“It’s always nice to be pleasantly surprised.”
Cuisine: Contemporary, French, Norman
Website Link: https://restaurant-atre.com/fr/
Overall Rating: 8.5/10
Food: 8.5/10
Service: 9/10
Atmosphere: 8/10
Would I return: Yes.
What you need to know: Restaurant L’Atre comes recommended by the Michelin Guide and offers a constantly changing menu. If shellfish is on the menu be sure to try it (they are right on the coast and have access to exceptionally fresh fish). Try the house Champagne,
Verdict: In France you can stumble across any unknown town and be guaranteed a Michelin Standard meal. Such was the case with Restaurant L’Atre in the bijou town of Honfleur, Normandy, where the food rivals (and beats) many a central London equivalent.
Here I was blown away by the creative, explosive menu featuring many plates of Michelin standard, my favourite being the langoustine with peach – the unripe peach enhancing the sweetness of the tails, served with spring vegetables, verbena, and a sauce made from the heads.
I also loved the cheese course, a real treat. My expectations of a few slices of local fromage were exceeded by a 2 part cheese course featuring a fried local brie with apple marmalade and a cheese espuma with almond crumb, buckwheat and apple. The amuse bouches were also notably good – the melon gazpacho is to be savoured, as is the bread served with soft butter studded with spring onion.
It’s always nice to be pleasantly surprised. It’s nicer still when the staff are on point (and tolerant of my bad French), and better still when Chef proudly shows you around his spotless kitchen.
A thoroughly enjoyable experience, and one I would gladly repeat.
Sabrina Goodlife.
