Bistrot l'alchimiste - Nantes

Very good service and nice food - everything was served very tempting and decoratively. The service was excellent, and nice to get wine by glasses to a fair price.

Came here for lunch, they have a good menu. I had the duck which was really tasty, service is exceptional. Would definitely recommend!

Having spent the morning walking around Nantes taking in the sights we were both looking forward to enjoying good French cuisine .On the way to the cathedral we discovered l'Alchimiste ,what a find .A small intimate bistro serving superb French food with a very attentive owner who spoke excellent English ( she had spent some time in Bristol) who told us about the local wine we were drinking

If you like food and wine and like to be surprised, try this restaurant owned (or directed?) by an oenologue. The food was delicious (I tried the boudin) and the glass of wine (that you do not choose) match perfectly the dishes.Good point on the location as well, near the cathedrale.

L'Alchimiste refers to itself as a Bistrot, conjuring visions of moules with pomme frites and steak tartare. You will have none of this here. Instead, you will enjoy a cerebral, delicately wrought meal of the highest quality and finesse. Recently we were impressed at an early dinner for three on a Friday evening. l'Alchimiste is nicely situated near the Nantes cathedral, with a comfortable, reasonably spacious and quiet dining room. We were warmly welcomed by our server, who was attentive throughout the dinner, anticipating all of our requests. The menu at l'Alchimiste changes often, and is typically limited to a choice of three entrees (appetizers), two meat and two fish plats (main courses), and choice of either a cheese plate or three different desserts. The food is delicately wrought, perfectly prepared, and beautifully presented. Two of our party started with a pumpkin soup topped with a hazelnut mousse, and the other had shrimp nems with a pomegranate sauce. These entrees were excellent. For the plat, one of us had monk fish with grilled apples, another sea bass with potatoes and mango, and our third plat was a filet of beef with a mushroom pastry. All three were beautifully presented, and accompanied by delicate and rich sauces. We left nothing on any of our plates. Servings were generous, and there was no room for cheese. For desserts we had a complex nougat ice cream with a caramel sauce, creme brulee with red pepper, and a fig macaroon with glacee. The wine list at l'Alchimiste is well chosen and well priced, with many selections under 30 euros. We had a superb and locally produced 2009 Pierre Luneau-Papin Excelsoir muscadet, priced at 29 euros. They say that restaurants are tested when key staff are absent. On the night of our visit the chef de cuisine was absent and had surrendered his stoves to his female sous chef. Nonetheless we had a memorable meal of which a fine restaurant would be proud. Prices are more than fair for food of this quality, with 20-23 euro plats. We spend considerable time not too far from Nantes, and after our recent experience, it will not be long before we return. If you find yourself in Nantes, you will surely have an exhilarating dining experience at l'Alchimiste.