Moment

In Oléron, everyone is getting swept up in the Moment, the neighborhood restaurant run by Adèle Poupin! Back home in her childhood village after a few stints in Brussels (Bouchéry, Boulengier), the young chef set her sights on a vibrant little spot with playful ‘80s vibes (sky-blue walls, a white-tiled bar, opaline pendant lights, a tiny terrace) where she feeds locals, traveling food lovers and in-the-know vacationers alike – kids and all. On the menu: delightful, market-driven dishes that read like a travel diary with deep Oléron roots. Think crispy arancini stuffed with mushrooms grown in the nearby citadel; roasted beets dressed in chimichurri over a bed of labneh with preserved lemon; fried octopus surfing a wave of apricot mayo; and fish balls made with the catch of the day (hake, the day we went), topped with a seriously addictive local seaweed ketchup. And to wrap things up? We had some irresistible chocolate ganache with buckwheat and fleur de sel. // Lou Telline

FEELING THIRSTY? Local beverages, of course: organic wine from Le Vignoble Favre (€5 a glass), craft Île & Ekke beer that’s made in Oléron (€6.50 for 330 ml), Charentino tonic made with Charente-made vermouth (€9) and homemade soft drinks – including ginger beer infused with seaweed and thyme or a naturally fermented sparkling fruit soda (€5 for 250 ml of each).
PRICE: : Shared plates €5-14, kids’ menu €10.

The kids’ menu features a dish inspired by the menu of the day, a scoop of ice cream and a glass of grenadine water. There’s also a low table with child-sized chairs, games and coloring books on hand, plus a high chair and a changing table for babies… Overall, it’s a very kid-friendly spot! Big and little kids alike are welcome here, so that the taste of their times is as enjoyable as ours.