Squid, smelts, and fish rillettes... a simple lunch from the sea, and given this cluttered and uncared for restaurant overlooked the ocean, you could be forgiven for thinking a treat was in store. Without being back of house, its hard to say for certain that...the calamari and smelts came out of a freezer bag, but calamari with bright orange breadcrumbs is at least an indicator. Not lightly dusted with a quick dip through the fryer, more jailed in crunchy crumbs and murdered in boiling oil. Then the smelts; you know that wonderful taste of freshly fried whitebait - a little crunch on the outside and a mouth popping of fresh succulent fish. Well these poor little devils limped onto the plate, exhausted by their time in the fryer which given their sogginess might have been that morning, followed by a journey through a microwave. Enough about the food, you get the picture.
This place needs a chef who respects the food and if they think they are already doing a good job, then maybe some lessons from someone who knows better. And clean up the restaurant it was a mess.
In the end, we sampled a bit of what was on our plate, and sent it back. It was edible but not by people who enjoy well prepared and well cooked food. We offered to pay for the bottled water but refused to pay for lunch; the manager was not happy and invited us to 'get out'. No discussion about why the food was poor, how they might improve, or even an offer to prepare something else (although we would have politely declined) - just a discourteous exchange and we departed.
Our advice - there is better in Royan, and unless this place says 'new chef employed' then stay away.More
