan-fried foie gras with gingerbread French toast and a local cider reduction, and dry-aged beef chuck with market vegetables. Desserts play with local strawberries poached in red wine, or a shortbread made with buckwheat flour from Moulin de Sarré, topped with dark chocolate ganache and salted butter caramel.

The setting is equally intentional. The castle’s park offers a terrace for warm months, open from May to September. Inside, the “Orange Room” and other private spaces can be reserved for groups, weddings, or business lunches. Michelin recognised the restaurant with a Recommended award, placing it firmly on the map for those seeking fine dining in Saumur.