Les Antiquaires 2 & 4 rue au Lin tel 02.38.53.52.35. Run by one of the master chefs of France, this is Orléans' best restaurant and must be booked in advance. Consommé de homard, wild turbot with girolle mushrooms and pavé de sandre are some of its delights. Menus at €39 and €54, plus an excellent €34 menu (not available Sat eve or Sun) which includes selected wines. Closed Sun evening, Mon & first three weeks of Aug.L'Aviation 473 bd du Faubourg-Bannier tel 02.38.73.91.88. Located 2km north of place Gambetta, L'Aviation serves seasonal menus, with plenty of Sologne game dishes in autumn and fish dishes in summer. From €15; gastronomic menu around €30. Closed Mon, Wed evening, Sun evening & Aug. Le Brin de Zinc 62 rue Ste-Catherine. Bustling bistro just off Place du Martroi in hotel of the same name. The outside tables are packed with a noisy crowd tucking into huge cocottes of mussels (€10–12) and giant desserts. La Chancellerie 95 rue Royale, cnr place Matroi tel 02.38.53.57.54. Customers in the upmarket restaurant section get starched white table cloths – even outside – and a distinctly classy €32.50 menu, but the café-brasserie is a good place for a drink on the square, with a fair lunch menu for around €14. La Petite Marmite 178 rue de Bourgogne tel 02.38.54.23.83. The most highly regarded restaurant on this busy street combines a homely feel with excellent regional cuisine. The €18 menu du terroir features local products such as Jargeau andouille and guinea-fowl from the Sologne, and there are more expensive menus as well. Le Restaurant des Plantes 44 rue Tudelle tel 02.38.56.65.55. Situated on the south side of the river, this place serves traditional dishes such as magret de canard and snails. Menus from €17. Closed Sat lunch, Sun & Mon evenings, and first three weeks in Aug.
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