While planning our day in Étretat, I really wanted fresh seafood since it was a little beach town. We had plans for a different restaurant but ended up changing to La Flotille since the menu had better options for us.
In the summer, the area would be packed with tourists, enjoying the sun and sea. We visited in October and there were barely any crowds. But even still, the restaurant filled up really quickly and we only got lucky with seats because we eat earlier than the French. Our waitress was friendly and went through the entire menu in English and gave a lot of recommendations.
Mussels: Although very common in Paris, I figured mussels by the ocean would taste even better. And I was right. By far, fresher than the restaurants we ate at in the city. If you come as a group of 3-4, this would be a great dish to share.
Salmon Buckwheat Pancake: I've read that buckwheat pancakes taste a little different than regular crepes and, if done properly, crispier. Overall, I just thought it was okay. I prefer sweet crepes over savory and the salmon was a bit too rich. If we weren't sharing it, I don't think I could've finished the whole thing myself.
Steak (300g): Not the best looking steak, but the best tasting steak we had in France. Loved the simple seasoning and the grilled taste. Really tender and juicy!
I read that the area is also known for their hard ciders so I ordered a some bowl. Yes, it came in a bowl...but not bad! It's different from American hard ciders. American ones taste lighter and sweeter but these ones you can taste the alcohol more. read more