Just a few peals of the bells away from the magnificent Saint-Wandrille Abbey, this place — born from a wonderful initiative by the local council — is home to a lovely restaurant that we stumbled upon almost by chance on our way back from the Cotentin.

A 3-course lunch for €29, made with seasonal, carefully sourced produce, a beautiful sunny terrace, a wine list that immediately made us want to come back one evening, and service that was just a touch nonchalant but incredibly friendly … in short: this is pretty much what the perfect stop on the road looks like.

But it would be a shame, in our opinion, to think of this as just a lunch spot: we fully intend to come back one day and take our time over dinner, to get a better taste of what this inspired chef can really do!

That lunchtime, some excellent “paprika and carrot” œufs mayo, a refreshing gazpacho, a divine little catch of the day, a few summery vegetables and an indulgent rhubarb and red fruit clafoutis put a smile back on our faces and gave us all the energy we needed to continue our journey towards Brussels …

Especially since this little feast came with one of our favourite ciders: Les Jardins de la Reine from Domaine Sicera (2020 vintage, no less! What? Does cider age well? 😂)

If your travels ever take you along the bends of the Seine, or if you’re lucky enough to live in this little corner of paradise, don’t hesitate to pull up a chair: as far as we’re concerned, it’s one of the loveliest finds in the area.

Skáli