We originally booked a table at a restaurant nearby but found it overrun with a tour group. Another was fully booked. We saw a sign for this place off the main drag and looked about. There were a few recognizable recommendations including Michelin so we popped in and were surprised that we were cheerfully seated, though we had no reservation. After ordering a nice bottle of wine, we ordered from the prefix menus. Prior to being served our starters, we were given a sampling of arancini. It looked similar to what we have had in Italy only here instead of Mazzarella cheese it was made with a local cheese. And boy was it really good! The fish soup was very tasty and the turbot entree was among the best fish dishes I've ever had. The fish was served over leeks in a white lightly creamy sauce with a delicious cheese flavor. The cod entree was also quite good. Our deserts, the apple tart with ice cream and the cheese board were well worth the calories. The local cheeses were amazing and even the crackers were special with lots of grains and flavor. The one issue I frequently have doing yelp reviews is that you are limited to whole stars. In this particular instance, given the excellent food, friendly and prompt service in the nicely restored old structure that made for a comfortable dining experience, I would give five stars. However, one of the soups and one of the entrées had to be sent back because they arrived lukewarm. Thus, I would offer up 4 1/2 stars. Given my dilemma, and the fact that the dishes temperature were easy to rectify, five stars it is. read more

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As the trip planner for our group, I wanted to mark the occasion with something special, so I booked our first ever Michelin star dining experience. After a full day touring the D-Day sites, we were ready for a memorable dinner. The location was easy to find and the exterior was inviting. Staff were attentive, fluent in English, and great at walking us through the menu. On that note, so was every other guest in the restaurant. Literally every table appeared to be American, including a fairly boisterous group seated right next to us. It was a jarring contrast to the quieter, more intimate French restaurants we'd visited earlier in the trip. The food was a mixed bag. The turbot fillet was outstanding, easily among the best fish I've ever had, and the mango and passion fruit rice pudding was a wonderful finish. The rest of the meal, though, didn't leave much of an impression for the price. Speaking of price, come prepared for a steep bill. And if the Michelin star draws you in hoping for an authentic French atmosphere, you may leave a little underwhelmed. On our walk home we passed a charming local spot and all quietly wished we'd eaten there instead. read more

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Cute little restaurant tucked away in downtown Bayeux. Front entrance is actually in a little alley just off Rue Saint Martin. Place is especially popular with Americans because Rick Steves featured it in one of his books about France. And unfortunately, this being Normandy, so many (certainly not all) Americans traveling to this area are obnoxious and rude. So keep this in mind when you look to book. This certainly depends on the date and time, and you may not have the same issues we did, but the people we had to deal with on our visit were awful to deal with. Overall, this place was okay, but nothing crazy. Service was not very good, easily some of the worst we experienced throughout our travels in France. Hate to say that because of all the good reviews, but it definitely left a lot to be desired. The food was only okay. They have a couple levels of menu, one for 42 euros, the other 54 euros. The mise en bouche featured a couple of neat little items, both of which had some pretty good flavor. The next dish was foie gras. This was okay, but honestly, it was a little lacking from other foie gras we had on the trip. And it was just way too much. The portion was huge, which, okay cool, but honestly, it was just too much. I was sick of it by the end. My next dish was the beef filet, which was quite good. We also had the veal with mushrooms, which was also good, but the presentation was a little too much. Tried to build a little mushroom forest, which I give them credit for the creativity, but it didn't really work. For dessert, we had the creme brulee and the profiterole. These, fortunately, were pretty good. Overall, i wouldn't recommend this place, but clearly others have had good experiences, so make your own decision. In my opinion, though, there are so many fantastic restaurants in the area, you can do a heck of a lot better than this place. It's possible they were off their game - Rick Steves usually hits good places - but i certainly won't ever be going back to find out. read more

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Wow! Our group of 6 had an amazing dinner at La Rapiere last night. The restaurant is located off a quiet side street. The atmosphere inside is very calm and quiet. The overhead music was American from our baby boomer era. Service was very attentive. Food was delicious - flavorful and artfully presented. They had 2 fixed-price, 3 course menus (starter, main and dessert) with several choices for each course. I ordered the fish soup with langostinos, veal for my main, and apple cheesecake for dessert. My husband had the gozya, cod and the cheesecake. We had cocktails to start, and I had a glass of red wine that the waiter recommended. Total cost was $123 EUR. This was a great meal to celebrate our last night in Bayeux. We made the reservations on-line about 6 weeks before our arrival. The sign outside the restaurant said that the restaurant was full last night and they don't accept walk-ins. We saw a similar sign at a number of restaurants in town. We highly recommend La Rapiere! read more

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This is a spectacular little restaurant. The service was warm and accommodating. The room is cozy and full of beautiful small touches, especially the tableware. And the food was delicious, accessible and fresh. Fish soup was delicate and tasty. Gnocchi with spec and a creamy tomato sauce was beautiful on the plate and was devoured by our picky 11 year old. Scallops (just in season) with truffle risotto was a total standout. And all the desserts were memorable. Glad we booked this well in advance and would be delighted to return. read more

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This restaurant has been on my "list" since our visit to Bayeux in 2014. So the minute I booked our hotel in Bayeux, I made our reservation at La Rapiere. It's a good thing too, because they were booked for the entire month of September. There is a good reason why this restaurant not only has a Michelin star but also stays booked months in advance. Linda along with her helper (I am sorry I can't remember her name) offers impeccable service and delicious food that is artfully plated. We opted for the €52.50 meal. The Mr. chose Foie gras, sea bass, and the profiterole. I had the oysters (4 raw and 4 cooked with garlic butter), the beef filet, and also the profiterole. We also had a carafe of Sancerre. Every bite was delicious and memorable. This was a first class experience from start to finish. HIGHLY recommended read more

we absolutely loved our experience. 10/10 service, food, and atmosphere. the fish was perfectly cooked and we loved the dessert read more

La Râpière - French Near Me - Bayeux, 14

My favorite meal in France. A small family run restaurant, the ambiance was quaint, romantic, and intimate. They had three-course menus with several amazing options - I had the oysters (half raw and the other half cooked in a butter sauce and breading); for entree scallops with a cream risotto, and a cinnamon crème brule for dessert. The staff was warm, and funny. read more

La Râpière - Scallops with cream risotto - French Near Me - Bayeux, 14

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The most perfect meal, with the most perfect people, in the loveliest spot. Our trip to Normandy was made complete by La Râpière. The wine was wonderful and the vegetarian dishes were so so thoughtful. The owners are charming and down to earth and they definitely deserve the Michelin rating! This is a must reserve if you are ever in Bayeaux! read more

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Even 5 stars isn't enough to do this place justice-definitely in the top 10 meals of my life and maybe even #1. If Civilization ever decides to give up food, This would have to be the place of my last meal. Starting with the carrot amuse buche to the starters and mains, words fall short in describing the fresh explosion of flavors, perfectly cooked vegetables, savory fish and meat and true works of art on the plate. The kitchen staff are genuses and artisans rolled into one. This is a small, around 50-seat, restaurant so booking ahead is essential, but easy to do online. Just be sure to watch your e-mail a few days ahead and reconfirm online. You choose between two three-course options (starter, main, dessert) priced at either €38 or $50 depending on the price of the various choices in each category (about 3, plus a vegetarian option). I started with a luscious langoustine ravioli and my wife a goat cheese focaccia. These inadequate labels don't do justice to the food art that comes to the table. The mains (fresh fish and pork loin were our choices) were equally amazing and since this is France, what would be dinner without an eye-popping dessert (raspberry crème brûlée for me, strawberry stack for her). You gotta love France and wine too where even the mid priced wines were only 40€ and would be 2X or 3X in US for the superior quality. If you only have one dinner in France, it better be here. There's no pretense and a warm and friendly English fluent staff will take great care of you. 10 Stars!! read more

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My wife and I dined at this wonderful restaurant last October. I chose it as her reward for putting up with an all day expert led tour of D-Day historical sites (a 50 year bucket list wish for me, which she actually ended up enjoying). The food was exceptional, the service impeccable, and the ambiance delightful. In my opinion it was our top meal in France - and we did Michelin star places in Paris. We would go here again in a heartbeat, and will when next in Bayeux. read more

We Walked past here on our first night in Bayeux and made a reservation for another evening. Why we chose it? The ambience from outside looked so charming and cosy. The menu is outside, and from readying that we were sold! On the evening we visited, we chose two different prix fixe menus. To start with, chose an aperitif of a local cider sweetened with liqueur and was a great was to tease the palate. Next arrived several different amuse bouches of pinwheels and tuna cake, and an egg scramble with a bacon foam. We weren't expecting these, so we were pleasantly surprised. The appetisers we chose were the fresh oysters, probably the freshest I've had in a long time, and served simply with lemon and a little vinaigrette. My husband chose the foie gras on toast with seeds and dried fruit baked into it. Yummy! For the main, I chose the fresh catch which was served with the smallest, but tastiest ever moules, caught locally at Mont Saint Michel. I will dream of those little delights forever. Husband had the German beef which had the most perfect sear on on it. For dessert, the cheesecake with berry sorbet. I'm not big on dessert, but I was a sucker for this. Hubby chose the choux pastry with mango and passion fruit. Which again was lovely. read more

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Outstanding meal in a charming 400 (500?) year old building. La Rapiere offers an intimate fine dining experience at a very reasonable price! Oysters, foie gras, rilletes, escargot and more are served by the small and friendly restaurant staff. My son and I were so glad there was a cancellation so we could enjoy this one of a kind spot in Normandy! read more

This is easily the best meal I had in Bayeux. I found the restaurant via the Michelin guide (Bib gourmand) and it did not disappoint. The food was excellent as was the ambiance. The service was both friendly and helpful. I came to Bayeux from Paris for a few days, and should I make the trip again I will certainly return to La Rapiere! read more

The food is good here and prices modest by US standards in a small fancy place listed #1 in Bayeux by Google, reservations a must. Nice local oysters to start, tasty pollock entree, good bread as usual in France (small baguettes), good wine (as usual). Service was slow (entree took ages to arrive). Worth a visit. read more

Came here during our stay in Bayeux because we saw such glowing reviews of this restaurant, and let me tell you, it was WORTH IT! We reserved a table online prior to our stay through their website. This quaint restaurant is nestled in an alleyway off the main road which made it feel more special and intimate. As myself and the others in my party do not speak French it was awesome that the staff spoke fluent English and the menus provided english subtext. Our servers were nothing short of lovely, they made sure our every need was met and that we felt comfortable throughout our dining experience. They had a wonderful selection of wine available and provided wine service at the table, very classy. The menu is seasonal and you can tell that the chef puts so much thought into each dish. Everything our party was served was delectable and not a single crumb was left on any plate. Our experience here was exactly what we were looking for - true French dining and wine. Definitely would come back here if I ever travel to Normandy again! read more

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Absolutely amazing. Everything was delicious and the sequence of each plate was thoughtful and built a perfect meal. I absolutely recommend this place, it is worth taking the train out of Paris just to come here. read more

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Best dining experience ever. We celebrated my son's 11th birthday in a foreign country, with no idea what to expect, our experience with Yelp restaurant lookups shoddy, inaccurate, and risky. La Rapiere was an absolute stand-out, perfect, extraordinary experience. We booked several months ago, and several email exchanges helped reassure me that the restaurant was real and the reservation would actually happen. The email communication was perfect. Note that our reservation was for the day after D-Day in Normandy.... so my expectation was that many other reservations would happen and ours might be forgotten or ignored.... nothing of the sort happened. When we arrived, a crowd was already waiting outside the restaurant. However, when I stated that I had a reservation, they knew my name, they were expecting us. It was so meaningful to know that a restaurant was looking forward to our arrival and ready for us. They had arranged a large table in the middle of a crowded and tiny dining area for us, the center of attention was perfect for my birthday boy. I made sure he sat at the head of the table, a prominent position to see everything and for everyone to see him. He was smiling from ear to ear and sat about as straight and high in his chair as I have ever seen him. Every course of the meal was perfect, the little soup cup, the main courses, everything perfect. Ordering was easy, with help in English. Wine selections were all reasonably priced, and the most expensive wine was extremely delightful yet affordable. Much to my surprise, the staff at the restaurant had prepared a birthday dessert and entered the room singing a loud Happy Birthday song to my son, and the entire restaurant, mostly english speaking, joined in singing the loud rendition for a few moments, followed by very loud clapping and happy birthdays from everyone. I cannot thank La Rapiere staff enough for how friendly and hospitable they made our evening, and I cannot imagine a more perfect place for a nervous American family to spend their evening at dinner. read more

La Râpière - Happy 11th Birthday! - French Near Me - Bayeux, 14

Linda, host, server, bartender and Simon chef run a warm, friendly, welcoming delicious restaurant. Small footprint with about 12 tables, very intimate Welcomed and seated by Linda (6 top), menus given and drink orders taken and delivered. Warm atmosphere. Nice wine list. Three levels of entree/main/desert combinations named after musketeers or a la carte choices. We had a wide assortment of choices between the 6 of us and covered most options. Every single thing was delicious form start to end. I mean everything!! Linda is a charming hostess. I would eat there everyday if I lived there Very, very highly recommended. (My first VVH ever by the way) Slainte read more

We were so fortunate to get a reservation as they are fully booked for the next 10 days. This was the best meal we have had in France including a number of wonderful restaurants in Paris. The food (including the presentation), service and atmosphere are all 5 stars. Linda, the owner, (her husband is the chef) is delightful. Two musts in Normandy - visit the American cemetery to pay your respects and have dinner here. read more

This one Michelin star in town of Bayeux is serving up a great meal for under $100/head including wine/mix drinks for their tasting menu. Food here is classic French with focus on local produce and local wines. Atmosphere is white table cloth seating with a very charming jovial staff that makes you part of this family run restaurant. In comparison if you had to try other sit down restaurants outside on the row, you will easily fork out 60-80 per head without getting this warm experience but the best part of this restaurant is food. We reserved two months ahead and confirmed day before. Usually they open late so if just leave a message they will get back to you via email or phone if you have one. read more

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Wonderful place with excellent cuisine and attentive staff. The portion size is perfect especially with the preset menus so you do not get over filled before completing desert. The wine list is great and is affordable unlike most places with this quality of food and service. We do understand they change the menus frequently based on what is freshly available. Eric has the oysters and lamb. I had the Langostino in Thai Curry with the beef with rosemary and thyme sauce. Absolutely amazing Definitely a top choice for the area. You will not be disappointed. They also have a wonderful looking fish options For you pescatarians out there read more

What an amazing night at this restaurant in cozy Bayeux! I dined alone and speak only a little French, so I was a bit nervous going in. The staff was very welcoming and lovely. The meal began with a foie gras creme brûlée amuse bouche, which was incredible and so decadent. I did a set menu, including local Calvadosienne oysters (OMG), scallops and a white fish, and a selection of local cheeses. The scallops were cooked absolutely perfectly. The wine selection is really lovely, featuring a nice selection by the glass or bottle from around France. read more

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One of our best meals during our trip to France. Very reasonable for the quality, quantity and atmosphere. The service was impeccable and very friendly. November is the end of the tourist season so they only had one seating a night and every table was taken. We would go again in a heart beat. Recommend making a reservation though. read more

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The food was lovely, as was the ambiance and service. However, I made the reservation over 24 hours in advance and had to provide my food allergies. Luckily, my allergies aren't severe (I only break out into hives), but two of the four courses featured the ingredient. No effort was made to provide a substitution and it was still served to me. They realised the mistake on the amuse bouche, but just substituted a tasting of the soup I did not order as a starter. The ingredient was included as a vegetable on my main and served without question or substitution. I would not recommend going here if you have severe food allergies. The chef paid zero attention and made no accommodations, despite the advanced warning. This left me disappointed in what should have been an outstanding dining experience. read more

Wonderful experience. I dined alone. FOOD: 5.0. I had the premier set menu for dinner. In addition, an excellent small pureed pea soup was served as a starter. - Foie gras. Not only was it excellent, but was served with bread that enhanced the taste. - Veal with Camembert sauce. Outstanding. Served with small helpings of mash potatoes and other vegetables. - Cheese plate. Very good. In addition to the local soft cheese, one can choose hard and other cheeses from other regions. - Apple turnover with caramel ice cream. Excellent. Not too sweet; just right. SERVICE: 5.0. Never a wait, and everything comes with a smile. AMBIENCE: 4.0. It was a cold Normandy night, and I had a seat right next to the wood fireplace. read more

This was my favorite dining experience on our trip to France. The service here is incredible and the owner, Linda (I believe), was attentive and had a great sense of humor. The food was perfect; not over-the-top but very well thought out and prepared, you can tell the chefs and owners love what they do. The alley to get to the restaurant is also incredibly charming. I wish we could come back here on a regular weekend! read more

La Râpière - French Near Me - Bayeux, 14

I ate here in September 2011 and cannot believe that I forgot to review it, as I had a fantastic meal there. First off, the restaurant is charming, a really pleasant and comfortable space reached via an alley off Bayeux's main street. The greeting could not have been warmer. The menu offers a bounty of regional specialties at a reasonable price. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/2obM5gXNBAgSpLyXsxMGlA?select=ddXCpvNUdTOF7p_3VJUSqQ I had the four-course prix fixe, which I started with a DOZEN of the freshest, briniest oysters I have ever eaten. So good. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/2obM5gXNBAgSpLyXsxMGlA?select=U76qRW2IzxmVwupOGGhjAw Next up was monkfish and black tiger prawns with vanilla sauce. I took a chance with this one and it worked beautifully. I seem to recall eating the remaining sauce with a spoon. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/2obM5gXNBAgSpLyXsxMGlA?select=r5ggzfQK87-5QjLz6hETQQ Then I had a selection of local cheeses that were redolent of barnyard in the best way. I was especially enamored of the camembert with a rind washed with calvados. This is not your grandma's camembert. Stinky and delicious! http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/2obM5gXNBAgSpLyXsxMGlA?select=dTpC6SzEvB-32lPUDsdzuw Dessert consisted of a braised apple filled with raspberry coulis on toffee sauce. Holy merde that was delicious! http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/2obM5gXNBAgSpLyXsxMGlA?select=yKeuhDGmX3XZnv6Ej9_5mw I would go back to Bayeux not only to see the WWII beaches but to eat here again, as well. I had dinner at L'Atelier Joel Robuchon in Paris the previous night, and while I appreciate what they do there and how they do it, I have to admit I enjoyed this meal more, It spoke to my soul. read more

La Rapiere takes the trophy for best meal in France. The meal was decently priced (more like 3 money signs instead of 4) because of the prix fixe menu and that every facet of the meal was delicious. I was hesitant at first to book a reservation here (which is a MUST) because of how few reviews there were but I couldn't be happier. Here's what we had: Pre appetizer: Complimentary soup de jour Appetizers: Prawns Salmon Post Appetizer: Apple sorbet with Calvados liquor to cleanse the pallet Entree: Fowl Duck Post Entree: Cheese plate Dessert: Cheesecake Apple cobbler Honestly though, I'll let the pictures do the talking and say that all the food tasted as good as it looked. The best part is that they don't overcharge for their food. At a restaurant in Paris, this type of food will probably run you about 100 euros a person. Not here. Also, the service here is really great and they can speak decent english. No pretentiousness here, just good 'ole fine dining without the exorbitant prices. 5 stars. read more

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Awesome, just awesome. Service was friendly and efficient, food was amazing, the place is very nice. I had one of the 18E formule lunches. Starter was fillo with camembert. Entree was rabbit Riesling fricassee with spaetzel. Everything artfully displayed, and great-tasting. Mom had skate with capers as her entree, and a pastry with fish and cockles was her starter. Both were very good. Desserts were rice pudding with fig and apple confit- outstanding- and a plate of three outstanding cheeses: camembert, "Colonel" (?) and "Pont Vieux" (?) I also tried calvados, the local apple brandy. Quite strong. We walked in around lunchtime, in October, but I can see how they could get very busy most times. Prices were maybe a bit high, but for what you get it's WELL worth it. read more

Our Concierge booked this place for us. It not actually on the street, but down an alley. Small, romantic, and wonderful. The staff was great. They appreciated my stumbling of French. They spoke English, but I felt it my duty to speak to them in French. The food was amazing...the service was on point. The ambiance was truly romantic and very cozy. The chef and restaurant deserves a Michelin Star or two. They took us on a journey of French and Normandy fare and hit the mark. I can not wait to return. This restaurant is a gem in Bayeux.... read more

La Râpière - French Near Me - Bayeux, 14

Amazing restaurant and worth the hype. You do need a reservation, but I stopped in earlier in the day to make one and was easily able to. By far one of the best meals of our honeymoon in France. I ordered the fixed price menu and my husband ordered an appetizer and main course, along with a bottle of cider to drink throughout our meal. We loved everything. They truly do all of the regional specialties justice. The menu a partir was a LOT of food and I couldn't finish all of my courses, even with my husband's help. Highlights include the wild pollack filet (the pesto risotto was incredible), beef fillet in the pepper sauce (delicious potatoes!), and the raspberry cheesecake (which we finished despite being ready to burst). The sorbet pomme was the palate cleanser that came with my meal and it was also lovely and fun to try, and they gave everyone a cute and yummy little beet amuse bouche as a bonus. Oysters were fresh and nice quality as well, which I didn't find to be the case everywhere in Normandy Service was great, and they tolerated our attempts at French with good humor. This evening was really a highlight of our honeymoon! read more

Yet another 5-Star review. What a find! You will need a reservation, as this place is not a "hidden gem" or a "well-kept secret." We were greeted warmly. The staff speaks fluent English. Service was paced perfectly and the servers were very friendly. The food- fabulous! We opted for the price fixe menu- quite a value. For appetizers I had the foie gras (creamy, decadent, served with enough bread) and my husband the oysters (plump, briny, flavorful). Am amuse bouche of beet soup was surprisingly tasty, infused with other flavors and textures. The sorbet and Calvados palate cleanser was served next-a great flavor blend. For the main courses, the leg of lamb was cooked perfectly and featured a lovely sauce; the same with the Guinea fowl. We aren't big dessert fans, and were allowed to substitute extra cheese instead. The cheese spread was impressive--we couldn't eat it all. Our server wrapped up our leftover cheese and we had it the next day as part of a picnic lunch. The price was also very reasonable. This was one of those rare restaurant experiences where everything was perfection. read more

Our B&B host told us this was the top among the many excellent places in Bayeux--and he was right! A lovely dinner in all respects.

Of all my time visiting France, this was by far my favorite restaurant I that I ate at. The service was spectacular and the food was amazing. I would definitely recommend making a reservation as there is limited seating. read more

This is the BEST meal we had in Normany during our 5 days stay. Reservation is a must, we saw the host keep turing down walk-in from time to time during our dinner. Everything is well prepared, nicely presently and delicious. Service is above average French restaurants. Wait staff speak great english. We both had 5 course meal with small bottle of wine. Total tab is below EUR$ 100. Great value!! read more

My son and I ate here in October, 2012. The dinner was incredible. We had the three course meal. Salmon appetizer was incredible. Cheese and wine was excellent. We had great meals in Normandy but this was the best. Very comfortable seating and outstanding service. read more

This is a classic French restaurant offering a very sumptous menu for the deserning local or the tourist who is lucky to have stumbled upon it. I enjoyed a 5 course menu, oysters to start.Fish stew as a main. cheese platter .sorbet and dessert .The apple sorbet drowned in chilled Calvados was to die for. read more

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Very nice eloquent intimate restaurant. Servers very competent and knowledgeable. Food is not overly complex but vert tasteful. Good wine selection. All parties were happy with their meal, my lagostino were lightly breaded and well cooked and the warm goat cheese salad very tasty...the attached picture was my dessert and it was mint and lemon foam/paste? With citrus fruit. Loved it...$$$ read more

La Râpière - French Near Me - Bayeux, 14

I was concerned that this would just be a tourist restaurant, but it was completely fantastic. I particularly loved my brill, which I had never had before but turned out to be a mild white fish in a creamy champagne sauce -- it practically melted in my mouth. Everything was excellent, but that was the absolute standout!! read more