LE CABOUILLET

Chef Naoëlle d'Hainaut chose this small side street at the foot of Pontoise Cathedral as the location for her first restaurant. The result is a real success, from the elegant decor (Scandinavian style, light colours, glass-fronted wine cellar, open kitchen) to the contemporary cuisine. One dish that lingers in the memory is the iced lobster with a concentrated jus, roasted quinoa, shiitake mushrooms and a beurre noisette foam. Each dish rolls out the same technical skill, harmony of flavours and refreshing honesty, underpinned by well-paced, relaxed and professional service from a young and ef

In a handsome 17C edifice, this restaurant continues to fly the flag of gourmet hospitality and upholds a distinctly bourgeois brand of elegance. Chef Anne-Sophie Godry has remained true to the establishment’s traditional Gallic ethos and its signature dishes, among which calf’s sweetbread with a frothy butter, sole meunière and Paris-Brest praliné à l'ancienne with a chicory custard. The front-of-house team is cheerful, competent and slick. Terrific wine list, with more than 400 references.

The wide glass façade of this modern building affords a glimpse into the light-filled interior, which features an exposed brick wall and touches of greenery. The chef turns out precise, unpretentious cuisine, in which the premium ingredients speak for themselves. Raw scallops are cut into thick slices and served in their shells, enhanced with a dill-orange vinaigrette, plus a lemon gel for added freshness and complexity. More rooted in local tradition, the farm-reared Landes chicken is incredibly tender, with a sweet potato purée and a rich, reduced jus. Confidently executed, well-balanced dis

In a handsome 19C abode near Montmorency Forest, this restaurant aims to uphold French art de vivre: period tableware and furniture, gleaming silverware and copper and high ceilings – all of which in a plush muted interior dominated by wood. The food is suitably classical and generous, whilst traversing the annals of French cookery: pâté en croûte, rabbit cooked in mustard and rice pudding. A few rooms for overnight stays.

On the road to the Château de Chantilly – famous for its ancient paintings, the richest collection after the Louvre's – this place with a refined decor has not one, but two terraces. Perfect for sunny days! The delicious, seasonal cuisine works its charm, enhanced with harissa here (on the gazpacho), with pesto there (on the tuna, broad beans, Swiss chard and peppers).

A welcoming decor in two rustic rooms, one of which is very spacious with rafters and a fireplace. Shaded summer terrace. Simple, traditional menu in tune with the seasons.

At the edge of the park, this elegantly decorated mansion embodies a distinctly French "art of living"... and gives expression to its love of fine ingredients! Chef Denis Rivoire is of Italian origin and he certainly knows his stuff; he revisits the classics, adding a few Mediterranean touches. Good wine list.