Chez Hortense

To provide some context for this review, we live in Cap Ferret a good part of the year, and we dine at Chez Hortense several times a year. We're also well-travelled people and know a thing or two about good restaurants. As others have said, Chez Hortense is indeed an institution in Cap Ferret, and it is an institution for very good reasons! The food is exceptional, and despite being known as a seafood restaurant, the saucissons are fantastic, by the way! ;-) The fries, too, are perhaps the best I've ever had and are part of what makes Chez Hortense Chez Hortense! That being said, perhaps what truly makes Chez Hortense Chez Hortense is the people! The service is professional and efficient--it's a busy place, so it needs to be--but it's warm too. We're quickly given warm welcomes by the team, including the lovely woman who owns it, as soon as we enter the restaurant. Then, there is the atmosphere! When the weather is good and the roof is retracted, few things beat it. And regardless of the weather, the unobstructed view of the Dune du Pilat is truly magical! For all of these reasons, having been there many, many times, I would place Chez Hortense in my Top 5 restaurants worldwide! I can't wait for it to reopen in March!

Chez Hortense is an institution in Cap Ferret, and for good reason. The atmosphere is casual yet full of charm, with views that make you want to linger long after the meal ends. Their mussels with homemade French fries are simply the best — generous, flavorful, and perfect to share (one portion is more than enough for two). A true highlight is the baked oysters with foie gras, a bold and unforgettable combination. It’s the kind of place you recommend to friends without hesitation.

Very nice place with a very nice view on the dunes de Pilat. Very good food, nice service, reservation is a must well in advance. Quite expensive but worth a visit.

The best food we had during our trip to Bordeaux. Oysters were super fresh. Mussels were delicious. Crispy golden french fries. We also shared the sea bass and the desert of the day.

Delicious seafood restaurant at Cap Ferret! Must try the oysters (as well as the foie gras)

Excellent food and a gorgeous view! Fishes and seafood are so good they don't need complex preparation to be delicious. Portions are big so it's a good place for sharing both entries and main courses. The place is very popular so the staff can be a little pushy with the bill. Make a reservation ahead!

A very cozy and comfortable place, perfect for family and friends to get together. Although in the same sea area, I compared the other two and I found that the quality of the oysters here is particularly good. In the choice of white wine, the store may add some moderately priced Bordeaux dry white, such as Entre-deux-Mers.

Food is typical of the area, oysters, tartare, fries, mussels, fish, and it’s okay at best. My main reason for the 2 star review is the horrible service. My empty plates were left on the table for 30 minutes while the family next to me had their table cleared the millisecond they finished. Everyone else got exceptional service while it’s as if I’m invisible. Frankly they don’t enjoy English speaking customers as is the stereotype. This could be the reason for the bad service. So speak French and reap the benefit of being treated like a normal person…