Zoutra, the Levantine restaurant, wine bar, and eatery that delights Montmartre

Let us take you on a journey to discover Zoutra, the new Levantine bar and restaurant in Paris's 18th arrondissement thatis definitely worth a visit. Open since October 2025 at 6 rue Aristide Bruant on the Montmartre side, this spot is the little sisterof Adraba, the famous "Festin Levantin" that had already won us over.

Behind this project are Eden, Elior, David, and Shlomit, four friends from the ARBA Hospitality Group who met at Balagan. Their philosophy? To create places where you can relax, have fun, and explore the flavors of the Levant.

As soon as you walk through the door at Zoutra, you can feel the friendly atmosphere. Here, they roll out the red carpet and welcome you like friends, with warm greetings that immediately put you at ease. The service is attentive and clearly one of this restaurant's strengths. The waiter takes the time to tell you about the history and preparation of the different dishes on the menu, with a genuine passion that is contagious. You can tell that he knows his stuff and wants to introduce you to these often overlooked Levantine flavors. It's this attention to detail that makes all the difference and transforms dinner into a real experience.

Zoutra means "small" in Aramaic, which perfectly sums up the spirit of the place. With only 35 covers, it's intimate, warm, and above all, welcoming. The decor by Mélanie Deliry is worth a closer look: she plays with raw materials such as concrete, wood, antique mirrors, and aerial suspensions that seem to float above the tables. The smoky green that adorns the walls embraces the natural light, creating a nomadic atmosphere reminiscent of travels through the Middle East. It's both raw and elegant, unfussy but full of character. The open kitchen and central bar allow you to watch the teams at work, adding to the charm of the place. It feels more like meeting up with friends than going to a restaurant, which is exactly what we're looking for.

In the kitchen, Elior Benaroche, former chef at Balagan and current chef at Adraba (just across the street), has a blast with David Weiss, who manages the dining room and bar. Together, they have concocted a menu that takes you on a journey. Here, there are no classic tapas, but rather creations to share, designed for nibbling, sipping, and having a good time. The chef draws on his gourmet memories and brings in local ingredients, resulting in surprising and spontaneous dishes that explode in your mouth.

The menu at Zoutra restaurant:

We began our exploration with the Jerusalem Begalé, and already knew we were going to have a wonderful evening. This super soft bagel is topped with sesame seeds and drizzled with sammna butter, a homemade Yemeni butter flavored with fenugreek, served with a dollop of Lebanese labneh, Tunisian olive oil from Parcel 26, and zaatar from Jerusalem. It's rich, it's generous, it's a wonderful appetizer.

We also loved the Jilda, small brochettes that can be eaten in one bite. The matured duck breast, prepared like charcuterie with Iraqi spices and mixed with marinated shifka peppers, awakens the taste buds. It's a wonderful combination that works perfectly.

Next, we smoothly moved on to the Sashimi T.G (for "taim gadol," meaning "great taste" in Hebrew). Raw matured bluefin tuna accompanied by fresh figs, smoked eggplant labneh, a salsa of celery marinated in amba (an Iraqi spice reminiscent of curry) and chive oil. We love the balance of the dish—it's fresh, powerful, and original.

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The Maïs quoi ?! dish is a must-try. Imagine matured yellowtail served with charcoal-grilled corn, bone marrow, fresh coriander, and harissa aioli. It's crunchy and melt-in-the-mouth, it's generous, we love it.

We also fell in love with the Lèche-moi, a name that says it all. This beef tongue is marinated for four days in a spicy brine, cooked for eight hours, then vacuum-packed with sammna for 24 hours before being seared over charcoal. Served with beets, horseradish, a herb salad, and mustard aioli, it's melt-in-the-mouth, deeply flavorful, and the kind of dish that shows that here, they take their ingredients seriously. If beef tongue puts you off, you might just change your mind.

We fell in love with the Arayes Lubnani, crispy-melting rolled lamb patties. They are served with creamy garlic yogurt, candied lemon for a touch of tartness, green onion, a spicy pepper salsa that awakens the palate, and sumac to add flavor. They are full of character and leave you wanting more. However, you do have to like lamb.

To finish on a high note, we were tempted by the Lay-Moon (lemon in Arabic), a deconstructed lemon tart with a waffle tuile biscuit, butter crumble, lemon cream, and raspberries. It's tangy and light—in short, the perfect end to such a flavorful meal.

And of course, let's not forget the wine list. David Weiss has done a fantastic job of unearthing gems from the Levant that can't be found anywhere else in Paris. From Lebanon to Armenia, Israel to Morocco and Greece, we discover winemakers who work the vines with passion. The Attention Sparkling (Roditis) from Greece with its salty expressiveness, the fresh Chardonnay de Moshava 2021 from Israel, or the macerated Obeideh from SEPT in Lebanon, vinified using skin contact, is a selection of natural wines and biodynamic vintages that really take you on a journey. And the added bonus: all the wines on the list are available to take away. So you can prolong the experience at home or treat your loved ones to a wonderful discovery.

We love the relaxed atmosphere at Zoutra, a place where you can explore without worrying about a thing. The dishes are wonderful discoveries made with ingredients brought back from the country, the wine selection is remarkable, and the welcome is so warm that you feel like you're visiting friends. If you're looking for a great place in Montmartre to treat yourself and discover flavors that are out of the ordinary, consider Zoutra.

This restaurant is for curious diners who want to make wonderful culinary discoveries off the beaten track. And if you like good wine, even better. It's ideal for groups of friends who want to have a good time sharing dishes or even as a couple in the back like us, in complete discretion by candlelight.

The restaurant is only open in the evenings from Tuesday to Saturday, from 6 p.m. to midnight, at 6 Rue Aristide Bruant in the 18th arrondissement, between Sacré-Cœur and the Moulin Rouge. Remember to book, as it fills up quickly. 

Alcohol abuse is dangerous for your health, please drink responsibly.

This test was conducted as part of a professional invitation. If your experience differs from ours, please let us know.