Ensemble: the gourmet tapas restaurant in Western Paris

A cuisine of sharing and quality with generous and gourmet tapas cooked with fresh and seasonal products: this is what Mathieu Darmont and Aude Bourguignon offer you through their second Parisian address, simply named Ensemble.

If you're tired of traditional charcuterie and cheese boards or classic tapas with often too small quantities then don't waste another second and run to discover the restaurant Ensemble.

Nestled since September 2018 in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, a stone's throw from the very chic Saint James, Ensemble is one of our latest favorites.

Behind this address, we find Aude Bourguignon and Mathieu Darmont, already behind the restaurant Tous, located on Rue Lamartine, in the 9th. For their second Parisian baby, the two associates bet on a cuisine of sharing and quality, made up of generous and creative gourmet tapas concocted by the Chef Margaux Vieljeux.

As for the decor, we love theindustrial yetcozy spirit created by architect Nathan Brami, with notably this imposing bar, this ceiling covered with mirrors giving even more depth to the room or these light bulbs.

But let's get back to the tasting, with a menu offering about twenty tapas, savory and sweet, between land and sea, for prices ranging from 9 € to 15 €. For a maximum of sharing between the guests, all the plates are served at the same time, and with a smile as a bonus.

The fish lovers will turn to the very requested salmon tartar with herbs and ginger pickles, or the grilled octopus with parsley.

We were really won over by the succulent roasted prawns, accompanied by a citrus salad and spinach shoots.

Roasted prawns, citrus salad and spinach shoots

Carnivores won't be able to resist the Black Angus beef tataki with peanuts and chimichurri sauce, or the marrow bones on grilled toast topped with aged mimolette, or the incredible pot-au-feu cromesquis with tartar sauce.

For our part, we fell in love with the tender and melting quail fillets, which were wonderfully and subtly combined with a roasted pear and a balsamic sauce.

Quail fillets, roasted pear and balsamic sauce

But vegetarians need not worry, the Ensemble restaurant has also thought of them by offering four different tapas, including the melting and creamy - as we like it - Pugliese Burratina with its white truffle oil from Alba, but also red endives accompanied by a gorgonzola and fried onion mousse or fried artichokes with a gravelax sauce

We especially like the chestnut risotto, enhanced by walnuts and thinly sliced Parmesan cheese!

Risotto with chestnuts, walnuts and parmesan

If you still have a little room left, then you have the choice between cheese such as a farmhouse gouda with truffles or three sweet tapas including the chocolate fondant with a praline and feuillantine chantilly or the warm and succulent apple tart, accompanied by a smooth calvados cream and roasted hazelnuts for the crunchy side. A real delight to end this meal on a more than positive note.

Thin apple pie, Calvados cream and roasted hazelnuts

And to top it all off, Ensemble also offers a nice selection of wines to accompany all these tapas.

The little extra? The excellent soundtrack which plays Regina Spektor as well as Ásgeir.

Note that the restaurant changes every week three to four of its tapas, according to the market and the season. An opportunity to come back to Ensemble even more often to taste and discover these gourmet tapas which allow the 16th district to compete with other districts of the capital renowned for their very good gourmet addresses.

Please note that it's been over 4 years since our last visit, so the place and experience may have changed.

Ensemble: the gourmet tapas restaurant in Western Paris

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