I took my family here last year during my semester abroad (I'm American) in Nantes. I was told by…read moreone of my French friends not to miss this place. The building itself is remarkable because the famous writer Jules Verne was born here. The ambiance is classy, and the place was pretty empty when we went, which I was surprised by. The wait staff was very knowledgeable and accommodating of my father's dietary restrictions (no dairy, meat, gluten etc...). Normally, dining out with such food restrictions in France is a nightmare. At several other restaurants we went to in France, the staff acted offended when asked to prepare a meal for my father, but not here! They made him a nice salad and vegetable dish, which he enjoyed.
My mom, sister, and I were able to sample some classic French dishes here. Our meal was fantastic. I tried frog's legs (les cuisses de grenouilles provençales) and escargots for the first time. Both dishes were excellent. The frog's legs were lightly fried--perfectly crispy, and topped with seasoned chopped tomatoes. The escargots were well cooked, served with oyster mushrooms (pleurottes) and a delicious sauce. We enjoyed pork cheek (la cocotte de joues de porc au sirop d'érable) and two fish dishes for our main course. The wine we had (Domaine Martin Côtes du Rhône Villages, Plan de Dieu, 2013) was also excellent. All-in-all, this was a wonderful, authentic French meal. For anyone seeking a nice dining experience that's not too expensive in Nantes, definitely come to Le Nouveau Monde!
