The Coups de pouce
Like every year (or almost, depending on the seasons), you will find our Coups de pouce (“helping hand”) section. For the most part, it showcases newly opened restaurants that the jury wished to help out, or simply newcomers to the guide that we thoroughly enjoyed discovering. Whatever the case, these restaurants are truly in tune with the spirit of Les Tables de Nantes.
They are a reflection of our jury’s diversity and selection process. Although these establishments are very different, they all keep us anchored to our fundamentals: the quality of ingredients and their transformation through a chef’s talent, a connection to our region and its soil – especially in the case of wines – while nevertheless remaining open to other cuisines, and the “soul” of restaurant-owners, who did not choose this difficult profession by accident, but in order to provide their guests with the most pleasant dining experience.
But do not go looking for absolute perfection! Approach each restaurant as we did: curious and laid-back. This should in no way prevent you from paying attention to the quality of the cuisine, the service, and (sometimes) the setting, all of which work together towards creating a truly enjoyable moment.
The Coups de pouce 2026/27
Broussaille
Behind the large floor-to-ceiling windows of their light-filled restaurant, Flore Bastard and Hugo Perrault have been delighting the Parc des Chantiers since 2023 with their bistronomic, locally sourced cuisine, combined with a particularly warm and polished sense of service and hospitality. Without any pretension, but with passion and dedication, the duo creates a vibrant cuisine that is firmly in keeping with the times and the local terroir, and always perfectly seasoned and flavoured. Without a doubt, this restaurant with its mastery of culinary balance and genuine hospitality, is one to keep a close eye on!
Le Clémence
La Divatte is home to this Loire Valley institution, which has just recently been given a new lease of life! So who’s behind this new dynamic? Chef and owner Philippe Maizières (whose CV includes the Bistrot de la Comédie and several multi-starred restaurants in Paris and London) brilliantly reinterprets traditional cuisine from the banks of the Loire, incorporating contemporary touches and carefully sourced local produce. Proof, if any were needed, that this symbol of its region is more than ever an essential feature of a well and truly vibrant local heritage.
Thelma
Following on from his gourmet restaurant Roza, just a stone’s throw away, Jean-François and Margaux Pantaleon had been exploring the bistro genre since 2024 with Thelma, which effortlessly embodies the essence of a typical chic neighbourhood bistro. Behind the stove, chef Mehdi Papin (formerly of Sain) takes the lead, delighting diners with dishes that are perfectly in keeping with the venue’s friendly, characterful atmosphere. What can you expect from this close collaboration? Some all-time bistro classics with meat galore (though the vegetable and seafood dishes are just as delicious), but always with those contemporary twists that make all the difference. All this is elegantly complemented by the expert wine advice of Sylvain Bruneau, who is brilliant at unearthing some absolute gems of wines.
