In some Parisian restaurants, you won’t waste time weighing up three starters against four mains... there simply is no menu to pick from! The chef sets the pace, the number of courses, and sometimes even the entire menu. In the end, a tasting menu conceived as a journey, where dishes arrive one after another and diners don’t always know what’s coming next.
We often hear carte blanche, menu surprise or even dégustation à l’aveugle. Of course, the expression doesn’t mean you eat without knowing what’s in your plate! Dishes are presented at service, and the teams typically outline the ingredients, cooking methods and sauces, as is customary. The element of surprise is really manufactured upstream, in the absence of a very detailed menu and in the trust placed in the kitchen.
This format also lets chefs craft a meal with a genuine progression. A bite whets the appetite, a seafood item gives way to a heartier dish, a vegetarian plate can break the rhythm before the meat, then desserts take over. Depending on the Houses, the experience can run to 5, 7, 9 courses or more, with sometimes several lengths of the menu on offer, and allergies, intolerances and dietary restrictions are usually checked before the meal in order to tailor this carte blanche.
The appeal lies precisely in this surrender of control. You come to let yourself be guided, to discover a product you might not have ordered on impulse and to follow the thread imagined by the cheffe. From the gastronomique table that is so codified to the author’s more relaxed bistrot vibe, sometimes with a accord mets et vins to accompany the whole, you’ll be served if you enjoy surprises!
Double Impact restaurant: the gastronomic gem of Paris's 9th arrondissement that you didn’t see coming
At the foot of Montmartre, in Paris’s 9th arrondissement, the newly opened Double Impact presents a tasting menu curated by chef Etienne Dupuy and Mickael Robinault. A living, seasonal kitchen sourced through short supply chains. We tried it and here’s everything about this charming discovery. [Read more]
Alliance, a two-Michelin-starred restaurant in Paris, offers a heartfelt and sincere gourmet experience
Recently awarded a second Michelin star, Alliance has firmly established itself as one of Paris’s most poetic dining experiences. Behind this recognition lies a story of loyalty, precision, and emotion, led by a duo whose close collaboration can be felt in every meticulous detail. [Read more]
Vivide, the entirely plant-based fine dining restaurant brought to you by the creators of Pristine
Michelle Primc and Jérémy Grosdidier unveil their second venture, Vivide, in the Pigalle neighborhood. Once again, vegetables take center stage with elegance, but this time in a more sophisticated, gourmet style than their previous spot, Pristine. [Read more]
Restaurant Mano: refined cuisine and friendly atmosphere in Boulogne-Billancourt (92)
Restaurant Mano is one of the best places to visit in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine (92). On the menu: authentic cuisine, characterful recipes, a friendly atmosphere and even an evening tasting menu. Let's discover chef Maximilien Kuzniar's first restaurant together. [Read more]
Restaurant Alan Geaam, the chef's star-studded setting for gourmet cuisine with a soft Lebanese accent
In the heart of a hushed setting a stone's throw from Place de l'Etoile, chef Alan Geaam unveils a gourmet cuisine - crowned with a star - that honors his Lebanese roots while paying tribute to the savoir-faire of French haute gastronomy. [Read more]
Villa9Trois, chef Sylvain Grosjean's star-studded getaway in Montreuil
Succession is more than assured at the now Michelin-starred Villa9Trois in Montreuil. Following the departure of Camille Saint-M'Leux, another young chef, Sylvain Grosjean, has taken over the reins with class and mastery. [Read more]
Hakuba, the Michelin-starred Japanese restaurant at Cheval Blanc Paris
Discover Hakuba, the Japanese restaurant nestled in the heart of the prestigious Cheval Blanc Paris. The restaurant offers a unique immersion in the art of Japanese gastronomy, with Omakase menus carefully orchestrated by sushi master Takuya Watanabe, in collaboration with sauce master Arnaud Donckele and pastry chef Maxime Frédéric. A delicate experience that echoes Japanese tradition and the quest for authenticity. [Read more]
Amâlia, two Italian chefs at the helm of a fabulous Michelin-starred restaurant
Italian chefs Cécilia Spurio and Eugenio Anfuso have opened Amâlia, a gourmet restaurant that hits the spot. One of our favorites of the year. [Read more]
Pages, the delicate Michelin-starred address, bathed in gourmet Japanese touches
Gracefully blending French products and Japanese techniques, the Pages Michelin-starred restaurant hits the nail on the head, with a delicate touch. [Read more]
Ducasse Baccarat, gourmet dining in the temple of crystal in Paris
In the heart of Paris's 16th arrondissement, Maison Baccarat enters a new era with the opening of the Alain Ducasse Baccarat restaurant, a table combining Michelin-starred cuisine and contemporary art under the glow of crystal. [Read more]
Chakaiseki Akiyoshi, the first tea ceremony restaurant gets its first Michelin star
Chakaiseki Akiyoshi is the name of the world's first tea ceremony restaurant outside Japan. In the 15th arrondissement of Paris, you can discover this Japanese gastronomic establishment, which has just been awarded its first Michelin star. [Read more]
Datil, chef Manon Fleury’s plant-based gastronomic dining experience
Chef Manon Fleury finally takes the plunge and opens her first restaurant in Paris, Datil. With the entire foodosphere eagerly awaiting her arrival, she succeeds with flying colors, unveiling a cuisine imbued with naturalness, seasonality and humanity, with great delicacy. [Read more]
Accents Table Bourse, Ayumi Sugiyama's delicate starred restaurant
Delicacy, refinement and elegance are all terms that describe Accents Table Bourse, the first restaurant of Japanese pastry chef Ayumi Sugiyama, just a stone's throw from the Palais Brongniart, which has been awarded a Michelin star. [Read more]
The Gabriel, the stunning three-star restaurant led by chef Jérôme Banctel at La Réserve Hotel & Spa
Le Gabriel, the three-Michelin-starred restaurant led by Chef Jérôme Banctel at the five-star La Réserve Hotel & Spa, offers a culinary voyage that takes diners across seas and oceans. [Read more]
See where all these restaurants are located by clicking the map at the bottom of the article
