Akabeko, a highly successful franco-japanese fusion

Recently opened by chef Yasuo Nanaumi and his son, Akabeko is set to quickly generate buzz and become a key spot in Saint-Germain-des- Prés. In fact, it was one of our best dinners in recent months. With over 50 years of practice in notable Michelin-starred restaurants such as the Moulin de Mougins, Troisgros, Lucas Carton (8 ), or the famous restaurant Ao Izakaya (9th), this cook knows his craft and excels in the Franco- Japanese fusion genre. The place is very pleasant with its ground floor dining counter and, right at the back, facing the totally open kitchen, a staircase leading up to a charming room that blends the light oak of the furniture, the burgundy of the comfortable banquettes, and stone walls adorned with mirrors. At lunch- time, Akabeko offers a 3-dish omakase menu at €59 and in the evening a sump- tuous 7-dish tasting menu at €129 (or a 5-dish menu at €79). We recommend going for the food and wine pairing, as the combinations imagined by Ken Nanaumi are particularly successful. So, sit back and take your time to enjoy the succulent pan-fried foie gras on a bed of sushi-meshi rice with teriyaki sauce, beet tempura, marigold and pansy petals, the exquisite flame- grilled miso-marinated sea bream with wasabi and miso sauce, the veal medallion with morel sauce, buckwheat pasta and chicken-stuffed morel, or the exquisite yuzu and grapefruit-flavored cheesecake on a cinnamon crumble with white chocolate icing… We’re still licking our fingers! Food/wine pairings at €39 for lunch and €75 for dinner.

• 12:30pm to 1:45pm and 7pm to 9:45pm
• Closed Sunday and Monday
• Average price : €130.