17 Best Restaurants in Normandy, France

With two Michelin stars under his toque for his tony gastronomic Restaurant Gill, chef Gilles Tournadre jumped at the chance to open a bistro on Rouen's storied Place du Vieux-Marché. Sleek and modern, it specializes in updated bistro fare, offering a great value fixed-price menu.

Rouen's Michelin-starred sensation, l'Odas is the brainchild of chef Olivier da Silva, whose selection of four- and six-course tasting menus has earned accolades for their seasonality, inventiveness, and deep connection to the surrounding countryside. Add a sensational view of Rouen's cathedral from the sleek yet warm dining room, and this makes for a singular way to experience Rouen's top-flight cuisine. 

Behind a half-timber facade filled with geraniums, the "oldest inn in France," dating from 1345, is crammed with stained leaded glass, sculpted wood beams, marble Norman chimneys, leather-upholstered chairs, and damask curtains. Of its many famous guests over the centuries, perhaps the most celebrated here is Julia Child, who ate her first meal in France—"the most exciting meal of my life"—here. A prix-fixe menu recreates that meal with a green salad, a half-dozen oysters on the half-shell, and sole meunière. Add "a whole bottle of Pouilly-Fumé," as Child did, for maximum authenticity. 

On the quay at the heart of Rouen's gastronomic epicenter, Restaurant Gill was Rouen's only two-Michelin-star restaurant for 36 years—until chef Gilles Tournadre famously asked to exit the system in 2020. Stars or no, Tournadre maintains his reputation for culinary rigor, working with the splendors of the Norman woods, fields, and shore: oysters, crab, scallops, lobster, and several types of fish can be found on the menu every day, along with game like hare and piglet. Signature dishes include pigeon à la Rouennaise and veal sweetbread medallions with slow-simmered leeks and potatoes with truffles. When ordering your dinner, remember to request the soufflé made with (what else?) a silky old Norman Calvados. Although the tasting menu is pricey, it's worth the splurge for a primer in one of France's great regional cuisines.

Chef Alexandre Bourdas put Honfleur on the gastronomic map more than a decade ago with this spot, earning Michelin's Bib Gourmand for value. From the ravishing dining room to the impeccable presentation, his restaurant is a study in getting it right down to the smallest detail, with surprising combinations like sea bream with nori and marinated sanshō or cabbage tempura with a truffle crust.

A nice change from the grand, overly formal hotel dining rooms that dominate Deauville, the relaxed atmosphere and sensational, seasonal cuisine at this contemporary eatery have made it extremely popular (and earned it a Michelin star). Charles Thuillant and Mi-Ra Kim, who met in the kitchen of Paris's Ze Kitchen Galerie, focus on lighter Asian-inspired dishes with European influences, like caramelized salmon with yuzu-flavored daikon or Wagyu beef with grilled vegetables.

In a town chock-a-block with seafood-centric restaurants, La Plage stands out for its sunlit dining room and veranda and gracious staff, not to mention a memorable lobster bisque. The location, directly off the beach, makes this an excellent choice between sessions on the sand.

Chef Sylvain Nouin's focus at this sleek little eatery is contemporary bistro fare—and what his monthly changing menu lacks in size (it fits on a small blackboard), it more than makes up for in style. The two-course set menu features dishes like a veal tagine with a confit of dates and lemon, roasted quail with celery mousseline, or tête de veau (calf's head) with an herb vinaigrette; it's a steal at €21.80.

A low-beamed 16th-century fisherman's house provides the cozy setting for chef Vincent Guyon's locally influenced cuisine. Centered on the daily catch, the ambitious menu usually includes at least five different fish dishes—all presented with artistic panache—along with plenty of grilled meats, like salt-marsh lamb or duck. Three fixed-price menus assure a splendid meal on any budget. Be sure to save room for one of the masterful desserts or an informed cheese course.

On one of Caen's oldest streets near the castle, this half-timber 17th-century dining room—complete with stone walls, beam ceilings, and a large fireplace—showcases excellent regional cuisine. Dishes like braised chuck with creamy polenta, or duck breast with grapes and mushrooms are great options.

While not on the Mont itself, Le Pré Sale makes up for this with a tasty menu of Normandy favorites, including a preparation of salt-marsh lamb, presented roasted or grilled, filleted or as a chop. Three set menus also call attention to non-lamb dishes, like locally sourced oysters, steak with Camembert sauce, and a rich gourmet salad with duck, ham, and foie gras.

Smack in the city center, overlooking the river, this convivial cave à manger has everything necessary for a satisfying, affordable dining experience. Opt for small plates of artisanal charcuterie and cheese, or go for a satisfying main course—like chicken breast served with cream and chorizo sauce or house-made foie gras with a confit of red onion.

At the end of a cobbled courtyard in the city's Old Town, this restaurant's half-timber building is a vintage charmer, and the elegant dining room is cozy and hushed. Regional flourishes dominate the menu, such as lobster served in a sweet Sauternes sauce, scallops with creamed cauliflower and quinoa risotto, or panfried beef tenderloin topped with foie gras.