Caen
Initial

Initial

24 r. St-Manvieu, 14000 Caen, France

Café • Pâtes • Viande • Français


"I had this restaurant on my list of places to try during a 2 week stay in Caen and this was my first stop. I had not realized it was upgraded to 1 Michelin star as my red guide was from 2015. After eating here I am not surprised. It is fully deserving of this level.I walked by the restaurant thinking I would look at the menu and book later in my stay but after meeting one of the owners I was convinced to come in for lunch on a Saturday. I had the 4 course prix fixe menu and it was stunningly good food, beautifully presented and with very pleasant and helpful staff. I can heartily recommend this restaurant.In addition to the 4 courses there were two amuse bouche and two extra desserts so to call it a 4 course meal is underselling what you will get. My first course was pleasant to the eye and also on the palate. Seared scallops in a sauce of spinach and with a sheet of spinach pasta on top. This was followed by a dish with flaky cod and a white sauce. The main course was a cochin (pig) and the chef served a centre cut piece that was juicy and tender along with an outside portion that had a crispy skin and a delicious layer of marbled meat underneath. Several different flavours of foam and garlic accompanied this dish. Finally a chocolate/hazelnut course was presented that was notable thanks to the beauty of the presentation-small daubs of each with a lemon sorbet and sprinkled with chocolate/sugar on the top.In addition to great food, the plates were diverse and really showed off the food. Everything was cooked to perfection.I sat upstairs and I could watch the team at work. Hardly a word was spoken but everything worked like a well oiled machine. I was eating alone so the spectacle in the kitchen only added to the pleasure of the meal.The co-owner/sommelier was super pleasant and helpful and gave me experiences with wine that were completely new (an unfiltered Sancerre that was affected with Botrytis but completely dry). In addition we discussed other restaurants worth visiting in Caen and he was remarkably candid and suggested one I did not know (L'Accolade) that is equally deserving to be in the same category as Initial.Overall this was a great meal and a very good price to quality ratio at 40 Euro for the 4 courses. Definitely worth experiencing this creative chef and outstanding team. I plan to do so again asap."

Le Sans Gene

Le Sans Gene

4 Rue Du Chemin Vert, 14000 Caen, France

Cafés • Français • Barbecue • Végétarien


"the restaurant is beautifully decorated and in summer I say that they also have a terrace. there is a set, all inclusive meal....with different trips depending on the day of the week and whether adults/children. including the meal; sangria on arrival, stir fried...Gemüse, meat and kartoffeln, cheese, dessert, wein, alcohol-free drinks, coffee and brot. other drinks are available and available separately. it is very much di. they choose the veg and choose an aroma oil so it is shed with the server. they have long holders on the table everyone is named as they know their own selection post cooking. there were many different marinaded meats and sausages, plus various veg to their 'skewer basket'. they were taken by a cook and cooked for them. I prefer salate and so the salate with the cheese and other veg available to use a cold salat entreé (who stir fries gurke? . there were two types of kartoffels a chipped sort that were cold and not crisp, and a layered sweet potato gratiné and various dressings. when the chef calls the name on the spits. the desserts were on a table and in a chilled cabinet....chocolate mousse, tiramisu, reispudding, tartes. the wee was drinkable and small carafe are delivered. when we first arrived, the restaurant was quite quiet and there were no waiting snakes so that we were able to make two trips to the bbq, but later it was very busy and asked for veg and meat. cooking also took a long time. a friend, very reasonable, emptied his basket and went to fill it immediately, so it would be ready when he was done. we all had at least 3 rides to the bbq, because the baskets are small and only hold about 3 small sausages or 4 5 pieces meat. I felt that our later spits were not completely cooked. the food was all good, the meat was tender and well aromatized texan, crimped, garlic etc. the sausages are different aromes and some very unusual. the aromas/season change regularly. there was a good atmosphere, the decor was modern, it was clean. was it worth money? I feel that 26€ on the high side, especially on a busy night, when they are quiet when they do not drink alcohol and in a city where there are many more restaurants in the environment. I feel that this is popular because it is new appealing. it is very suitable for meat lovers, but do not take their vegetarian friends!"