Géméllus is a restaurant in Paris’s seventh arrondissement that is providing tremendous quality and value. My review of a lunch this past week is here.
4 Likes
Thanks very much for this review — now we are looking forward to dining there in a couple days.
Thanks @onzieme, guessing it would be good for dinner too? If you do end up eating there @Deuxchevaux, could you let us know? Merci!
1 Like
Dinner was excellent. We get and appreciate Onz’s suggestion that the cooking shows a level of “precision” similar to what one receives at Alliance. Service was similarly professional, friendly, and engaging.
At dinner here the choice is five courses (carte blanche) or seven. We took the five, and found it perfect. One of the most memorable dishes was a mackerel consume. The food offerings were very similar to what Onz described at his recent lunch.
Back to the comparison/ contrast with Alliance (aside — we had yet another fabulous lunch there just two weeks ago — indeed, it was probably the best dining we’ve ever had there):
The room here, although stylish (we liked it all except for the main bright cartoonish painting that looms over the space) was considerably louder than expected because on our night, there was a nearby both a table for 10, and also a table for eight. Even French speakers are loud in such circumstances!
We were at a table for four (with Onz and “L”) and there was one additional table in the main room, a three top.
No English was spoken other than at our table, but because of the large tables (one of which was 10 men in suits, no ties) as mentioned the volume was very high for
a Paris restaurant of this type.
(Note, back toward the kitchen, there’s a little alcove table for four, and that would be much quieter. On reflection, maybe we should have accepted the manager’s offer to seat us there. But we would’ve missed much of the restaurant theater.)
PS — and also back toward the kitchen. Check out the WC. Here again there is an interesting comparison with Alliance — both have very interesting appliances.
We will definitely return here. (Yet, all things considered, we will return to Alliance first.)
4 Likes
Re the toilet, I first saw it at Géosmine when it opened a few years ago, but Géméllus was already open by then, I think, so maybe they had it first.
I must remember to include a trip to the toilet when I am out at restaurants. I almost never go! And they are often worth a visit. Thanks for the reminder! Wondering what this fancy toilet can do…And I will certainly put Géméllus on my list. Merci!
1 Like
My return to Géméllus proved it to be just as outstanding as previous visits.
5 Likes
@onzieme and @Deuxchevaux - Thanks for all these amazing recommendations and taking such care to document them in detail!
It is so exciting to get to know Paris at a whole new level - thank you.
Wonderful review. Makes me extra-looking-forward to my dinner there this Friday!
I had actually reserved at Géméllus for our first lunch back in Paris today based on onzieme’s first review.
They had already changed the menu since onz’ most recent visit (I was hoping to have that veal). The confit trout in a green gazpacho starter was fantastic. My wife’s brill in a sauce with wasabi foam (different from what was printed on the menu) was very good. The sauce and accompaniments for my steak (the only other choice) were very good, but the quality of the piece of meat was not; our only disappointment in the meal. The amuse - especially the goat cheese cigars - and desserts and mignardise were all quite good as well. The quantity of food was plenty for a lunch.
We went with the 3 course 49E lunch, a great value, but I find it interesting how they price it, as leaving out dessert it becomes an absolute steal at 35E. If I lived in Paris, I think I’d come back every couple weeks at that price.
6 Likes
Thanks Onz for this follow-up report on Géméllus. It certainly looks very good and worth trying for lunch.
And thanks Andy for the review of your most recent lunch there. We look forward to hearing about your other Paris experiences while you’re there.
1 Like
Well, we loved Gemellus so much we returned today for lunch.
Prices have already risen since our lunch there 11 days ago. At that speed of increase, by fall, it will become unaffordable! 
As much as we liked our first meal there, we enjoyed today’s even more.
We each chose the 39E menu. I had entrée-plat, while my wife chose plat-dessert.
The amuse were excellent. I liked the vegetable/meat broth even better than the cucumber one we had last time (which picture I had not included as onz had it in his review), and also preferred the mini potato dauphinois with a vinagered radish, to go along with the wonderful goat cheese cigars duplicated from the prior meal.
I very much enjoyed my refreshing cold mackerel with baby asparagus and a mayonnaise-based sauce.
The main courses were even better than before.
My wife’s lieu jaune with artichokes was raised a notch with the addition of bits of foie gras.
And my extremely tender rose-colored pork (obscured by the very nice jus) was taken to another level with the wonderful lightly-smoked eel accompaniment. The glass of cabernet franc-based red went quite well with the pork.
My wife’s choice for dessert was the same chocolate soufflé shown last time.
Only the migardise were a mild disappointment, but only in comparison to the excellence of all that had come before.
The waiter recognized us and chatted with us more than the first time. At the end he asked if he would see us again when we return in June. I said bien sur!
At 39E, this is now without doubt both of our favorite lunch value in Paris. The quality is extremely high, and the qualité-prix is off the charts. We might even have to try the more expensive tasting menu for dinner one time.
Many, many thanks to @onzieme for this recommendation!
3 Likes
Thanks @andygottlieb42!, another great review. I am sure we will feel the same once we are able to get Gemellus, as we did the same with Cafe de l’Usine! I really appreciate you taking the time to post these!
Thanks to Claude K and to Andy G for bringing Gemellus to my attention. My wife and I had a fantastic lunch there today. The menu was the same as when Andy went earlier this month as was the price. We paid 55 Euros for 3 courses and had 1 lieu jaune main and 1 cochon. They really pushed the boat out with the desserts, mine was the chocolate soufflé accompanied by cream and ice-cream. My wife had a stunning panna cotta unlike any we’ve ever had, perfectly set but incredibly light, due to the use of creme fouettée according to the maître d’hôtel. It was served with a light creme anglaise and accompanied not only by some ice cream but also by a small container of the lightest chocolate mousse. Service was faultless, the quality and presentation of the food was extremely high and the cooking of the mackerel and lieu jaune was absolutely spot on. We will be back.
8 Likes
Our visits to Paris tend not to bring us anywhere near Les Invalides, but Géméllus is a good reason.
I thought the urban art was a little incongruous, but I appreciate the intention, and one does not eat the decor, anyway. My partner was a little worried that we were underdressed, but there were only three other parties in the restaurant: the couple and solo diner you see in the photo, and a family with two teenaged sons, and no one was dressed any better. The older server turned out to be fairly chatty; his young helper was a bit stiffer, but played a minor role.
There was no list of wines by the glass. I asked for the possibilities for a glass of red, and was given a description of a few. I chose this Pinot Noir.
The amuse-bouches will be familiar to you if you have read the above reports.
They were good but not exceptional, so the next course came as somewhat of a surprise.
The ingredients not named on the minimal menu were ikura and edible flowers, and the server came over to pour a small container of vinaigrette onto the dish.
A stunning presentation, and an excellent dish. The peas were a little on the starchy side, but I understand that is a preference, and also that it was later in the season.
We would normally have taken two different mains, but we are both inordinate duck fans, and could not pass up the chance to have magret de canette. The jus was added at table in a fashion similar to the first course.
I had finished my glass of wine while waiting for the duck, and the server asked if I would like another. “Yes,” I said, “but I will switch to the Bordeaux.”
Now, all the wines I had by the glass throughout this visit were good. But this was exceptional, right from the first “is it corked?” sip. I remarked on how good it tasted right away. It was a perfect match for the duck, which was also really good, perfectly cooked, with a nice crust, and harmonious flavours.
There was no printed dessert menu, only verbal descriptions. I opted for “our famous chocolate soufflé”, and my partner for the cherries.
Once again, tableside garnish with the liquid elements, and both desserts were highly enjoyable.
The mignardises were melon balls and little glasses of elderflower drink, a nice light finish to a terrific meal.
We had a slight surprise on seeing the bill. I did not know the wine would cost that much; I can certainly afford it, but am frugal by upbringing, and would probably not have ordered the second one if I’d seen a printed list. On the other hand, I have since researched the wine, and that markup is entirely reasonable given the base cost of the wine and the need to cellar it. Furthermore, I will remember that glass for a long time. So, thank you, Géméllus, for giving me an experience I would otherwise have denied myself for the wrong reasons. Maybe I should treat myself to a better class of bottle from time to time at home.
I am already dreaming of the day when we can go back to this restaurant. Thank you, @onzieme, for this valuable bit of intelligence!
9 Likes
Thanks for the report back, and glad you enjoyed it.
1 Like
@plragde - thanks for a great review, looking forward to visiting Géméllus when we return this fall.
1 Like
