Have a Delicious, Welcoming Meal at Brasserie Saint Roch

Brasserie Saint Roch sign, in Serignan, France

Have you ever been some place where you immediately felt welcomed and at home? A place where you were made to feel comfortable and appreciated and relaxed? In the beautiful village of Sérignan, France—nestled about halfway between the city of Béziers and the Mediterranean Sea—one cool November evening we were introduced to such a warm, welcoming place: the Brasserie Saint Roch.

This wonderfully surprising full-service restaurant—previously a tapas bar—is conveniently located on the village’s impressive promenade, just steps from where the region’s excellent bus service has a stop on its E line. (If you’re staying in Béziers, you can be at the Brasserie in about 20 minutes, riding in one of these very clean and well maintained buses.)

Shortly after our introduction to Sérignan—and after our surprisingly quick acquisition of an apartment there for our pending move—our new local friends asked us if we would like to join them for lunch. Not far from where we had stepped off the bus and met them at the promenade, they pointed us into the Brasserie.

The warm, welcoming interior of the Brasserie Saint Roch

First Impressions of Brasserie Saint Roch

The sight of the brasserie, with its warm colors inside tall windows, reminds me more than a little bit of the famous Edward Hopper painting “Nighthawks”—though this is no minimalist diner. Stepping inside, the tables are comfortably spaced in a dining area that clearly used to be a bar. The converted layout doesn’t make for any awkwardness, however, rather it creates a feeling of closeness between the patrons and those preparing the drinks and other things behind the bar. Even more, it does all this while still creating a feeling of being someplace both comfortable and up-scale. Place settings are meticulous and the decor is just slightly on the quirky side of elegant.

La Cuisine, c'est l'envers du décor, là où s'activent les hommes et femmes pour le plaisir des autres...
Bernard Loiseau

The kitchen is behind the scenes, where men and women work for the pleasure of others...
Bernard Loiseau

“The kitchen is behind the scenes, where men and women work for the pleasure of others…”
– Bernard Loiseau

Since our permanent arrival here in April, we have already been back to Brasserie Saint Roch twice for meals (one of those a group dinner suggested by other new local friends) and once just to have a late glass of wine on the promenade. Our experience each time has reinforced our feeling of welcome at this place—both at the restaurant and in the village.

Huîtres gratinées du chef (oysters) at Brasserie Saint Roch in Serignan, France

Huîtres gratinées du chef
(oysters gratinées)

Delicious, Well Planned Menus

The most welcoming service in the world is nothing without correspondingly good food. And behind the scenes at Brasserie Saint Roche—though occasionally making his own rounds of the tables—is Chef Anthony Arrufat. He has decades of impressive experience, and that experience comes through in both the taste and the appearance of everything is served at Brasserie Saint Roch. Every item on the menu, every time we have been there, has been carefully thought out, deliciously balanced, and beautifully presented. Originally hired as head chef here in 2013, he and a partner purchased the restaurant together in 2017.

Carré d’agneau rôti, jus à l’estragon et asperges
(lamb)

Souris de veau confite, pomme Anna et jus de viande réduit
(veal)

In the warmer months (which is about three fourths of the year here), Brasserie Saint Roch has extensive outdoor seating covered with large shade umbrellas, as well as large doors that roll up to turn nearly every table into a patio experience. It’s a also a very pleasant place to stop by just for a glass of wine or a beer—one of many local choices for this.

A la carte prices are very reasonable, and the fixed menu price—a starter, a main plate, and dessert—is impressive for the quality of the food and level of attention that you get. This will be a meal and an experience that you remember for all the right reasons, and not because of its impact on your bank account. (This has generally been our experience with dining in this region of France: often in the United States, you come away from a truly excellent meal feeling great about the food and the experience, but wounded by the impact on your wallet; here, you can enjoy a really amazing lunch or dinner, with one or more glasses of wine, and you don’t have the negative impact of a ridiculous price. (This is all the more remarkable knowing that tips are not expected in France—though they are much more appreciated, should you feel one is deserved.)

Millefeuille de crêpes à la banane, coulis caramel
(banana crepe mille-feuille)

Mousse au chocolat maison
(chocolate mousse)

It’s my hope that, should you find yourself in Béziers or nearby, that you know there is a place to go where you will feel that you are getting more than just a meal, but that you are welcomed and appreciated.

One important note: If you’re staying in Béziers and coming to Sérignan for dinner, the bus service ends around 8pm, so plan perhaps to take the bus to the village, and a taxi or an Uber ride back to Béziers.

Arthur Breur