L'ÉCAILLER

During our week-long stay in La Flotte this June, we visited L’Ecailler twice under the new management—and each visit confirmed it’s a sparkling gem on the harbour.

Our most recent lunch was a highlight of our trip: a “surprise” three-course menu that captured the essence of summer dining by the harbor. Every dish was prepared with remarkable precision, presented beautifully, and tasted exceptional—so good, in fact, that we made reservations for dinner immediately after the meal. We were lucky to be able to reserve the one remaining table.

The value is outstanding, especially given the quality of the cuisine, which would be right at home in a Michelin-starred setting.

The entire team is warm, professional, and attentive. General Manager Louis brings deep experience from Michelin-starred restaurants across France and the Netherlands, and his expertise shows in every detail. As a skilled sommelier, he offers thoughtful wine recommendations—well worth trying.

This was the perfect way to celebrate our final lunch in La Flotte this year. As I write this, I can’t help but smile—no other restaurant on the island has left us counting down the hours to dinner quite like L’Ecailler.

One small tip for fellow diners (and a gentle nudge to the team): the restaurant isn’t open every single day. If you stroll by on a Sunday night or Monday morning and wonder whether it’s closed forever, rest assured—everyone is simply taking a well-earned break. Maybe next season there’ll be a big sign in friendlier font reassuring us all: “Relax, we’ll be back on Tuesday!”

Dinner Review
Sorry folks… Google didn’t allow me to add the dinner review and related photos in a separate post so, lunch and dinner photos have been added sequentially here and hopefully they’ll be displayed in the proper order.

We returned later that evening for dinner, and if it’s possible, it was even more impressive than lunch. Head chef Arthur with his team of eight, pulled out all the stops, creating a five-course tasting menu that was entirely different from our midday feast—and every dish was a hit. Nothing repeats here except the excellence.

The atmosphere struck the perfect balance: lively enough to feel festive, but relaxed enough that you could actually hear the person across the table. The service was spot-on—attentive without hovering—and each course brought something memorable to the table, from delicate starters to perfectly cooked mains to desserts so good we briefly considered licking the plates.

We’d visited this restaurant last year when it was under different management and sporting a much darker decor. I have to give credit where it’s due: the redesign is fab. If you’re browsing photos on Google Reviews, anything older than a couple of years shows a completely different vibe. The transformation is remarkable—lighter, more welcoming, classy, and exactly the kind of place you want to celebrate elegant dining with friends and family.

And once again, Louis recommended a brilliant wine pairing that tied everything together beautifully. It was the perfect finale to our stay—a reminder that some places really do deserve every bit of praise they receive.

If you’re in La Flotte and wondering where to book, don’t overthink it. Just go. Let this talented team show you how good dining out on the island can be.

Merci à Louis et Arthur, ainsi que toute l'équipe, pour cette délicieuse soirée ! Un menu raffiné et très équilibré ! Nous nous sommes régalés ! Et nous reviendrons avec plaisir !

Redécouverte de L’ecailler avec des qualités
Menus et cartes de bonne facture
Globalement très satisfaisant

Une très belle ambiance et un service extrêmement prévenant, compétent et accueillant nous ont accompagnés tout au long de notre séjour.
Le menu à cinq plats était très bien adapté et nous a paru excellent. Les vins recommandés pour accompagner le repas étaient adaptés et le sommelier était très compétent.
Nous avons pu nous entretenir brièvement avec le jeune et très sympathique chef de cuisine à la fin de cette soirée très agréable. Il a ouvert son restaurant il y a seulement trois mois et nous ne pouvons que lui souhaiter de continuer à avoir beaucoup de succès.
Nous recommandons ce restaurant sans réserve.

Meilleur restaurant de l'île de ré