NORMANDY 

Rouen restaurant recommendations

Le Petit Bec, 182 rue Eau-de-Robec tel 0235076333
Near the musée des Beaux-Arts, convivial and friendly to have simple familial cuisine and with a nice terrace. Gratins, blanquette de veau, oeufs en cocotte (their speciality). For easy people not looking gastronomy but a pleasant cadre. Menu for 75 FF. A la carte: 11.50 €-21.50 €

Le Petit Zinc, 20 place du Vieux-Marché.tel 0235893969
Very well located wine bar but serving also hearty food. The owners are young, enthusiastic people who arranged their bistro with a lot of old bric a brac, very original. With the years it attracted more and more customers and is packed now at lunch. No menu, no table cloth but fresh and tasty food. You have sometimes menus with salade de langoustines, terrines, morue fraiche, entrecote aux girolles. Count 26 € for a complete meal.

Au Temps des Cerises, 4-6 rue des Basnage tel 0235899800
In the heart of town, an expert in “cuisine au fromage”, allying tradition and originality. Chausson de camembert aux pommes et beurre de cannelle, rillettes de saumon, crème brulée à la vanille. Menus for 1.50 €(lunch only), 1.85 € and 20 €.

Le Rouennais, 5 rue de la Pie tel : 02 35 07 55 44 Fax : 02 35 71 96 38
A very good place, with a menu for 16.95  € which is a very good deal. 

Les Nympheas, 7-9 rue de la Pie tel 0235892669
Near the place du Vieux-Marché, the spirit of the old Rouen in this house built in a flowered, cute courtyard. Very classic cuisine , tyraduitional, but with a constance, a quality, freshness of products, somtimes a bit confused. Foie gras chaus de canard au vinaigre de cidre, salmis de caneton rouennaiscaillettes de sardines en farce, delicate turbot poelé au caviar d'aubergine soufflé chaud aux pommes et au Calvados. Prices: 26.60 €-56 € 

Dufour, 67 bis rue Saint-Nicolas tel 0235719062
Unavoidable address for the city notables and merchants. An ancient 15 and 16th century step-gabled house, apparent beams, half-rustic, half-marine, with small-scale models of sail-ships and a very traditional but decent regional cuisine. Filets de Saint-Pierre au cidre, paupiettes de saumon fume aux huitres, croustillant de mille-feuilles maison. Menu for 13.50 to 38.50 €. A la carte: 24.50-57.50 €.

Gill-Le Bistrot du Chef…en Gare, 1st floor of the train station. Tel 0235714115
A few steps from the train platforms a “cuisine du terroir”. Impeccable service for a mulet bardé à l’andouille, croustillant de morue fraiche aux épices, a bleak nougat aux coulis de framboises acide, crème renversée. Menu for 110 FF and plat du jour 65 FF.

La Couronne, 31, place du Vieux-Marché tel 0235714090
Open 7 days on 7.
This restaurant claims being the oldest auberge in France (1345). Anyway, it is a luxurious show of woodwork and extravagant medieval décor. It didn’t live up to its reputation in the past, the food being very mediocre, but this changed lately. Good Norman menus appeared and prices became more sympathetic. Barbue aux morilles, fricassee de poulet, saint-jacques et foie gras chaud au vinaigre de figue. Menus form 18.50 to 35.50 €. Never mind, what is the most important here is food and atmosphere, for 23  € for the cheapest menu, a very good deal, as such restaurants usually cost far more.

Chez L’Gros, 22 rue Saint-Nicolas tel 0235710506
Not far from the cathedral, a Lyon type bistro with Lyon specialties. Vivid, convivial with a very agreeable chef and owner. Salade Lyonnaise, good andouillette, rillettes de lapin, quenelles, saucisson chaud, tripes aux vin blanc, gras-double, tarte aux poires aux pralines. Menus for 11.50 € (lunch only), and 23 €.