David and Bridget Pugh of Le Mimosa tipped us off about this auberge nestled below the escarpment of a limestone plateau after the owners, Françoise Antonin and Lutz Engelmann, had dined there. A slight downside is the timing logistics as the restaurant only opens to non-residents at weekends - Friday and Saturday dinner and Sunday lunch. The rooms are simple but comfortable, great value and the breakfast buffet is outstanding. Don't be put off by the shared facilities, they have plenty of showers and loos to go round that are kept spotless - treat it as if you were staying with friends.

The auberge was built as a grand home for the owner of Domaine de Cazeneuve next door and this has left a glorious walled park (dominated by a cedar) with vines beyond and the final backdrop of a wooded limestone escarpment. The sunny terrace and patio at the back overlook all this and there's also a good sized pool well off to one side plus a shaded pétanque track along the front.

Weekends are also the time where a full carte is available. On a Friday night stay the orangerie dining room was charged with atmosphere from the balmy spring sunset. We started with some tapas and glasses of Mas de Daumas Gassac white - the blackboard lists around a dozen table wines by the glass. Our starters were baby green salad leaves with goats cheese and olive "cake" slices and a cold salad of baby squid, cuttle fish, broad beans and white "coco" beans. We both chose Aubrac steak with tapanade sauce and griddled jacket potato was rustic, hearty and tasty. A selection of desserts starred a lemon mousse and poached pear. A local Mas Mortiès red and further glass sampling saw us through a thoroughly enjoyable evening in a restaurant that was by now  buzzing with life.

Cheese is taken seriously with a small but well balanced board. If you take the pension menu expect a simpler no choice three course meal.

The secret of this place is it's appeal to a diverse clientele - from families from the gîtes next door, campers, walkers, cyclists, locals, wine lovers through international travellers like us. Essential is a dip into a wine list featuring the cream of local wines at the lowest mark ups you'll see anywhere.

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