CHEZ MATTIN — Restaurant in Bayonne

Hidden culinary gem for those seeking to try authentic French Basque cuisine.

My partner and I went without a reservation on a Thursday afternoon at around 1pm (this was our fault as we decided to do a spontaneous road trip and explore the French Basque region) and it was completely packed. However, instead of turning us down, our host Céline explained that while they were extremely busy at the moment, a table could be arranged for us if we were open to the idea of waiting.

We were then offered a couple of seats outside the establishment and Céline followed up with a couple of menus and some refreshments.snacks. The latter was a really nice gesture as we were both pretty hungry and had no idea how long the wait would be.

After a 30-45 minute wait, we were ushered into our seats. From beginning to end, the staff was extremely attentive and friendly. The restaurant was nicely decorated with Basque artefacts and most importantly. the food was very delicious (specially the ttoro and tripes). A neat selection of Basque wines was also available to order. We finished the meal with the riz au lait and a cup of coffee. Upon asking for our bill, we discovered that Céline had decided to comp the refreshments and snacks to compensate for the wait.

Overall, we were simply amazed at the team at Chez Mattin for all the steps taken to provide amazing service and spectacular food to two total walk-in strangers in the middle of a weekday. Establishments like these are the entire package and a warm reminder that good hospitality still exists in the food industry.

My partner and I can't recommend this place highly enough and we both look forward to the day we get to taste their menu again.

PS. Make sure to make a...

The most amazing experience and lunch at Chez MATTIN! I discovered it on a tourism video and it did not disappoint! We went with the intention of having their famous specialty fish stew and wow was it delicious and packed full of seafood! We were also served a complimentary amuse bouche that was very good ! The host and I’m guessing owner was incredibly friendly,great sense of humour and absolutely on top of everything! She was already to attempt to explain the menu to us in English when we said we wanted the fish stew! A huge smile and relief came over her face ! Haha! She suggested the soufflé for dessert which was delicious ! A very friendly restaurant ! Reservations are a must! It was incredible to see the flock to the restaurant and see it absolutely full with minutes of open! Everyone was taken care of by a fabulous group of staff! We also enjoyed a glass of white wine and were pleased to see...

Dinner at Chez Mattin near the harbor in St Jean de Luz. Anthony Bourdain said "if you only have time for one meal, this is probably the one" and we couldnt agree more. A small family restaurant run by Chef Michel in the kitchen and his wife Céline in the front of house.

Tucked away in a residential neighborhood near the harbor, a small unassuming entrance leads you into a comfortable dining room that feels like you could be in someone's home. As the evening progressed the restaurant filled mainly with locals, repeat guests we assumed due to their greeting by the owners.

The food was exceptional with seafood as the focus. the scallops and sole were were perfectly cooked, and their famous Ttoro (a traditional Basque fish soup) was...