I just took another look at your writeup of AT. The plating just looks a bit too precious for my taste. Have you been back?
And Passage 53, is it in the 2ème or the 9ème? Or are there two of them? The reviews I read mention uncomfortable seating. Did you find it uncomfortable?
Passage 53 is in the 2th district, with 2 stars. As for uncomfortable seatings, the table and armchairs are lower than normal, it didn’t bother me.
As for AT, the plating is very aesthetic, in order to achieve certain look, they need to use meringue in many dishes, which sometimes I found it doesn’t contribute much to the taste of the dish. They have a few dishes all right, an outstanding amuse buche, and others unmemorable dishes.
I read the review of Talbott, not much information except a very good note 8/10, I wait for other reviews or maybe find some time to lunch there…
Since Sola is closed now, and I still want something Franco-Japapanese, have you tried or hear anything about Neige d’été, Pages or Les Enfants Rouges?
@hungryonion can you please help to spilt the post, we are mostly talking about more expensive Franco-Asian influenced restaurants, not fast food, like the title suggests. Thanks.
We ate at Neige d’été last November, a few days after our meal at Sola. It was excellent, and I can highly recommend it. But we liked Sola just a bit better. Perhaps it was because the experience was so new at Sola. In any case, they served so much food that we had to refuse the cheese course. I have no recollection of the dessert, but if they served one, you can be sure that my wife ate it.
I’ve read about Pages and Les Enfants Rouges, but never been. Others I have read about are L’Auberge du 15, Abri, and Le Petit Keller. John Talbott also has been writing recently about a place in the 5th called Alliance. But he says that it is noisy, so if we were ever to eat there, it would have to be an early lunch.
We went to Montée for our last meal in Paris, a lunch. It was really good, possibly my favourite of the ten days. More details once I get some time to write everything up.
No news yet from their website, at least not in mid-August when there is nobody in Paris except tourists.
Just sent a mail to ask them, let’s see if they will reply quickly.
Some news from the Atabula site, it said that Sola has reopened in Dec 2017, but with a new chef, Kousuke Nabeta from Maison du Saké. Hiroki Yoshitake, the ex chef left Paris and will open his own restaurant in Fukuoka, Japan. The concept of Sola will change, a saké bar on the ground floor, and the gastronomy restaurant underground. Also the restaurant will now serve only 20+ clients (instead of 46 in the past).
Thanks for the update. It’s too bad that the old “Sola” won’t be coming back; we had an exquisite meal there two years ago. But with Alliance, Montée, L’Arcane, and others we haven’t tried yet, we have plenty to look forward to.
If you try it, I’ll be glad to know what you think.
Please note that Passage 53 is renamed as la Table du 53, sous chef Hideki Nakamura will become head chef, the restaurant will simplify the cooking and become cheaper too! Lunch price 38€ for 2 course, 48€ for 3 course.
While Chef Shinichi Sato will open a new concept restaurant in the coming months.