Carleton-sur-Mer has long cultivated a culture of good food and comfortable lodging. People come from far and wide to enjoy this beautiful setting in the Gaspésie’s Baie-des-Chaleurs, but most of all for the dining scene, which has become especially appealing.
Among the offerings is Le Marin d’eau douce on rue du Quai, owned by the Benhamidou family, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2024. To mark the occasion, the restaurant offered a series of dinner-shows for guests all summer long.
Since 1999, they’ve served menus inspired by Gaspésie terroir, French and Moroccan cuisine. Chef-owner Mohamed Benhamidou, long separated from his father Mustapha, but finally reunited with him in Carleton-sur-Mer, took over in 2023 and shares his love for Gaspésie and Québec terroir cuisine, but always with a pinch of Moroccan inspiration.
In the 1990s, after working in major Québec establishments, Chef Mustapha Ben Hamidou decided to settle his small family in Carleton, in the baie des Chaleurs. In 1999, Mustapha, a Moroccan immigrant, bought café l’Indépendant and transformed it into Le Marin d’eau douce, now a must-visit in Gaspésian gastronomy. Today, his son Mohamed, his wife Iman, his daughters Fatima, Assia and Aicha, and a fine, passionate team are there to offer the best of terroir cuisine.
Le Marin d’eau douce occupies a house built in 1820 by Narciss Leblanc, known as "Buck Wheat". He was a blacksmith with a shop facing the sea. A few other owners followed. In 1980, Pierre Landry bought the property and turned it into a café restaurant, "Le Café l’Indépendant". Ten years later, in 1990, three local friends bought it and kept it as a café restaurant.
Then, in 1999, Mustapha Benhamidou acquired the building just steps from a beach on the Baie des Chaleurs, offering a stunning view that aptly complements chef Mohamed's refined, sunny cuisine. Mohamed has been in the kitchen since 2023, after several years as maître d'hôtel and general manager. Today, they still strive to make it a must-visit for lovers of fish and seafood, as well as meat and game. It's a warm, friendly place. Not to mention a wine list worthy of the finest cellars.
Among the specialties on the menu, Mohamed serves the delicious products of his adopted homeland, all with a touch of his Moroccan roots: grilled octopus with fennel and lime; scallops from the Îles with saffron lentils; lamb shank with Eastern spices.
Le Marin d’eau douce received a certificate of excellence in 2005 from the Guide Debeur, an annual gourmet magazine. The restaurant is among the 500 best restaurants in Québec, selected from approximately 15,000 establishments. This distinction was awarded in recognition of the quality of its products and service.
Mustapha Benhamidou was no newcomer to the culinary world when he bought his own restaurant. He had already spent 29 years in professional kitchens across Morocco, Europe, Québec, and Canada. His son Mohammed has since taken over with honour and confidence, knowing that the institution still has its place in the Gaspésie scene.
The chef-owner notes that the restaurant is open year-round, even during the end-of-year holidays. The team takes a well-deserved break in January. He also mentions that it's always best to reserve to ensure a warm welcome.
Le Marin d’eau douce
marindeaudouce.com
215, rue du Quai
Carleton-sur-Mer, QC G0C 1J0
418-364-7602