Le Monaclin sur Le Portel

05/12/2025: La Plage – The seafront restaurant where even the bill brings a smile La Plage restaurant, on the Portel seafront, is a bit like a good movie: you go there to enjoy yourself, you stay for the atmosphere, and you leave wondering how they manage to keep it all going… especially the prices. The atmosphere is friendly, practically with your feet in the water—or sometimes in a bit of mud, but that's the local touch: authentic, maritime, and slightly slippery if you started your aperitif too early. The sharing platters of land and sea arrive like military landings: generous, well-stocked, and full of delicious things. And there, in the middle, are the bodybuilder whelks. Whelks so big you wonder if they really deserve to be called whelks. In Brittany, they'd still be talking about them around a lighthouse. The fish was incredibly fresh, the seafood too, to the point where you suspected the sea was in direct partnership with the kitchen. The dessert had probably spent a bit too long in the freezer, but it was still good and did the job—a little frosty, like the sea air. And then came the moment of truth: the bill. For five people. With aperitifs + main courses + desserts + coffees. Total? €128. At that price, we almost asked if the waiter had forgotten part of the bill. It's rare to leave a restaurant thinking: "We should come back... out of economic solidarity for them!"

11/11/2025: We started our day out with a lovely walk along the beach at Le Portel. Time for a snack and a drink, which we enjoyed here… We received a very friendly welcome, and the prices were very reasonable! We also ordered a tapas platter for €10.50. Well worth it! Various cheese snacks (fried) with a small salad. We'll definitely be back (when the weather is nicer 😉).