Lazare

We were at the Lazare for its grand opening, and we weren’t the only ones! All of the big names in food journalism were there, for the owner and founder of the restaurant is none other than Éric Frechon, a talented chef who has earned the coveted Meilleur Ouvrier de France title and three Michelin stars. We discovered him in his bistro in the Buttes Chaumont district as soon as he branched out on his own, before being called by Le Bristol with great success. But Éric Frechon didn’t want to make haute cuisine his playing field. So he asked Karine Lewkowicz to create an environment suited to all times of day. She rose to the challenge beautifully, creating a dining room with a dominant wood theme, a large, welcoming bar at the entrance, shelves stocked with crockery along the walls, a lounge area to relax in deep black leather couches, and even a shop corner where you can buy Éric Frechon products or selections. Our test was conclusive, starting with a remarkable seafood platter “not like the others” that featured a variety of oysters, winkles, razor clams and crabs. Truly stellar. Our neighbor who had chosen a more democratic starter of ratte potatoes in vinaigrette with Guémené andouille seemed to be enjoying himself as much as we were. The beef tartar served with shoestring fries and arugula (€21), like the roasted codfish with sauce vierge and a salad of seared New Zealand spinach, lived up to their expectations and paved the way for the succulent mini rum babas with fresh fruit and torn mint leaves. A weekday prix-fixe menu (€19) featuring specials like pike quenelles on Monday, roasted calf liver with aged vinegar on Tuesday and cod brandade au gratin on Friday, completes the picture. The next place to be for Parisians !

From 7.30am to midnight
Open daily • Valet parking
Average price: €40