The Moulin de la baine restaurant is located just outside Chaniers, 10km east of Saintes and just a 40 min drive from our family holiday cottages, La Grange du Moulin and Les Vallaies
Situation of Moulin de la Baine restaurant
The restaurant is situated in a 17th century Colbert appointed water mill over the river Charente . It is a large restaurant with three indoor rooms altogether seating 240 plus the terrace ! However we only recommend this restaurant if you can get a seat on the terrace on a sunny day as this is the reason for going. Stunning views over a 'Monet painting' with the ducks swimming around the lilly pads and the trees hanging over the gently flowing river - it's a beautiful setting.
Although I am usually wary of large restaurants with large menus (which this one has) we've never had a bad meal or bad service. The food isn't Michelin starred but it's a great family restaurant. We have always chosen the Moulin de la Baine restaurant for family birthdays and anniversary s. They are very welcoming of young and old alike and are used to serving large groups. In fact their speciality is a huge baked alaska flamed in Cognac at the table.
Cruise down the Charente
The restaurant also run tours with a boat company - the 'Bernard Pallissy' which cruises down the river from Saintes (starts just next to the Arch pictured above) to Chaniers where you disembark and enjoy a set menu at the restaurant Moulin de la Bain before returning by boat to Saintes . They do day time and evening cruises and is a lovely way to spend a sunny day. Further details can be found here
It's quite a long day if you have young children. We went when the kids were quite small and although it was fine going (it takes about 1hr30 to get to the restaurant) after 2hr30 at the restaurant they were hard work to entertain coming back (another 1hr30 along the same route) It's a lovely leisurely cruise but the countryside is quite flat and uneventful in terms of things for the children to look at along the way (especially when they've already seen them on the way there) You get back at 4pm on the basic cruise. There is also a 'discovery' cruise which takes a diversion to Port d'envaux and returns to Saintes at 6.30pm.
Highly recommend the cruise for a celebration but if you have young kids then take into consideration it's an all day event. Having done the cruise, we now just drive to the restaurant which takes about 40 mins.
Kids at Moulin de la Baine
The restaurant is very welcoming of families. They offer a childrens menu at a very reasonable price for three courses, (10€) the starter alone is enough to satisfy most children - a platter of paté, salad and duck slices followed by an (unfortunately unimaginative) ham, burger or fish (not battered) with chips (it says vegetables on the menu but we've only ever received chips - which of course the kids arn't complaining about !) There was a change of management a few years ago as the kids menu used to be mini versions of the adults which we much preferred but our kids are too big now to go near a kids menu anyway.
They can provide a high chair (but request this when booking to be sure, we are happy to make the booking for you) . There's plenty of space around the tables to have a pushchair with a sleeping baby in too.
Our kids loved (and still do) having an explore down below where the water wheels used to be (unfortunately now mostly rotten away) but it's like a cave with dirt floors and secret hiding places and bridges over the rushing water of the river a foot or two below you.
They also enjoy the habitual walk around 'the island' after lunch
'The Island'
The Mill is located at a point where the Charente river splits into several 'rivers' and an island has been created between the confluence of the river and a waterway with a lock for narrow boats to enable them to navigate the river more easily. After a long leisurely meal, we always take a wander around and will stop to watch a boat navigate the lock. The kids climb trees and generally have a lovely time running around. There used to be some shallow water where we used to swim but this has been barred off possibly because of the danger of the fast water passing under the bridge. Older children still jump off the bridge further down into the deeper water on hot sunny days.
Opening times of Moulin de la Baine
The Moulin de la Baine restaurant is open every day from St Valentines day through to mid November. We recommend reserving a table during the summer, particularly on Sundays as it is very popular. We can do this for you.
Further information on the restaurant can be found on their web site here
content by Wendy Blakeman
