Lunch in the Country 12-19-15

Deb wanted to go to the barge museum in Conflans-St. Honorine and today looked to be a perfect day for it because the museum is open on Saturdays, only Saturdays.  To get there requires a series of trains; both Metro and RER which end up leaving Paris by Gare St. Lazare in the northwest corner. Everything worked great and we got out to Conflans St. Honorine about noon, so since the museum is closed for lunch we decided to stay on the train and go down another two stops to Andresy.
There is an auberge in Andresy that I wanted to try the last time I came out to the barge museum, but they were booked with a large party that day and I couldn't get in.
So today we went right to Andresy and walked down the hill to the Seine, the auberge is situated on an island in the middle of the Seine and the only way to get there, if you don't have your own boat, is by the speedboat ferry.   They keep a speedboat specifically to pick up diners who ring the restaurant from the bell button placed at the jetty.  So we rang and very soon a man comes out, fires up the boat, and cruises across to pick us up. So within a few minutes we're on the island and going into the restaurant.  It is a little bar area and two additional rooms facing the water, today there was a little party going on of the owner and some friends in the bar area.  Deb and I were the first diners there and were seated in the first room, followed shortly thereafter by a table of two couples and another couple at another table.
They have around a 3 page menu, with a chalkboard of daily items, with lots of seafood and a few meat based entries.  Then they have a 50 page wine list, with two pages devoted just to vintage Armagnacs dating back to 1950.  They also have a dumbwaiter completely loaded with Scotch whiskey.  I think winters must get cold here on the island.
For starters Deb ordered grilled Cepes (mushrooms) and I had a cassoulet of escargot and lentils in a cream/butter sauce, so rich.
Deb followed up with St. Jacques (coquilles) grilled with mashed potatoes accompanied by a dry Sancerre while I had lamb ribs with a root vegetable coulee and a savory flan accompanied by a Gevrey-Chambertin.
Both of us had the house apple tarte for dessert and then we finished with a bit of Armagnac, Deb opted for a 1991 and I went for the 1972, the year we were married.
It was after 2:00 when we finished but the sun was still out so we walked back towards Conflans St. Honorine along the river, or should I say dawdled because when we got back the museum was closed for the week.  So we took the train back to Paris congratulating ourselves for one of the most memorable meals we've had since arriving.  The barge museum will be open next week and most other Saturdays for a visit, and if I'm not mistaken, so will the Auberge La Goelette.