Some days, you just get lucky. And then there are days when you get a table at Bistrot Loudet at 14:00 when the kitchen is supposed to be closed—and you’re still greeted with a smile and a Grand Marnier soufflé. Now that’s divine intervention.
Piero had already dined here back in November with his friend Michele (traitor, he never told me how good it was!). This time, we called ahead—fully booked, of course. But wait: “If you come at 14:00…” Yes please.
The drive along the Esterel hills and the coastline was pure cinematic bliss—if the road wasn’t so curvy, I’d have filmed it all. The view alone is worth a Michelin star.
Upon arrival: chaos. Not inside, but outside. Parking? A joke. Thankfully, valet parking exists. And they seem to know what they’re doing, even with a full house.
Inside, it’s charmingly laid back, in that effortless French coastal way. Large windows frame a moody sea view—grey clouds above, but the kind that make you feel like you’re in a movie set in the off-season Riviera. The sound of waves, the scent of the sea, and the clink of wine glasses.
We dove into a generous plate of fried seafood—prawns, squid, little fish I didn’t bother naming because I was too busy eating them. Crispy perfection.
But the crown jewel? The Grand Marnier soufflé. Light as air, warm, and puffed to perfection—delivered in a yellow Le Creuset ramekin like a sunbeam on a cloudy day. Topped with a dollop of ice cream and just enough powdered sugar to make you feel slightly guilty. Only slightly.
