The 10 Best Restaurants In Brest, France

Located at Brest’s bustling port, La Maison de L’Océan aptly serves delicious seafood dishes in a stylish, marine-themed space. Start with small dishes like homemade foie gras with langoustines and scallops or freshly harvested mussels in creamy sauce before mains like locally caught poached ray wing with caper beurre noisette or La Maison de L’Océan’s signature fisherman’s cotriade (a stew of fish and potatoes). The restaurant’s seafood platters, the largest of which is the Royal Océan and comes with crab, oysters, langoustines, lobster, whelks, winkles, clams and shrimp, are also very popular and available to eat-in or takeaway.

Elevating the humble burger beyond a mere fast-food staple, the grub at Le Comptoir du Burger is a decidedly gourmet affair. Thirteen different burgers, all of which are served with house-made fries, are offered, including signature varieties like the Uncle Sam topped with cheddar, smoked bacon, sautéed onions and tomato-tarragon tartare sauce and locally inspired burgers like the Iroise topped with Breton cheese, sausage from Molène and onions. Any of the restaurant’s burgers can be substituted with a vegetarian patty, and for younger diners, Le Comptoir du Burger offers a child-size portion that comes with a drink and a house-made brownie.

A meat lovers favourite since first opening its doors 16 years ago, Le Boeuf sur le Quai is the place to go in Brest for a fix of steaks, pork, lamb and other meaty treats. Located in a cozy, quirky space just a stone’s throw from Château de Brest, the restaurant boasts details like cowhide-covered walls and an open grill where guests can see their food being cooked. As its name suggests, Le Boeuf sur le Quai’s specialty is beef, think steak tartare, juicy prime rib and beef carpaccio, but there are plenty more options for hungry carnivores to choose from including sausage, grilled duck and spit-roasted lamb shank.

The brainchild of Chef Romain Pouzadoux and his wife Charlotte, L’Imaginaire is a smart and stylish restaurant with an innovative, eco-friendly ethos. Ditching traditional set menus in favor of a more exciting and seasonal approach to dining, L’Imaginaire offers guests ‘surprise’ menus of either three, six or nine dishes crafted from available produce. Though the restaurant’s menus change frequently with the seasons, guests can expect creative plates like langoustine ravioli with tarragon bisque and pigeon with dried fruit, salsify and barberry, while its equally tempting dessert offerings have recently included an indulgent chocolate tart.

For deliciously authentic Thai cuisine in Brest, look no further than Thai Phuket. Opened in late 2014 by owner Yurong Zhang, a native of Thailand who ran successful restaurants in Paris for a decade before moving to Brest, the restaurant serves up tempting entrées like tom kha kai (chicken soup with coconut milk and galangal) and green papaya salad followed by mouthwatering mains including spicy green curry with chicken, baby corn and eggplant and grilled duck with spinach and tamarind sauce. House specialty dishes include classic pad Thai with prawns, while its dessert menu, featuring traditional sweet treats like khao tom mad, a dish of sticky rice, taro and banana, offer the perfect ending to an authentic Thai meal.

As Brest’s only Michelin-starred restaurant, Le M is a must-try for any self-respecting foodie. Located in a beautifully styled mansion boasting ample rooms and a picturesque terrace perfect for summertime al fresco dining, the restaurant is helmed by experienced restaurateur Bruno Diabaoui and chef Philippe Le Bigot and offers seasonal menus showcasing the very best of Brittany grown produce with a distinct contemporary twist. Le M’s current winter menu features appetizers like locally harvested oysters and shellfish in a spicy citrus jus or smoked duck foie gras with apple, while mains include pigeon with crispy leg confit and monkfish medallions with onion broth and caramelized endives.