Auberge du Cheval Blanc

Rating: 12.5
Author: Gault&Millau

41600 YVOY-LE-MARRON

12.5/20
Gourmet Restaurant

4 PHOTOS

Chef: Joel Danthu
Cooking: French | Local
Services: Access for people with disabilities | Disabled access | Pets allowed | Private Parking | Takeaway | Terrace

Budget (€)

Indicative price per person (excl. drinks)

42 to 64

Gault&Millau's review 2026

In Yvoy-le-Marron, Joël Danthu keeps this Sologne institution alive with regional cuisine that eschews nostalgia. In a reimagined inn-style setting—featuring terracotta tiles, exposed beams, and more contemporary furnishings—the restaurant strikes a compelling balance between tradition and modernity. The appetizers perfectly illustrate this approach: meat puff pastry, pork shank in jelly, sweet potato velouté, and a cold tomato-watermelon soup with tarragon. The Sologne terrine with hazelnuts charms with its bold, unadulterated flavor and generous portion, enhanced by an excellent mousseline made with old-fashioned mustard. The perfectly cooked duck breast follows the same theme, accompanied by a reduced red fruit jus that adds a pleasant tangy note. A superb homemade mashed potato nicely rounds out the plate, despite other more minor side dishes. The pistachio and red berry cabbage confirms the restaurant’s high standards: the cabbage is perfectly cooked to be “crispy on the outside, tender on the inside,” paired with a creamy sauce for an unapologetically indulgent treat. The well-stocked wine cellar naturally features Touraine and Centre-Loire appellations by the glass. In the dining room, the service emphasizes warmth and a friendly atmosphere. This is a generous establishment, deeply rooted in its region, that continues to steadfastly champion the gastronomic identity of the Sologne.