Tuesday, May 26, 2026

Lunch at La Couronne, Rouen

 I suggested to Carolyn  back in March

That we reserve for lunch at LA COURONNE 👑 for Saturday.
We planned to attend Urban Sketcher ROUEN weekend meetup. 

And I have passed La Couronne 

Whenever I visited ROUEN

France’s 🇫🇷 first restaurant founded in 1345.

We booked for noon/midi when La Couronne opens. It’s more relaxed to go early in my opinion. We were there for 2 hours.

La Couronne is where JULIA CHILD had her world-shaking epiphany
Wasn’t it nice of La Couronne to seat us under Julia’s picture? Was this her table? !

A Dover Sole led Julia to discover the mysteries of French cuisine. Bonnie, who loves ❤️ Sole à la Meunière, said “I MUST get Julia’s Sole.”

But we were offered the ‘Impressionnistes’ menu (45€) 
Not the Julia special menu 🤷‍♀️on Saturday.

I had oysters 🦪 as usual.

Carolyn was more adventurous…she loved ❤️ the peas 🫛 

For my main, I went off the deep end with Filets de Caille(pigeon) poêlés au cidre with (mostly) bread pudding/pain perdu aux raisons.

Carolyn, the smart cookie 🍪 got an entire side of beef 🐄, with potate gratinée - COTE DE BŒUF FRANÇAIS GRILLÉE AU POIVRE.

For dessert 🍮 I went all out 

With the Soufflé Normand with Grand Marnier.

And Carolyn got a tarte au pomme 🍎 

Service was gracious and impeccable 👌 

The decor is lovely ☺️ 

The walls upstairs and down are covered with celebrity photos 📸
 
I tried to shoot the Audrey Hepburn poster in the Ladies..but the reflections were de trop/too much.

What a lovely atmosphere.  A délicieux and affordable (we don’t drink 🍷) deluxe lunch in Rouen.
Will you visit La Couronne?
31, Place du Vieux Marché, Rouen.



16 comments:

  1. Anonymous9:12 AM

    Thank you Carol!! Omg I have to go there. In Saltzburg we ate at a restaurant in a building where Charlemagne had supposedly eaten. But I suspect that it had had so many renovations in the meantime that it wasn’t the same building at all. 🤣

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  2. Dee Ann9:21 AM

    I had hoped you would dine there and you did!

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    1. Anonymous10:01 AM

      I’m sure you added it to your list DeeAnn ❤️

      Delete
  3. Anonymous9:30 AM

    Thank you for taking us along. Trying not to drool on my phone 😊.

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    1. Anonymous9:59 AM

      It’s a very nice experience, when an auspicious restaurant lives up to it’s reputation 👌

      Delete
  4. Bonnie L9:43 AM

    How exciting, La Couronne! Julia & hubbie Paul arrived in La Havre in November 1948. Their Buick station wagon was offloaded from the ship and off they went to Rouen for lunch. They found La Couronne in the Michelin Guide! They did indeed have sole meunière, and started with oysters just like you! The rest is history as they say…that sole changed her life.

    Your watercolors of Rouen are delightful! ❤️ So glad you had a bon week-end sketching with Caroline!

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    1. Anonymous9:58 AM

      Thank you BONNIE ❤️

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  5. Anonymous10:19 AM

    Oh we absolutely DID go to La Couronne a year ago! Sat outside as it was such a lovely day and had a wonderful meal. Our waiter was delightful and we enjoyed people- watching nearby. How terrific that the food still lives up to expectations!

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    1. Anonymous11:15 AM

      Isn’t that nice to hear! Sometimes they renown places can be disappointing, but definitely not LA COURONNE 👍

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    2. Anonymous11:16 AM

      Also probably helps that it is not too big.

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  6. Anonymous10:54 AM

    What a wonderful post Carol. The food looks divine and that souffle is calling my name. Love Julia Child so that photo of you sitting under her photo and probably at her table was such a treat. You look wonderful by the way and your watercolor of the souffle is lovely. I would love to eat at La Couronne . -Suzanne P.

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    1. Anonymous11:17 AM

      Yes, what a treat. I used to shoot and sketch Julia often at the James Beard Foundation, so very nice to again be in her company.

      Delete
  7. Anonymous11:45 AM

    This place feels incredibly warm and welcoming.

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  8. Sukicart12:09 PM

    Love your watercolors.

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  9. Anonymous12:53 PM

    My guide pointed out that restaurant - apparently it was Julia Child’s favorite French resto.

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  10. Anonymous1:37 PM

    Omg.........oui oui, J'y vais ......! A must. Lovely post, comme toujours! Merci! Patricia, Minneapolis

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