Le Pinasse Café — Restaurant in Arcachon

My wife and I had seen a lot of people at this restaurant, good reviews, Michelin stars awarded in past years (though it seems those have been stripped?), and the restaurant is beautiful with incredible views, so we decided this was a safe bet for our last meal in Cap Ferret. Unfortunately we found our meal lacking in flavor / cohesion and overpriced.

The lobster salad proportions were off, lots of bad lettuce that shouldn’t have been served. The fish soup was under-salted and bland. The tuna with Japanese rice and wasabi, though all well-cooked, lacked cohesion and the flavors just didn’t come together - the wasabi foam was bland and off putting. The cod was ok. We did not stay for desert. For the price and fan-fare we were disappointed, maybe just a bad couple of dishes on a Sunday night, but felt compelled to review this place as it seems overhyped...

DO NOT EAT HERE

We ate at le pinasse in cap ferret on the 20th September. My partner and I shared the turbot and became very Ill, with severe food poisoning.

However, we were shocked to hear when our hotel told us that many guests experienced the same food poisoning, and staff in the hotel have themselves experienced food poisoning too at la pinasse multiple times, usually from their fish dishes.

We called the restaurant to let them know what had happened to multiple guests hoping they might apologise and take action, but the manager took no interest, just saying it is ‘not possible’ despite multiple guests and locals having had food poisoning from there.

Would really not advise eating here, getting Ill and ruining your holiday!!

Also, the fish was extremely overpriced, and...

Le Pinasse Café blends Cap Ferret’s oyster-farming heritage with modern seaside dining. Set by the Bélisaire jetty, its terrace opens directly onto the Bassin, framed by oyster beds and passing pinasses. The menu keeps this connection alive: oysters from Gillardeau, Dupuch, and Marennes-Oléron capture France’s Atlantic terroirs; local maigre arrives crisp-skinned over celeriac purée; and a reimagined île flottante layers brûléed meringue and custard with finesse. Service is relaxed yet attentive, and the setting—water at your feet, Dune du Pilat on the horizon—makes for one of the most atmospheric...