I could start this review with a lot of expletives trying to describe how amazingly wonderful this…read morerestaurant is - from the absolutely perfect service, to the immaculate food and presentation, everything could not, literally, have been better! We stopped in for lunch while in town and had the 70 euro tasting menu (the baby tasting menu!), with some added local oysters. The oysters were massive (a bit to much for our tastes), but they were the sea in a single bite. Our tasting menu started with this undescribable bowl of seafood, which included some langostino, cockles, oysters, and an amazing broth that highlighted kaffir lime. Just wow... Next we had some fresh ahi tuna. I'm not sure their are words to describe how good this simply prepared was. It was cooked like a steak, with a wonderful sear. The side dish, zucchini with egg and black olives was unique and was just enough to add to the dish, but got out of the way of the wonderful tuna. Dessert was equally amazing and unique. I had the mint, dark chocolate mousse dish that tasted of fresh, green mint with a great dark chocolate with crunchy bits. My wife had a raspberry meringue that was, again, amazing. I keep using the words amazing and wonderful, but that is accurate. The impeccable service, the perfect food, the wonderful (that word again!) wine list and great location make this a must if you are in La Rochelle.

C'était la première fois que j'allais dans un restaurant étoilé…read more et bien c'est une adresse formidable : par le cadre (le tableau se regarde par la fenêtre : c'est la vue sur la mer), par la gentillesse du service (abordable, souriant, prévenant, pas envahissant) et bien sûr la qualité de la cuisine. Le tout pour un prix somme toute abordable puisque si on choisit le menu, on s'en tire à 52 Euros par personne (précisons : sans le vin ni le café). Ca donne envie de se faire à nouveau plaisir dans un restaurant étoilé, chez Coutanceau ou un autre de ses confrères.

Encanta restaurant by Chef Paco Méndez, recognized in Barcelona with a Michelin Star…read more Albar was our waiter in Xcaret playa Del Mar. Very good service at this extraordinary restaurant.

Unbelievably great!!! We got this as a recommendation from our hotel and it was a perfect…read moreexperience. My French is a bit rusty...and didn't include many seafood names, fortunately the waiter took pity on us and did a good translation. When he got to the Moules, he said it was their specialty and they get them fresh right there. So, how could we resist. My husband got the fish, but mine were the best. I had been told the French don't eat with their fingers, but they make an exception for these. Next time we will try the assortment plate, saw those coming out just as we were leaving. Lovely people, doing it right! BTW, don't trust your GPS directions, if you reach a dirt/gravel road, it's wrong. This is right on the water.

From the owner: Quand l'accueil n'a d'égal que la cuisine Le restaurant gastronomique La Belle Etoile est situé aux…read morebords de la Sèvre Niortaise, dans un joli jardin fleuri avec kiosque et terrasse couverte. Cette maison de qualité propose une cuisine du terroir (saumon mariné au Chardonnay du Poitou, pavé de rumsteack en croûte de chèvre, tarte à la marmelade de fraise et angélique fraîche) ainsi qu'une cave à vins très complète.

Quality seafood in a nice setting. Interesting Creole flavours mixed into some local favourites…read more Service was frustratingly slow however. Best to reserve in advance and dine earlier in the evening, when less busy. Nice kids menu.

From the owner: Nous proposons a notre clientèle des produits frais venant de la mer en direct de la criée…read more Composition de plateaux de fruits de mer et de plats a base de poissons. Et proposons également de la cuisine traditionnelle de mets français sélectionnés de qualité.

The most wonderful fresh seafood we had during our visit to the Atlantic coast of France…read more For an appetizer we had the 3 oysters au gratin, a local speciality... so tender and fresh! Our dinners included the Hake with chorizo and a flavorful cream sauce of piquillo peppers, and the famous Mouclade ... the dish that was the reason for eating here in the first place! This is from local muscles in a cream curry sauce and delicate medallions of Crepinette sausage. Both were incredible! My muscles came, naturally, with perfectly executed fries as well. This was a dinner we were anticipating for weeks as we planed our trip, and it definitely exceeded expectations, which were already high! The service was polite and efficient. We combined this evening with a water taxi ride from port de Minimes to Vieux port La Rochelle and a stroll down the buaeutiful historic streets and the city ramparts towers that held firm against the siege of 1628 for so long. Historic town, classic restaurant, a wonderful evening, and a definite place to return on our next visit!

We were impressed with this place, even though it seemed to cater to tourists with its boat theme…read more But the food was good and the service was excellent. My husband ordered the Caesar salad and didn't realize it included chicken (which he doesn't like in salad), so he picked out all the chicken. The server asked if there was a problem with the chicken and he said no, he just didn't want it. Soon the manager came over to ask again about the chicken and even offered us free dessert. We were impressed with this attention to a possible problem, and will definitely return there on our next visit to La Rochelle.