Unlike hotels, restaurants fill the winding lanes of the old city and it shouldn't take long to come up with something if you wander the pedestrian streets in the centre. Nantes is big enough to have all sorts of ethnic alternatives as well, with Algerian, Italian, Chinese, Vietnamese and Indian places in addition to those listed here.Au Soleil Levant 12 rue de la Juiverie tel 02.40.35.68.65. One of several Asian options along a little pedestrian street, with seating indoors and out, this Japanese restaurant serves good-quality sushi, sashimi, maki rolls and noodles in all sorts of combinations, with full dinners €15–20, and lunch menus as cheap as €9. Closed Mon lunch. Chez L'Huître 5 rue des Petites-Écuries tel 02.51.82.02.02. Much as the name suggests, this lovely little restaurant specializes in Oysters, priced from €5–12 per half-dozen, but you can also get smoked fish, fish soup and other simple dishes. Open until late, closed Sun lunch. La Ciboulette 9 rue St-Pierre tel 02.40.47.88.71. Simple neighbourhood restaurant, tucked away on a side street very close to the cathedral, and serving imaginative dinner menus at €15 and €22, plus bargain lunch specials, at €8 for a four-course meal. Closed Sun. La Cigale 4 place Graslin tel 02.51.84.94.94. Famous late nineteenth-century brasserie, offering fine meals in opulent surroundings, with seating either at terrace tables or in a formal indoor dining room. Fish is a speciality, with seafood platters from €29 up to €80. The €15.20 and €23.80 menus are served until midnight. Le Minotaure 5 square Fleuriot-de-l'Angle (tel 02.40.20.35.20). The slogan "enter and you'll be astonished" may overstate things, but this place has something for everyone: all-you-can-eat moules frites for €10.85, steak for €12.50, a good fishy menu for €18.30, and plenty of lighter options. Open daily from noon until late, with outdoor seating on the square.
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