Restaurant recs for Deauville
 

Will be staying at the Hotel Royal in Deauville for 3 nights in May. Am looking for restaurant suggestions in the vicinity (will have a car but don't want to drive too far).
Thanks!

It's been a few years, but we really loved Le Dauphin in nearby Le Breuil-en-Auge.

Can't help with Deauville, but in Trouville, which abutts it, Les Vapeurs is an institution, something like La Coupule in Paris, and the seafood is good. If you're willing to drive 25 minutes from Deauville to Honfleur, the restaurant choice is large -- in the high dozens. Le P'tit Mareyeur and L'Absinthe are at the top of our list.

Hi Dave,

We'll be in Honfleur this June. If we want good seafood in a non-formal restaurant, would L'Absinthe do the trick? We'll be there on a Friday night. Reservations necessary?

Also where is the best place in Honfleur to get a pint and have a nice view (sunset, people-watching, etc.)?

Thanks a million,
Betty

Hi Betty,

For seafood, my wife and I think Le P'tit Mareyeur http://www.auptitmareyeur.com/
is the best place in town and a fabulous deal, too. You can wear good sports clothes there. Some diners will be better dressed. L'Ancrage, opposite the front of the Old Harbor, is more casual. It also has very good seafood, though less of a choice, and the service is very friendly. L'Absinthe is very good, one of the best restaurants in town, and a notch up from Le P'tit Mareyeur in fanciness. I do think you should reserve for any of these three. L'Ecalier, also at the front of the Old Harbor, at the end of the Avenue de La Republic, is a relatively new place that specializes in seafood, and casual, but I don't know it well. For a drink on the Old Harbor, we like the Albatross, a little place with a local crowd and tables outside, though I can't vouch for sunsets. Terrible with compass directions, but it may be worth noting that Honfleur is surrounded by hills in three directions, and west could be one of them. For some other thoughts, here's a Slow Travel trip report I wrote this spring: http://www.slowtrav.com/tr/tripreport.asp?tripid=611 The Honfleur pages are toward the end. Have a great stay!

The restaurant in the Royal is really quite good (one michelan star). We also ate at the Spinnaker which was good, and if the weather is nice, lunch at Ciro's on the beach (on the boardwalk, actually) is very entertaining.

There are a couple of pleasant Brasserie's in town, and several other restaurants that we tried that (though I don't remember their names) were good. You don't have to leave Deauville to get a good meal,and because Deauville is an upscale town, most of the restaurants are very pleasant.

I had to chuckle when I read LynFrance's comment on lunch at Ciro's being entertaining. We had dinner there a few years ago. We were in a portion of the restaurant facing the windows and an older French couple were at the table in front of us. They were drinking bottle after bottle of Tavel and were getting a little tipsy-from what we've observed, a little uncharacteristic for an older French couple.

When the main courses were served, the French women gasped and looked at her husband. The next thing we knew, her husband was scooping mashed potatoes out of the front of her dress with a spoon!

The dinner was excellent. My husband still talks about the lobster bisque with Chivas.

Hi Dave_in_Paris!
I don't know whether you saw my thank you, but we enjoyed theGiaglis' B & B, based on your recommendation.

Bettyo-
for Honfleur, I second Dave's recommendation for Au P'tit Mareyeur. Our other favorite was La Grenouille- owned by L'Absinthe, and located right next door, but with a more casual, fun atmosphere.

For evening drinks and people-watching along the harbor, try La Voile Au Vent. i loved their "Kir Normand"- cider with calvados and creme de cassis.

Dave & Marcy: A million thanks!

If you get to Honfleur for lunch, try La Terrace et L'Assiette great value at 27,50 Euros ( and Michelin starred to boot!). It's in the Place Sainte Catherine. Sorry if this is too late.

hoggy: It's not too late. I really appreciate it!