Le Puits Sainte Claire

Z for Zanchetta, the chef celebrates his Italian heritage with sun-drenched cuisine and lashings of flair and talent: creamy risotto of scallops à la “risi e bisi”, spianata and cuttlefish ink jus; pearlescent cod on polenta with wild garlic and a wildly decadent and incredibly ethereal pavlova of strawberries and chocolate to finish. House baked bread and rillettes of hake kick off the show in this buzzy bistro in the heart of the village, where generosity and delicacy go hand in hand.

In a quaint little village, a short drive from La Rochelle, this restaurant stands at the end of a pedestrian only lane. Alsace-born chef Nicolas Durif unveils his passion for plants (like hyssop), of which he uses up to 60 in summertime, sourced from France and the rest of the world. Discreet nods to his homeland can be found in his creative lineup and in the enticing wine list. His several course surprise menus rich in citrus fruits and Asian spices come highly recommended.