L'Essentiel

Rating: 14.5
Author: Gault&Millau

29/31 rue Mirabeau, 14800 Deauville, France

14.5/20
Chef's Restaurant

BOOK

4 PHOTOS

Chef: Charles et Mi-Ra Thuillant
Cooking: Gastronomic | Signature cuisine
Services: Access for people with disabilities | Children's Menu | Cooking lessons | Pets allowed | Takeaway
Style: Romantic | With family

Budget (€)

Indicative price per person (excl. drinks)

47 to 135

Gault&Millau's review 2026

Nothing essential, yet absolutely essential—Charles Thuillant and Mi-Ra Kim’s restaurant has established itself over the years as a reassuring fixture on the Deauville scene. Chic and unassuming, tucked away on a small street just a stone’s throw from the main square, the restaurant remains as popular as ever, attracting both new and returning guests who are delighted to enjoy its elegant setting, where diners gather among people of good taste. The service, impeccably dressed and conducted with professionalism, delivers a beautifully balanced fusion of two culinary cultures, best experienced through the €98 menu. On that particular day, among other dishes, the zucchini blossoms stuffed with poultry, shiitake mushrooms, a beldi lemon-sesame emulsion; gomiti pasta with shellfish and chorizo, squid ink, and Thai herbs; Wagyu beef with seasonal vegetables, smoked jus, and samsang; and a stunning dessert featuring white chocolate and miso with corn ice cream. A well-stocked wine cellar with excellent recommendations, including some unique finds such as a Japanese white wine aged in peated whiskey barrels. Warm welcome.