Le Petit Marin (Étaples-sur-Mer)

Le Petit Marin is a casual seafood restaurant at 20 Quai de la Canche in Étaples-sur-Mer, in the Pas-de-Calais department of the Hauts-de-France region of northern France. Étaples is an artisan fishing village on the Canche estuary, a short distance from Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, and the quay is where the fishing boats land their catch. The restaurant is described as serving fresh-off-the-boat seafood.

The menu focuses on the Channel's produce. The moules de bouchot à la crème, small cultivated mussels in a cream sauce, are a signature, and the friture de la Manche, a plate of small fried fish from the Channel, is the casual, traditional order. The tarte aux pommes caramélisées, a caramelised apple tart, finishes the meal in the Normandy-influenced style of the coast. Mains cost roughly €16 to €28, a moderate price.

The atmosphere is informal and maritime, with moderate noise and no dress code. Diners can watch the working quay, and the mood is relaxed and family-friendly. The drinks list centres on white wine and regional beer, which pair naturally with the seafood.

Service is Wednesday to Monday, with lunch from 12:00 to 14:30 and dinner from 19:00 to 21:00. The restaurant is closed on Tuesday. Reservations are recommended in summer, when visitors from Le Touquet and the Opal Coast fill the quayside restaurants. Outside the main season the restaurant is quieter and walk-ins are easy. The fish market and the quay are worth a visit before lunch, and the freshest catch is generally available at midday.