Noirmoutier-en-l'Île
La Marine

La Marine

3 r. Marie-Lemonnier, 85330 L'Herbaudière, Noirmoutier-en-l'Île, France

Français • Européen • Végétarien • Cuisine Créative


"We had been meaning to visit La Marine for some time and finally got around to it and what a pleasure it was.The outside is quite unprepossessing but one immediately gets taken up a level in the reception. We had decided as we had eventually booked and arrived there we would have the 9 course menu with matched wine.My wife and I had a debate about a glass of champagne as an apéro. We decided against it as we have found some restaurants can overdo the quantity of wine served ( yes I know you don't have to drink it all!). I think in retrospect it was a mistake as it would have been perfect with the exquisite canapés, there was one truffles like one with mackerel and coffee that was perfect.I won't describe every course but for me there were two highlights. L'huître Noire, I generally think chefs cannot improve oysters but this dish was superb. The other course I really enjoyed was The Pintade it was without doubt the most tender, perfectly prepared and served guinea-fowl I've ever had. The wines were not grand wines but the matching as one would expect worked. There was a local focus on the which included Muscadet and a Pinot Noir from Brem. I did find the Côtés de Jura both novel and interesting as I was unaware of it. I mentioned that it's unpretentious it's a smallish restaurant, my wife and I were in the catch all 'smart casual' other diners also but at either end of the definition. The staff were really relaxed there was not the question 'are you enjoying it' after every mouthful and they did not hover. They were friendly and happy to engage in conversation about the food. Other Michelin restaurants could learn from them.Of course we are going back."