L'Alcalde, l'écailler, Restaurant in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, France
L'Alcalde, l'écailler is a seafood restaurant in the town of Saint-Jean-de-Luz, in the French Basque Country, specializing in oysters, shellfish, and simply grilled fish. The interior is modest, with wooden tables set close together and a small display case near the entrance showing the day's fresh catch.
Saint-Jean-de-Luz has been a fishing town for centuries, and its port has long supplied the local tables with fresh catches. This restaurant became part of the town's food scene in the early 1980s and has kept its focus on shellfish and grilled fish ever since.
L'Alcalde, l'écailler reflects a way of eating that runs deep in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, where shellfish and fresh fish are part of everyday life. The display of oysters and clams near the entrance gives visitors an immediate sense of how seriously the region takes its seafood.
The restaurant is small and tends to fill up in the evening, so arriving early or booking ahead is a good idea. At lunchtime the pace is faster and the daily specials are easy to spot as you walk in.
The drinks list features Txakoli, a lightly sparkling white wine from the Basque region that is traditionally poured from a height to aerate it. This small gesture at the table is part of local drinking custom and often catches first-time visitors by surprise.
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