A brief history of Paris's great restaurants: Lucas Carton, imperial Paris at the Madeleine

Facing theMadeleine church, in Paris's chic 8ᵉ arrondissement, Lucas Carton has embodied French excellence for nearly two centuries. This exceptional restaurant, renowned for its Art Nouveau decor and its roots in the history of haute gastronomy, crosses the eras with elegance and renewal.

Lucas Carton is the story of a place where every service is part of a long line of high standards and passion. A precious address faithful to the spirit of great French cuisine. A look back at the history of an emblematic Parisian restaurant.

An address born under the Second Empire

The story of Lucas Carton began in 1839, when the architect Charpentier built the building that houses it. The restaurant was first christened La Taverne de France in 1860 by Monsieur Augis, and quickly became a favorite haunt of the imperial Tout-Paris under Napoleon III. In 1880, his successor, Monsieur Scaliet, gave it a new name: Lucas, while entrusting the interior decoration to a great name in Art Nouveau: Louis Majorelle.

Majorelle's carved woodwork, in maple, sycamore and Ceylon lemon, took four years to complete and became one of the restaurant's masterpieces. They are now listed as historic monuments, adding major heritage value to the address.

Carton, Senderens and the great hours of French cuisine

In 1924, a certain Francis Carton bought the establishment and added his name to it, giving birth to Lucas Carton as we still know it today. Between the wars, the restaurant continued to attract Parisian high society and became a landmark of French haute cuisine. But it was in the 1980s that the restaurant reached a new zenith, with the arrival of chef Alain Senderens, a key figure in the Nouvelle Cuisine movement.

From 1985 onwards, Senderens directed Lucas Carton and transformed the menu with a bold vision: lighter dishes, new combinations and greater attention to the product. In particular, he invented a food and wine pairing that has become a cult, and worked with finesse on sauces, spices and cooking. The restaurant became one of the bastions of French haute gastronomie, until Senderens stepped down in 2013, the year he made way for a new generation of chefs.

A heritage preserved and reinvented for the 21ᵉ century

Today, Lucas Carton continues to write its history in the 21ᵉ century, driven by a chef in search of harmony between nature, terroir and culinary finesse. The restaurant showcases seasonal cuisine, centered on respect for the product, in a setting that is unique in the world. The main dining room, dominated by Majorelle's Art Nouveau woodwork, remains a visual masterpiece; the private lounges, including Le Petit Lucas, offer a more intimate experience, always in keeping with French refinement.

A favorite of generations of celebrities, politicians, designers and anonymous gourmets, Lucas Carton has never ceased to represent the discreet, demanding luxury of Parisian gastronomy.

Our review of Lucas Carton:

A 39 euro menu on the terrace of the Lucas Carton bistro, a historic restaurant in La Madeleine
Opposite the Madeleine, chef Hugo Bourny offers a refined menu at 39 euros, combining French tradition, Art Nouveau elegance and magnified everyday products, on the terrace of the bistro in the heart of Michelin-starred Lucas Carton. [Read more]