I almost wondered if they were associated w/ the bakery Paul that I so much adore. I don't think…read morethey are, but the food here is top in this region for serving authentic Normandy dishes. You'll find Normandy beef tartare, Normandy Chicken, Camembert souflee, and a Normandy steak. The set lunch is about 25$ euroes but you get the side, main entree, and the dessert. The dessert list is monstrous btw, and I coulnd't understand most of it, but there are a few key things to get.
Sides: Mom got the foie gras with smoked duck slices on top of apple salad (highly recommend for those who want to check off foie gras off your list but have a balanced veggie plate). The apple and duck balanced each other nicely. I had the camembert tart soaked in melted camembert. Not for those who can't handle stronger and soft cheeses, but the melted gooeyness alongside such flakey tart was absolutely delicious. There is something light despite the heavy creams/cheeses/breads that the French people use. If you're afraid of greasiness, this dish does not have that. You don't see a puddle of oil on anything which you would easily see in the US. That is the beauty of any food I find in france. Rich ingredients but don't pile a large pile of oil, an art I think we can learn from.
Main entree: We ordered the Normandy steak, the Normandy chicken, and my sister had the Entree du jour which is the salmon with the red wine sauce. Most french cooking will taste "bland" to people who are from Asian countries or nations with heavier spices. french food however is complexly layered with wines and stews and separate parts that must be made in the right order to achieve such fluffiness, butteriness, etc. If you are someone who has keen tastebuds, you will appreciate that the blandness itself is an art that makes you want to finish your meal! I don't recommend salt/peppering your food until you've taken a bite and appreciate the complex wines and refined tastes. Normandy steak came with caramelized onions. The chicken was a thigh, but compared to American chicken, this was not some fat thick thigh you find at Popeyes but a tougher almost rooster version. The sauce was mildly strong in terms of odor like a sweet cheese/wine smell but went nicely with the chicken. Beef- anything grass fed is always going to have a stronger taste. I thought it was fine, but French beef is clearly different from American beef, so if you're used to a milder tasting steak, well marinated, then this dish may be a little strong for you.
Dessert: Chocolate mousse was WAY too sweet. I was surprised b/c most French desserts are not that sugary. If there's a 3 chocolate cake layer, get that. It was outstanding. It was mouse, real dark chocolate, and multiple layers that were none too sweet and had disparate textures/tastes/sweetness to it that was delightlful on the tastebuds and made you feel satisfied (hits the right spot). Creme brulee can't go wrong, but this one was a sweeter verson of what I've had so far in France. There are other choices, and you can't go wrong with any of them, but if I would say, for people who love sweet, go with mousse, people who love choclate do the 3 chocolate cake.
Service was excellent. Think starch stiff white long sleeve shirts, black ties, and old school French waiter vibe amid an old school up scale setting. Great experience. Highly recommend
