I had been to the sister (?) restaurant, Dans les Landes, years ago, and loved it, so I was really looking forward to this lunch. I had especially fond memories of the chipirons, baby squid. They were on the menu, but there was nothing baby about them. They were still nicely cooked, but not as succulent and tender as I remembered. And even though espelette is mild, there was absolutely no hint of it whatsoever.
The menu is exactly the same as the website so I didn’t bother taking a picture. We also shared the tortilla. This was a nice rendition, unique, almost stuffed like a crèpe. Very good.
The grilled octopus was overcooked and tough. My husband persevered, but I could barely get through one piece. I did mention this to the server when he asked for feedback.
And last but not least, the duck hearts. Oh my. These were so delicious - cooked perfectly, tender, with a light sauce. I was in offal heaven.
If someone asked me to go back, I would get the duck hearts and a glass of wine. With the bread, that would be a very substantial snack, and I would be happy, and then be on my way. Speaking of, they recommend 2 plates per person. That might be fine at dinner, but it was way too much food at lunch. We left behind quite a bit (not the duck hearts!) and we rarely do that.
Also, when it came time to pay, the lowest suggested tip was 15%! 15, 18 & 20 - white print on black. “No tip” was gray on black, iirc. I was stunned, and it must have showed on my face because the waiter looked a little sheepish, which made for some very awkward moments.
