Published on October 23, 2023, at 12:43 pm, Six Gourmet Food Destinations in Paris’ 11th Arrondissement.
Braised Sucrine Lettuce Covered in Pistachio Praline, Butter Shawarma Shrimp, Breaded and Glazed Quail: Among the array of great food destinations in the 11th arrondissement, a constantly bustling neighborhood in Paris, there are six places that awaken your taste buds.
“Septime,” a Simple Heart: In a luminous and joyful atmosphere, both Parisian and cosmopolitan, you savor your plate with vibrant flavors and clear colors: green asparagus topped with nettle sabayon, white asparagus covered in grilled bread cream. You don’t feel like you’re dining in an important place. Everything is simple, from the decor to the service. And yet, you are at “Septime,” the 22nd best establishment in the world according to the World’s 50 Best.
Created just twelve years ago, Bertrand Grébaut’s restaurant has become one of the most coveted establishments in Paris. The dismantled crab, confit egg, and radicchio salad (bitter), the braised Sucrine lettuce covered in pistachio praline (indulgent), or the long-lasting black truffle-scented Jerusalem artichokes (animalistic) were all solar dishes. For dessert, a lively blood orange sorbet, a “cooked” plate with its supremes, peel, and fragrant juice, touched us to the core.
80, rue de Charonne, 75011 Paris. Reservations: septime-charonne.fr
“Kubri” Celebrates Lebanon: We thought we knew a lot about Lebanese cuisine, but that was before discovering “Kubri.” This restaurant with colorful and minimalist decor and a lively atmosphere offers a creative and contemporary menu. The dishes take us to the shores of the Mediterranean. On the day of our visit, we discovered a delightful houmous with roasted shimeji mushrooms, confit garlic, and poached egg, shawarma buttered shrimp with sesame cream and coriander, and crispy rolls of fried halloumi with honey. It’s the kind of gourmet and sunny culinary journey we recommend.
108 rue Amelot, 75011 Paris.
Delhi Bazaar, the Indian Restaurant Everyone is Talking About: This new Indian restaurant creates excitement with a menu that pays homage to the street “finger food” of Delhi. We discover dahi puri, puffed wheat shells topped with mint and coriander chutney, tamarind, and yogurt, as well as vada pav, a kind of soft brioche stuffed with a potato croquette, dipped in green sauce and sprinkled with red chili powder. The tongue tingles, but we can’t get enough. The following dishes are more familiar (butter chicken, chicken korma, biryani to share) but just as delicious. Remember to make a reservation.
71, rue Servan, 75011 Paris.
“The OEillets,” Natural Wine Bar: “The OEillets,” a haven for lovers of gourmet small plates and natural wine, embodies the DNA of the 11th arrondissement of Paris. At the helm, a group of passionate individuals, and in the kitchen, a resident chef who offers a simple menu where quality products reign. The “tapassiettes” (small plates) are well-executed, like the Brussels sprouts fried in raw cream and poutargue, which revitalize the reputation of this often disliked vegetable. A great touch in the lean fish with seaweed and in the breaded and lacquered quail that crouches. We accompany everything with a very nice selection of bottles, all in an atmosphere that becomes lively as night falls.
137, rue Saint-Maur, 75011 Paris.
“Jolia,” Flavors of the Orient: Just a stone’s throw from the Père-Lachaise metro station, the restaurant “Jolia” is the newest addition to the Dalia group, famous for its flavorful plates inspired by the East and the Levant. On golden velvet banquettes, we share a Malka bread, a tender homemade brioche, as well as thinly sliced Corsican royal sea bream with burnt orange or a skewer of Alpilles lamb brushed with spicy lamb jus. It’s best to save room for the fabulous rosewater sponge cake, a true gustatory escape. Not to mention the excellent selection of cocktails.
123, rue du Chemin Vert, 75011 Paris.
“Orgueil,” Greedy Indulgence: Chef Eloi Spinnler embodies the taste for staging. First, there is the architecture of the place, blending bistro and speakeasy, as close as possible to the kitchen, revealed behind a one-way mirror. But also in the art of describing the dishes, all meant to be shared: they are revealed through a card game, drawing on the imagination of the seven deadly sins. Here, it is gluttony that guides the fork, towards the smoked and melting potato accompanied by marinated egg yolk and elderberry, or the farm pork, carrots, and Bigorre black pig. A mouth-watering festival that concludes with a miso cream tarte tatin.
6 rue Popincourt, 75011 Paris.
