Explore the cafes and restaurants.
Please update me - we never get to see our place in the nice weather!
Hotel des Voyageurs
Get to the roundabout in Vire, take the second right, past the main big car park and tourist centre, and go down the hill towards the station.
The restaurant is called Le Welcome. It's a little overdressed! The lady sat in the corner looks as though she may decide not to let you in at all, but is actually very nice and I'm sure understands a little more English than she lets on! You'll see it on your left. It's good! The buffet hors d'oeuvres lets you sample everything (including a snail?). The same with the desserts - you choose from quite a choice on the buffet. Safe, understandable, good choice and remarkably cheap, like most places.
Maison Normand
Go into Maisoncelles from our gite and turn right, then left at the baby Jesus - as if you were going into Vire by the back road or skirting Vire to get to Cherbourg or Caen. When you eventually meet the main road into Vire Maison Normand is right opposite you.
Usual team - the family - but the food was excellent. About 4 courses (who counts?) all delicious. 10 euros - can you believe it? We were served by the daughter who looked terrified, and looked as though she would be terrifying when grown up - until....suddenly her eyes met our friend's, who has a wonderful smile...and she relaxed. Many people are terrified when the English come in, it seems!
Le Bar
Maisoncelles finest! The best time is lunch. Huge meal, as usual, costs about fourpence and that includes wine. Wow! Tasty too. But - soon after 12 in troops the local junior school! There they sit (it's their school canteen) good as gold doing the whole proper lunch thing. Evenings are probably good too, but you have to book otherwise they're shut!.
Hippocamp
Guy seems to run it on his own - everything on crepes! As you go up the hill into Vire (from the gite), half way up turn right (just before the big Town Hall). It's there about six shops up. Everything with crepes.
PIZZA
There's a takeaway at the bottom of the hill on the left as you come into Vire (from the gite). But try going up the hill, over the roundabout, down the hill, under the bridge and left for Champion. Don't turn right into Champion, keep going. You meet a little square and an excellent Pizza and Italian food place.
Personally I haven't been in a bad place yet. They've all served excellent food, many courses, good choices, even the house wine is good - all for so little money!
UPMARKET?
After we got married in Maisoncelles in 2004 (after 25 years I gave in, we'd been engaged for 13 years and it was the girls 18th and 21st too... it seemed auspicious!) we went to a gourmand restaurant suggested by Le Mairie. Wonderful mouthfulls (miss en bouche) before you went in, aperitif, pre-hors d'oeuvre, hors d'oeuvre, main course, cheese, desert, coffee, truffles, plenty of good wine, and a calvados to finish. There may even have been more but it was fantastic.
