Eau de Folles, Toulouse

C'est fantastique!!!
Imagine, a warm July evening. It's late and you find yourself outside a restaurant, looking at yet another menu. Some other 'foreigners', just leaving, recommend the place wholeheartedly, so you mount the stairs to the 'salon' on the first floor.

A warm welcome greets you and you are shown to a table, your only slight regret being that you weren't early enough to enjoy a table on the balcony. The decor is definitely 'fin de ciecle' and Colette and Toulouse Lautrec would have fitted in perfectly. The wallpaper of blowsy roses and gorgeous classical statuary is perfect. If you are into 'shabby chic', it's worth coming here just for some authentic inspiration!

The food was wonderful and I can honestly say that 'Eau de Folles' produces the most tender, succulent mussels to be found anywhere - no mean feat!

To be honest, it was over a year ago - a birthday celebration for myself and my son - and I don't remember what I ate (other than the mussels!), only that it was 'divine'. Perhaps it was because of the occasion and the gentle, exciting atmosphere of Toulouse or perhaps it was because of the orgy of 'people-watching' I was able to indulge in, but 'Eau de Folles' will remain in my memory as an experience I will never forget.

The service was charming, the prices reasonable and the whole was an experience I would recommend to anyone.