La Lendeline

Chef Frédéric Michel opened this delightful restaurant in his home town with his wife Manuella. He cooks up fresh and bold dishes, precisely cooked and with well-defined flavours, relying as much as possible on short supply chains (local fish and market gardening, Normandy beef).

Make your way upstairs from the Capucines Brasserie, overlooking the castle of Saint Lô, to this understated, plush establishment. Back in his hometown, Mickaël Marion unveils his keen grasp of inventive cuisine. A steadfast champion of local produce, he frequently forages wild plants and herbs and grows his own veg. His deft score delicately showcases the region’s ingredients: scallops roasted in butter, monkfish served with garden leeks and curly kale. Start the meal with brioche smoked in apple wood and butter laced in the scent of woodruff. Sensitive, distinctive cooking throbbing with fla

In this picturesque village bistro complete with a wine shop, chef Lionel Cotentin (what a coincidence!) draws on his strong culinary background and premium local produce – organic market garden vegetables, small-scale fishing – to whip up a concise, seasonal menu. The cuisine is modern, meticulous and forthright: home-smoked mackerel, stracciatella and basil-flavoured olive oil sauce; loin of ling, Carnaroli risotto and beurre blanc. Cheerful, spot on service and sensible prices.

Théo Hervy, from Cherbourg in Normandy, and Fanny Hervy, an authentic Catalan from the Pyrénées-Orientales, have merged their regions – Nor(mandy) + Cat(alonia) – in the name of their shared passion for good food. The lunch set menu, which is simple but very well executed using quality ingredients from the region and surrounding area, is unbeatable value: cauliflower, herring; whiting, mashed potatoes, vegetables and sorrel cream; raspberry tartlet and strudel. It's not until the more ambitious dinner that the couple combine ingredients from Normandy and Catalonia. In this compact restaurant,

Just a stone's throw from the romantic ruins of Hambye Abbey, this welcoming hotel-restaurant run by an endearing couple is a hit with the locals. The tastefully restored interior sports a colourful vibe with a fireplace in winter and a large terrace overlooking the Sienne come summertime. The chef, who learned the trade here before moving on to other prestigious establishments, has returned to his roots, producing tasty, no-frills cuisine that draws upon his solid classical background, illustrated by risotto of Pont l'Évêque cheese, andouille sausage, a hint of cider vinegar and a crunchy cra

On the market square, bang in the heart of the village, this buzzy, endearing bistro sports a quaintly quirky decor of wine posters, pepper mills and books about Normandy. The chef, who hails from northern Cotentin, crafts a confident bang-on menu that is as Gallic as La Marseillaise, but with a welcome modern, even irreverent slant at times. Local, regional and seasonal ingredients, together with insightful wine tips.

This charming old seaside villa, now a hotel-restaurant, boasts a prime location a stone's throw from Barneville's expansive beach and views of the Channel Islands in the distance. Diners are well looked after in the spacious dining area that exudes a holiday ambience. The concise menu, which changes daily – freshness guaranteed! – features precise, straightforward dishes. We enjoyed soft-boiled egg and smoked herring, hake in a butter emulsion with smoked herring roe, and a seasonal dessert pairing strawberry and mint. The set menu, available at lunchtime and in the evening, is an absolute st