Maison Caillet — Restaurant in Le Havre

Sometimes there is a suggestion that Michelin stars are awarded too readily in France. Well, that is certainly not the case with Pierre Caillet's Le Bec Au Cauchois. Resting in a charming Normandy valley overlooking a pretty lake, the dining room is bright but cosy with a modern feel accentuated by ironware statues and tables made by a local artist. So much for the wrapping. The content,, M. Caillet's cooking (not for nothing is he an eminent MOF), is, in short, outstanding. Presentation is artistic but never takes precedence over flavours. Two substantial menus are offered, with shorter, very good value cheaper versions also available. Locally sourced ingredients are absolutely fresh with vegetables from the garden, seasonal meat and fish, and perfectly ripe cheeses including a wonderful home produced Camembert washed in calvados. One of the stand out dishes featured lightly smoked 'medaillons' of beetroot with just cooked oysters - an unlikely combination but one that surprised with its meatiness and succulence: a touch of genius. All was modern and assured without seeming to try too hard for effect. A five course meal (plus all the bits and bobs, and delicious home made breads and butter) filled but did not bloat! Wines were excellently chosen and reasonably priced. Service was friendly and professional. Worthy, indeed, of its...

I stopped going to this restaurant just after Pierre Caillet took over because they thought my young kids were upsetting the other guests when they went to play outside and left the door open.||||Boy what a mistake I made - sometimes it's best for a young dad to swallow his pride.||||When Pierre Caillet took over several years ago, his first menu was unremarkable. Classic French with fresh local suppliers etc. Today he's in another league. ||||I had the full tasting menu. It's exceptionally good. Original ideas, stunning presentation, he left me chasing flavours and eager for every new surprise to arrive.||||He gets five stars. Even though our evening was far from perfect. The service was slow, we had to pour our own wine from a table too far away to reach, and gaps between courses were sometimes worryingly long. ||||Why still five stars? Because he deserves support. ||We found out he has the help of just one sous chef in the kitchen, and we were eating there on perhaps the busiest weekend of the year. The team was clearly stretched, over stretched, to provide the service that this kitchen merits. And he's clearly chasing stars. ||||Go, it's outstanding. There's nothing within 40 mins drive on this level.||||BUT - leave the kids at home, and ask to sit in the main...

This young chef is superb and a former winner of numerous awards. The food, as you would expect from such a chef is superbly prepared and wonderfully served. Each dish is a work of art in itself, so much so that we photographed most of our meal.||The young male waiter is terrific and very helpful with his service and assistance.||The place itself is very picturesque and overlooks one of the lakes at the rear.||An "amuse bouche" is served, followed by another dish as a gift from the chef. These are delightful.||The menu is short and succinct and the food just the right size to give you a fabulous meal without bursting your clothes.||There is sadly just one thing that lets the place down and I am afraid that is the wife/co-owner. She has absolutley no charisma, and although pleasant enough, does not do the place any favours.||The restuarant is closed on Monday and Tuesday and only opens on Wednesday evening for the week ahead. There is a badly recorded message and Madame will ring back if you leave your detalis. When I politely said that it had been difficult to arrange a meal for the evening, all she could offer was "Le restaurant est fermee lundi et mardi"||Ther net result was that until she 'phoned at 18.00, we did not know whether we would be eating there or not...