Good Restaurants in a few regions

Michelin Red guide, available in limited edition online at their site (viamichelin.com)--they have been rating all the restaurants in France for a hundred years.
You should probably take a look at their list. Their base of information is probably a little broader than ours.
They go up to 3 stars (25 of those in all France).
If they're 1 stars a too rich for your blood, take a look at their Bib Gourmands recommendations. That's what I do.

If you are in Azay-le-Rideau, about 40 km from Vouvray, there are two restaurants very near the chateau that we enjoyed greatly on our stay last October: Coté Cour and La Credence, right next to each other on Rue Balzac. We dined at La Credence, and it may have been my best meal in France... and lunched the next day at Coté Cour which was also delicious. Have a great trip!

Unfortunately, I think Azay-le-Rideau will not be conveniently located along Bob's route, which is east and south, away from the Azay area.
Bob, keep consulting the experts at the Michelin Red guide--and you'll find a suitable restaurant. We here [edit: or most of us] are not gourmets or restaurant raters.

"We here are not gourmets"

Well! Kent, I may not be a gourmet, but I sure do love great food!

Bob, we dined at Restaurant Carre Rond in L'Isle sur la Sorgue and enjoyed it very much. Not off the charts great, but good food, nice family operation along the water on the "main drag". It was reasonably priced, and we had a really good bottle of wine there.

We asked a local group of people for a recommendation and they sent us here, very nice.

Otherwise, often when looking for restaurants in a new area I'll try hard to find good reviews of the same place from two or more sources, and take them with a grain of salt. Good luck in your search!

Bob, In Beaune try Le Conty for lunch and La Grilladine for dinner. Really good food at both. TC

I agree with Dave and continue to find it interesting that Kent feels that he speaks for everyone on this board.......

At any rate, in Beaune I loved Cave Madeline for lunch and 21 bistro for dinner. The latter is in a cave and is a great dining experience.

Enjoy!

If you'll be in Beaune on a Saturday, that's a market day and with the outdoor market combined with the indoor market, there are lots of good food choices. There may well be another market day too.

We found some fois gras, bread, and a bit of an extremely wonderful truffled cheese, Brilla Savarin aux Truffe-they'll likely have it at the fromagerie just inside the side door.

Thanks all for "food" for thought and recommendations - keep them coming. I'll post more upon our return.
Bob J

Agree with Dave again..... :-)

When I was in Beaune on a RS Tour each of our group bought something from the market and then we went to a tour at Chateau Rully http://chateauderully.com/index%20-%20copie.html
We had a picnic and enjoyed the great wine. I would say this was one of the most amazing meals of my life. :-)