L'Ecailler — Restaurant in La Rochelle

We had a sensational experience at L’Ecailler, every aspect of it was brilliant. No apologies here for the length of this review so I will save you some time… do not hesitate, just go!

It’s high end price wise, but It is worth every penny/cent! In fact I think it’s great value for what you get. And worth sacrificing some holiday budget for! Apparently it’s only been open 4 months… so go now before everyone hears about it!

The location on the harbour front in La Flotte is picture perfect, could sit there all day and watch the world go by. Such a lovely place.

The restaurant itself lives up to its box office location, and is just as stylish! We ate outside, which was lovely as you’d imagine, but did go inside to have a look around and the decor and design that has gone into the building is fabulous. They have a mini chef’s table too… one day we will be back for that. But suffice to say it’s a great looking venue all round!

So many words and haven’t yet mentioned the food…. Oh boy… it’s good…. Seriously good.

We had the 7 course tasting menu and I have to say it was one of the best meals we have ever had, for context I am no expert but have been fortunate (via work and our love of food) to eat in some amazing Michelin starred restaurants around the world and this food is more than up there! L’Enclume in the UK probably only just nudging it from number 1.

The combinations of flavours were sublime… who knew you could make a tomato taste like that! Or what bone marrow sauce could do to a fish, or how red pepper can combine with a peach…. I could go on and on about every one of the dishes… but don’t want to spoil the surprise… trust me though they ALL tasted amazing and featured so many local seasonal ingredients - just like L’Enclume… They also looked incredible, again I did take some photos but won’t be sharing them here you MUST see them for yourself for the first time.

I also had the wine pairings to go with the meal. One with each course! Exceptional! Such clever and unusual choices, some wines I had never even heard of and every single one was perfectly matched with the food. Often found in other places the wine pairings can be a bit underwhelming, but NOT Here! 100 percent recommend you choose this option, again worth the investment!

Finally the service…. We were fantastically looked after from start to finish. Warm welcome, given choice of where to sit, the menu was explained perfectly and you just knew we were in for a great experience. And so it proved to be, every dish explained with depth, the attention to detail that the chef puts into the food was matched in how it was presented and explained to us. Even in English, our main water was French Canadian so that helped, he was fab, but all of the team were excellent.

This also extended to the wine pairings, they all understood their product. And it wasn’t stuffy or anything like that, all really good fun and it sounds trite but you felt they had pride in what they were doing and serving.

They are a young team here including the joint owners, all under 30, the level of sophisticated cooking and service would have suggested they’d been going for decades…. The Chef visited every table at the end of the meal, took time to ask about our experience and things they could learn. It’s a challenge to offer anything helpful…. Other than encouragement.

Because at the end of the day there is absolutely no question this is a Michelin starred restaurant, just a question of time to be able to qualify and how many stars.

And there is no question it is going to continue to be a huge success and booking in advance will be mandatory. We did…

Honestly if it isn’t already it will be making the “top restaurant experiences in France lists…” and together with the beauty of La Flotte, it will become a destination restaurant. And what a destination it...

During our week-long stay in La Flotte this June, we visited L’Ecailler twice under the new management—and each visit confirmed it’s a sparkling gem on the harbour.

Our most recent lunch was a highlight of our trip: a “surprise” three-course menu that captured the essence of summer dining by the harbor. Every dish was prepared with remarkable precision, presented beautifully, and tasted exceptional—so good, in fact, that we made reservations for dinner immediately after the meal. We were lucky to be able to reserve the one remaining table.

The value is outstanding, especially given the quality of the cuisine, which would be right at home in a Michelin-starred setting.

The entire team is warm, professional, and attentive. General Manager Louis brings deep experience from Michelin-starred restaurants across France and the Netherlands, and his expertise shows in every detail. As a skilled sommelier, he offers thoughtful wine recommendations—well worth trying.

This was the perfect way to celebrate our final lunch in La Flotte this year. As I write this, I can’t help but smile—no other restaurant on the island has left us counting down the hours to dinner quite like L’Ecailler.

One small tip for fellow diners (and a gentle nudge to the team): the restaurant isn’t open every single day. If you stroll by on a Sunday night or Monday morning and wonder whether it’s closed forever, rest assured—everyone is simply taking a well-earned break. Maybe next season there’ll be a big sign in friendlier font reassuring us all: “Relax, we’ll be back on Tuesday!”

Dinner Review Sorry folks… Google didn’t allow me to add the dinner review and related photos in a separate post so, lunch and dinner photos have been added sequentially here and hopefully they’ll be displayed in the proper order.

We returned later that evening for dinner, and if it’s possible, it was even more impressive than lunch. Head chef Arthur with his team of eight, pulled out all the stops, creating a five-course tasting menu that was entirely different from our midday feast—and every dish was a hit. Nothing repeats here except the excellence.

The atmosphere struck the perfect balance: lively enough to feel festive, but relaxed enough that you could actually hear the person across the table. The service was spot-on—attentive without hovering—and each course brought something memorable to the table, from delicate starters to perfectly cooked mains to desserts so good we briefly considered licking the plates.

We’d visited this restaurant last year when it was under different management and sporting a much darker decor. I have to give credit where it’s due: the redesign is fab. If you’re browsing photos on Google Reviews, anything older than a couple of years shows a completely different vibe. The transformation is remarkable—lighter, more welcoming, classy, and exactly the kind of place you want to celebrate elegant dining with friends and family.

And once again, Louis recommended a brilliant wine pairing that tied everything together beautifully. It was the perfect finale to our stay—a reminder that some places really do deserve every bit of praise they receive.

If you’re in La Flotte and wondering where to book, don’t overthink it. Just go. Let this talented team show you how good dining out on the...

A Culinary Gem on Ile de Ré: L'Ecailler - Simply Superb!

During our two-week journey through France, we stumbled upon a true culinary highlight in the charming town of La Flotte on Ile de Ré: the newly opened restaurant L'Ecailler. From the very first moments of our 5-course menu, it was clear that we were in for an exceptional dining experience – and L'Ecailler certainly delivered! The food was nothing short of outstanding. Each course was beautifully presented and showcased the freshest, high-quality ingredients, expertly prepared to tantalize the taste buds. The flavors were exquisite, demonstrating a true passion and skill in the kitchen. Complementing the remarkable cuisine was an equally impressive wine selection. The pairings suggested were perfect, enhancing each dish and demonstrating a deep understanding of both the food and the wines on offer. What truly elevated our experience even further was the exceptional service. The staff were professional and attentive, anticipating our needs without ever being intrusive or stiff. Their warm and welcoming demeanor added to the overall relaxed yet refined atmosphere of the restaurant. Bravo to the entire team! L'Ecailler is a true gem, and we wholeheartedly wish them a prosperous future. This is a restaurant that deserves to thrive, and we will certainly be returning on our next visit to the region. If you find yourself on Ile de Ré, a meal at L'Ecailler is an...