L’Astrance

L’Astrance is located a couple of blocks from the Eiffel Tower. It’s a fairly small restaurant with seating on the second floor. The main floor contains a bar area, main dining room and the kitchen is behind closed doors. There seems to be only one seating per night and only 5 wait staff working on the shift. The restaurant is really colorful with yellow seats and gives off a very vibrant ambiance. It’s kind of like the annoying perky coworker but without the running mouth that doesn’t stop. Here are L’Astrance’s accolades:
1) 3 Michelin star in 2014
2) 3 Michelin star in 2015
3) #38 on the San Pellegrino 2014 World’s Best Restaurants
4) #36 on the San Pellegrino 2015 World’s Best Restaurants
L’Astrance is runned by Chef Pascal Barbot who came out of Chef Passard’s Arpege kitchen. Chef Barbot is redefining French fine dining and his dishes features a lot of Asian ingredients. The rich flavors of butter isn’t apparent in a lot of his dishes. The service was a lot better than a lot of restaurants in its class. They actually pay attention to your likes and dislikes. I asked for the crust of the bread and that’s what I got all night. There was a waitress who I thank for pouring us water and she replied back with «My pleasure» in her French ascent then all of a sudden I dropped my utensils realizing she had me right there. I would go back just to hear her say «My pleasure» but next time I’ll mumble something dirty.
Okay. Enough with the high school shenanigans and onto the food. The tasting menu consisted mainly of savory courses and dessert. There were a three amuse bouche, five savory courses, and two dessert dishes.
1) Foie Gras — This is Chef Barbot’s signature dish. It’s foie gras layered with mushroom. There was hazelnut oil and lemon confit to dip the foie gras in. I really enjoyed this dish because of the complex texture of it. The plump texture of the mushrooms with the buttery foie gras was fantastic. In addition, the lemon confit gave it a refreshing flavor to it. The ingredients really gave the dish a very robust flavor and made you say «My pleasure.»
2) Mackerel — This is another signature dish from Chef Barbot. It’s mackerel marinated with miso. It’s served with baby leek and a slice confit lemon. The mackerel was cooked perfectly and had a lot of flavor. The tender texture of the mackerel didn’t have a hint of fishiness in it at all. It was the perfectly cooked mackerel with white meat and a golden seared outer layer. It’s kind of looks like when somebody really pale gets a spray on tan but edible.
3) Pigeon Liver — Do not eat this dish cause it literally taste like sh*t. It was spread on a cracker and it looked like peanut butter. I was too busy looking for another opportunity for the waitress to say «my pleasure» that I didn’t hear the details of the dish, so I accidentally ate it. My buddy sat there and didn’t say anything until he saw the reaction on my face then he said «my pleasure.»
Overall, I really liked L’Astrance and thought it was a lot better than Septime and L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon. It was one of the better dining experiences I had in Europe but I didn’t think it was on the same level as Arpege. I would definitely recommend L’Astrance if you can’t get into Arpege. I definitely enjoyed the experience and gave it a 4.5.
US 2015 Michelin 3 Stars Count: 12 Down. 0 More.
2015 Michelin Rated Restaurant Count: 41
San Pellegrino 2014 World’s 100 Best Restaurants Count: 28
San Pellegrino 2015 World’s 100 Best Restaurants Count: 31

For being one of the most affordable Michelin-​rated restaurants in the world, it is amazing. We splurged on lunch on our trip to Paris and they exceeded both our expectations. We met Chef Pascal after our meal and we were emailed a copy of the menu. The staff was incredible, ambiance was perfect, wine pairings were unbelievable. highly recommend!

The dining room is not particularly handsome, maybe it even needs a little updating. But we came to be wowed by the food, and boy were we! Every course was a great surprise or adventure, from the apple and mushroom napoleon to the duck three ways. The savory and the sweet are sequenced in a crescendo, one dish outdoing the other. Loved the little tasting challenge offered up by the staff, took me awhile to figure out the potato and vanilla cream. The desserts are wonderful as well, loved the tapioca with citronella. When you think you are finally done, the staff brings out an amuse selection of the tastiest madeleines, fresh strawberries, cherry, kinkan oranges and egg zabaglione. Great and attentive staff. Will be back next time I am in Paris!

Possibly among the top 1 of restaurant meals I have had.
Cleverly saving the best for last, we had lunch at l’Astrance on our last day in Paris. It had rained all morning and my wife and I were soaked and crabby. A 3* lunch was probably the last thing we wanted. Nevertheless, in we go to a warm welcome and a coupe of Champagne. Things are looking up. Our first taste is a pair of … cookies. One with the brightest sensation of apple I have ever tasted and the other a perfect balance of shortbread and mushroom. Our attitudes were completely adjusted.
Then these amazing green spring rolls. And two of the best prawns I have had in my life. With neat and unexpected wine pairings. And on, and on. Including an «ice cream sundae» of mashed potatoes, crème fraiche and cheese. Vibrant flavors with delicate textures. How do they do that?
It was only the lunch menu, so we were finished before we knew it. This was the only time all week I wished we had gone for a more extensive menu. But no worries, we will be back. In addition to being a well-​deserved 3* restaurant, it is one of the best bargains in Paris.

For $ 260 euros per person, I expect the best meal in Paris. I had better French meals in Los Angeles CA.
Very unique food combination
Very unique palette
Excellent service
I had better food for less cost. If money is not an issue, then it’s worth trying. However, for 600 euros for two people including the cheapest bottle of wine on a Tuesday night, I expected much more.
I would have given 5 stars is the total cost was 350 euros for two. It’s about 50% overpriced.

L’Astrance is a small and charming restaurant near the Eiffel Tower. The dishes that Pascal Barbot come up with are creative, appealing to the eyes and orgasmic the taste buds! In one instance, the tastes and flavors were so familiar yet unique and a second later I’m happily perplexed how the combination of of these tastes created wonderful sensations in my mouth!
Our dishes were artistic, even technical if that’s even possible with food. Most of all they were provocative. Each dish was prepared perfectly with the intent to stimulate my senses: visual delight, aromas that piqued my curiosity, and satisfying tastes and textures.
I couldn’t see what was going on in the kitchen but Pascal Barbot and the L’Astrance Team are doing things very, very right!
Thank you for making our 10 year anniversary a memorable one!
— — — — — –
L’Astrance est un charmant petit restaurant près de la Tour Eiffel. Les plats que Pascal Barbot viennent avec sont créatifs, attrayant pour les yeux et orgasmiques les papilles! Dans un cas, les goûts et les saveurs étaient si familier et pourtant unique et une seconde plus tard, je suis heureux perplexe comment la combinaison de ces goûts créé sensations merveilleuses dans ma bouche!
Nos plats étaient artistique, technique, même si ce est même possible avec de la nourriture. Surtout qu’ils étaient provocateur. Chaque plat a été préparé parfaitement avec l’intention de stimuler mes sens: délice visuel, arômes qui a piqué ma curiosité, et les goûts et textures satisfaisants.
Je né pouvais pas voir ce qui se passait dans la cuisine, mais Pascal Barbot et l’Astrance L’équipe font des choses très, très bien!
Nous vous remercions de faire de notre 10e anniversaire un moment inoubliable!

Seigneur… autant d’orgasmes gustatifs en une soirée, je pensais pas que c’était possible… Et pourtant…
Ce restaurant 3 étoiles au guide Michelin propose un menu surprise différent tout les jour, avec ou non les vins proposés en accord avec les plats.
La réservation est bien sur obligatoire (3 mois d’attente… faut être patient).
Nous avons été accueilli par toute une équipe aux petits soins pour nous toute la soirée, et installés à notre table. Le décor est épuré et moderne, tout en harmonie.
On nous a apporté un apéritif accompagné d’un kir et on nous a demandé si on avait des allergies ou intolérance quelconque.
Après place au défilé des surprises !! On a commencé par un millefeuille de champignons de Paris, foie gras, pomme granny avec un condiment au citron. Miam !!!
Puis on nous a proposé un thon blanc de méditerranée dans une nage de fenouil/​réglisse et petits légumes: une révélation ! Le poisson était fondant, plein de goût.
Ensuite, saint pierre avec sa sauce. yummy !!!
On a testé après du veau aux girolles et tuile au parmesan. La cuisson du veau était parfaite !!
Pour le plat, on nous a proposé du pigeon avec un condiment à la cerise. Première fois que je mange du pigeon… c’était fin, bon, justement cuit, les saveurs se mariaient à la perfection.
Pour faire passer le repas et avant de passer aux dessert, on nous a proposé un sorbet citronnelle, gingembre, piment: original.
Pour les dessert, nous avons eu le droit a un gâteau aux mûres accompagné d’une glacé au thé, des fruits frais, de madeleines et lait de poule au jasmin…
C’est définitivement une expérience à faire au moins une fois dans sa vie. Bien sûr les plats étaient magnifiquement sublimés par les vins choisis par le sommelier.
Si vous avez l’occasion de tester un restaurant gastronomique étoilé, je vous conseille vivement celui-​ci :)

First I should provide some background information for context. I’ve dined at a handful of 1-​star Michelin restaurants, and come away unimpressed every single time. I’ve never had ‘bad’ food at such restaurants, but I’ve also never encountered spectacular food, or even food that is substantially better than what you can find at a good, unrated restaurant, at this level. Good (but not great) quality + high prices + small portions = disappointment in my book.
I’ve also dined at Manresa, a two-​star Michelin restaurant located in California. And that meal was quite easily the best I’ve ever had. Extreme creativity, artful presentation, and flawless execution made it a spectacular meal. Was Manresa affordable? Absolutely not; but I feel in Manresa’s case that the price of admission is entirely justified. The difference between my experience at Manresa and the 1-​star establishments I’ve been to is so vast that it’s nearly laughable.
Enter L’Astrance, my first 3-​star restaurant. Perhaps I walked in with unreasonable expectations, as I thoroughly expected L’Astrance to be as far beyond Manresa as Manresa was beyond those disappointing 1-​star restaurants (which it arguably should be, given that L’Astrance is even less affordable by far). I was expecting something otherworldly, something that would leave me completely astonished. Unfortunately, that’s not how things played out.
Was the food at L’Astrance bad? No, far from it. Was it better than what I would generally expect to find at other unrated or lower-​rated places? Yes, it was. Was it spectacular, and the best meal I’ve had to date? Sadly, no. Overall I would say that L’Astrance is slightly ahead of the 2-​star Manresa when it comes to desserts, but slightly behind when it comes to savory dishes. At best it’s a toss-​up between the two, though personally I’d give the nod to Manresa as I prefer savory over sweet.
So yes, you will get an excellent meal here, one that will surpass what you’re likely to find at most other places. But that meal comes with a hefty price-​tag, and I just can’t say that it delivers enough to be worth it. You can get an equivalent (if not slightly better) meal at some 2-​star establishments for half the price. For my money, I’d much rather pay a second visit to Manresa than make a return trip to L’Astrance.
As far as my own rating goes, I’m a bit torn between 3 stars and 4. I cannot deny that the food here is very good. And if I did not have Manresa to use as a reference point, L’Astrance would certainly have seemed more impressive. But the fact of the matter is I do have that reference point, and can say that there are restaurants out there which provide an experience that is at least as good (if not better) than L’Astrance, for substantially less money.
So I think I’ll have to say 4 stars if price is no object. But 3 stars once cost/​value is factored in.
L’Astrance needs to deliver more, or start charging a bit less.

Much anticipated, very sophisticated and modern. Light and fresh with a bit of Japanese fusion. Duck is the best I had in Paris so far. Scallops and oysters with Yuzu and Konbu sauce was actually nice. He obviously loves Japan and does it right. First time in French 2−3stars restaurants in Paris offered me a hot hand towel to refresh, good thoughts (again must have leaned in Japan?) my kind of French really.
Perfect all way through this time.

I was looking forward to this place most of all out of everything we’d carefully chosen for London, Paris, and Barcelona. We were able to get in for a weekday lunch, which is the best price point at 70 euros/​pp. Pleasant surprise at the end, this included unlimited water and gratuity.
It’s not hard to find, located across the Seine from the Eiffel in a quiet neighborhood. Small but quaint inside. There is a small seating area upstairs. If you sit downstairs near that area, I hope the girl dining up there doesn’t knock her glass of wine and spill on you… at least it was white. The owner handled it well, and he was actually very friendly.
Anyhow the food. Everything was a surprise. First course, amazing — a Thai style peanut/​meat sauce and perfectly cooked langoustine tail. The other savory courses were actually just OK. Maybe we didn’t eat them correctly because we got short explanations from the waiter who was a little hard to understand and didn’t seem so interested in us. I wish I spoke French too, sir! But even basic French wouldn’t include enough to understand a high level culinary experience. There was a filet of fish served with a side of some leafy greens in pineapple foam (similar to Vietnamese canh chua). The side was tasty. The fish was just a piece of fish, and I found a couple bones in mine. Not that I care too much but I thought in fine dining this is a huge no-​no. I wonder if we were supposed to have had the foam poured onto the fish for more flavor. I didn’t see other patrons doing this so who knows? Then there was a duck dish done 2 ways. On the plate was duck with a sauce and a really non-​tasty chunk of miso eggplant. In a cup on the side was some more duck with thinly sliced mushrooms dusted with a few spices and some pâté-​like sauce at the very bottom. The duck was well cooked, but that miso eggplant was all sorts of wrong.
As sort of an interlude, we got a mystery item and were told to guess what was in it. This was fun and I was proud of myself for getting it right. I won’t describe further so as not to spoil it for others. After this came dessert after dessert. All delicious and redeeming after the disappointing stuff.
So a little sad to not have had a 5 star experience here, but I don’t regret coming. And I’d come back, if only for lunch. My stomach wouldn’t be able to handle more courses.

Restaurant 3 étoiles Michelin sublime. Vous né choisissez pas vos plats, on vient seulement vous demander au début du repas ce que vous né voulez/​pouvez pas manger. Vous pouvez choisir la formule mets /​vin pour laquelle le sommelier choisit le vin correspondant à chaque plat. Aller dans un restaurant gastronomique, c’est toujours un peu une aventure, et là le fait de né pas savoir en plus quel sera le prochain plat rend l’expérience encore plus excitante.
L’ensemble était fabuleux. Je garde un souvenir magique d’une entrée en particulier, un millefeuille de foie gras, champignons et pomme verte. Les goûts se mélangeaient parfaitement et les textures aussi: le croquant des champignons, le moelleux du foie gras, l’acidulé de la pomme verte. Très très fin. Grâce à mes parents, j’ai eu la chance d’aller dans quelques restaus de ce type et c’est l’un de mes préférés (avec Michel Guérard), pour l’originalité de la cuisine, surprenante tout en restant très bonne (parfois avec la recherché d’originalité, on perd un peu la saveur — pour mon palais trop classique peut être).
Par ailleurs, le service est tranquille, attentionné et détendu et on peut même entamer une discussion animée sur le rachat de vignes dans le bordelais par exemple. Né craignez donc pas un service ultra guindé et oppressant comme cela peut être le cas parfois dans ce type de restaus. Pour les prix: menus à 70 et 120 € le midi et de 120 à 330 € le soir.

Résultat global intéressant
Dans l’assiette, c’est souvent d’une simplicité presque rustique avec des assemblages de goûts parfois très subtils, parfois tranchés par l’utilisation d’épices fortes: coriandre, safran, gingembre. Cèpes crus et foie gras, homard, turbot, soupe d’anchois et verdure, oeuf poché, canard, desserts sur les fruits rouges. Généralement parfaitement exécuté. Un bémol pour ce qui me concerne sur le turbot, trop cuit à mon goût malgré une sauce délicieuse. Un gros plus pour le canard absolument délicieux et le dessert frais et empreint d’une grande simplicité. Résultat, même si nous avons gouté de nouvelles et bonnes saveurs, nous n avons pas été émerveillés. Nous avons été impressionnés par contre par les vins servis dans le menu mets et vins: exceptionnels !

Exquisite. Gorgeous contradictions & flawless detail.
Some places at this level you feel a bit you’re being experimented upon– chez L’Astrance, all the kinks have been carefully ironed out. The establishment characterizes the perfect mix of elegant and streamlined décor, with all the right touches.

Un déjeuner parfait, pour 120 euros vous avez le menu de saison mais vous pouvez vous en sortir pour 70 euros sans les vins, mis à part une entrée que je n’ai pas trop aimé et des amuses bouches que j’ai trouver un peu simples, c’était un véritable enchantement: perfection des cuissons, justesse des assaisonnements et surtout rien de superflu dans la l’assiette, tout a un sens, c’est fin et le menu que j’ai pris est assez copieux et je suis un bon mangeur, je pense que je renouvellerai l’expérience.

Nous y avons passé un agréable moment.
Je recommande
Lucie

voyage culinaire
Quel boulot quel précision avec Desformule qui accorde les mets et les vins. Un service vif et sympathique Des plats de saison. Il vous faudra compter 200 € pour le menu avec les vins c est certes cher mais on en à pour son argent. Exceptionnel

We did lunch here (we were trying to cram in so much food into 2 different legs of our entire France trip that were in Paris), and it lived up to the 3 Michelin stars. That’s all I have to say about that. Do it if you’re ever in Paris…

Un déjeuner parfait, pour 120 euros vous avez le menu de saison mais vous pouvez vous en sortir pour 70 euros sans les vins, mis à part une entrée que je n’ai pas trop aimer et des amuses bouches que j’ai trouver un peu simple, c’était un véritable enchantement: perfection des cuissons, justesse des assaisonnements et surtout rien de superflu dans la l’assiette, tout a un sens, c’est fin et le menu que j’ai pris est assez copieux et je suis un bon mangeur, je pense que je renouvellerai l’expérience

If you can afford it go. Absolutely fabulous establishment with gracious service and delightful surprises abounding. If you are on a budget, regimented about what you want to eat, and not up to a 3 – 4 hour experience… head somewhere else. This is a dining experience and you are not being experimented on… you are being delighted and surprised. The staff and the chef’s partner, who man the front of the house, make it fun and inclusive for the diner with flawless service. Chef Bardot is a skilled technician with a sense of humor and it comes through in his food. Make reservations very far in advance… and for god’s sake, dress with a jacket and nice shirt… if you’ve been seated upstairs — there’s a reason ;) Dinner for two with wine flight (which should not be missed) approx. 800 USD and worth it!

Exceptionnel
Un déjeuner d’exception tout était parfait mis à part le velouté de petits pois émulsion au safran et yaourt au gingembre trop concentré en goût de petits pois que n’y moi n’y ma convive n’avons apprécié, c’est dur de retourner faire sa petite cuisine après un tel repas, nous avons pris le menu du printemps à 120 euros et c’était bien copieux plus de 12 plats, le service est parfait, c’est vrai que Pascal Barbot n’est pas le plus connu des cuisiniers mais son restaurant est régulièrement classé dans les 20 meilleurs mondiaux, par contre faut compter un mois environ pour avoir une place et près de 3 mois pour le dîner, mais ça vaut le coup, le meilleur repas fait à ce jour.

Divin !
Une soirée d’exception ! L’addition est très salée mais tout à fait justifiée au regard de la qualité des produits, de l’originalité, de la finesse et du nombre de plats, des vins exceptionnels… Le service est simple et sympathique, pas guindé comme nous le craignons. Bien que le restaurant soit peu connu, les 3 étoiles sont totalement justifiées.

Je né partage pas tout à fait l’enthousiasme ci-​dessus.
J’ai pris le menu avec vins (un vin différent par plat ou tous les deux plats).
— feuilleté de foie gras-​champignons de Paris: très fin
— coquilles st Jacques-​huîtres-​moëlle de boeuf: très bon mais pas exceptionnel
— tourteau– carotte-​huile de noisette: un peu écoeurant
(tendance à mettre de l’huile de noisette partout)
— cochon-​lentilles relevées: bien
— selle d’agneau-piment: excellente, très moelleuse, cuisson impeccable
— sorbet au piment: bof bof
— desserts: franchement pas inoubliables, à part les madeleines au miel de châtaignier, très bonnes.
Les vins étaient assez décevants (évidemment, ayant bu un Richebourg 81 pour le réveillon, je suis sans doute un peu gâtée). Le service envahissant (la conversation des convives a priorité, malgré tout), et il n’est pas nécessaire de leur reprocher de né pas finir leur assiette
Au total des choses intéressantes mais pas mon meilleur souvenir de restaurant, loin de là.
PS: j’y suis allée avec une amie, le maître d’hôtel m’a donné un menu sans les prix? WTF?

Vous arrivez devant un bâtiment au disign contemporain, dont la façade aux lignes noires acier s’entremêle de verre. Puis vous entrez dans une pièce avec une belle hauteur sous plafond qui permet d’accéder à un ½ étage terrasse.
La décoration du lieu est simple, sobre mais élégante.
Cependant, j’apporterai un petit bémol pour le design les chaises, bien que confortables et les sous assiettes, dont les jeux de couleurs ou le design dénote du cadre très archi, très moderne. On s’attendrait à mieux et on aurait souhaité quelque chose de plus design contemporain, de moins daté pour la décoration du mobilier Quant au service, il est tout irréprochable: souriant, serviable, prévenant et de qualité. Le menu est un vrai ravissement pour les papilles
Des mets fins avec des associations de saveurs multiples au sein d’un même plats mais vraiment originales, délicates et recherchées, des jeux de textures, de la finesse, de la justesses de l’étonnement.
Un équilibre de saveurs dans un jeu de textures La cuisine est à l’image du lieu, sobre dans sa présentation, sans chichi ou superflu mais très pointues quant à sa réalisation. Les cuisons sont parfaites, que ce soit pour le poisson ou la viande tout est simplement fondant. Je vous conseille de venir y manger un midi, il vous en coutera 75 euros pour le menu déjeuner 3 plats que vous pourrez prendre, accompagné ou non de vins (120 euros) au verre de très bonne qualité. Mais si l’envie vous en dit vous pourrez optez pour le 5 plats ou le 7 plats. Menu unique surprise, réalisé par saison. Vivement le printemps pour découvrir la nouvelle carte.
Vous aurez droit à des mets diverses est variées au nombre desquels: velouté de petit marron et son émulsion de tonka, sorbet citronnelle, piment et gingembre, lait de poule au jasmin
Le service est rythmé, on aurait aimé parfois une respiration plus grande entre les plats qui s’enchainent sans attente. Un merveilleux souvenir gustatif, des grandes découvertes, un vrai plaisir Les réservations doivent se faire un mois à l’avance sous peine d’avoir des déconvenues pour le repas du midi
Ce restaurant est malheureusement fermé le week end

I was stunned — baffled even — the wind entirely removed from my sails; how could such a highly regarded establishment have failed to impress? With the Michelin 3-​Star location previously ranking as number two on my list of «must visit» restaurants worldwide I originally thought that perhaps this was simply a case inflated expectations but no matter how I tried I couldn’t create a scenario where this was the case. «The Emperor’s New Clothes,» an idiom my friend and dining partner uses to describe restaurants where he feels many ‘pretend’ to understand the hype but where he fails to see what all the fuss is about sprung to mind — and then he said those exact words as we emerged from L’Astrance at the end of our 8:30pm dinner on April the 13^th, 2011.
Course descriptions in the blog. Pictures there and here on Unilocal!
With the bill settled, bag collected, and a copy of the menu requested it was not long before we found ourselves back on the Rue Beethoven just five minutes after 11:00pm. Having already noted my friend’s comments about the Emperor’s New Clothes with regard to not understanding the hype I will expound further and say that I actually DO understand the hype as the food can occasionally be brilliant. What I don’t understand is the restaurant’s attitude — serving whatever it wants to whomever it wants, placing eccentric and contradictory ingredients in places they never belonged — it is like they are unapologetically experimenting at the customer’s expense while treating the diner as though it is a privilege to act as a guinea pig. Who knows — perhaps I caught them on a bad night — but considering my previous three-​star experiences both in Paris and Stateside there was simply no excuse for some of the dishes we were served… or the ones we weren’t served. Then again, I guess L’Astrance never offered an excuse and all things considering I imagine it never does — you’re paying for them to do whatever they want.

Un des meilleurs restaurant du monde ! Rien à ajouter.
Si, quand même: le service est aussi charmant que la cuisine est excellente.

3* au guide Michelin, no comment !
Si, Définitivement une des grandes tables françaises ! Le menu surprise (à l’aveugle) est un véritables voyage gastronomique, où les plats de la mer et de la terre sont déclinées avec des produits rares ! Les accords sont exceptionnels, ils surprennent parfois mais toujours parfaits, je garde un souvenir dégustatif extrême de leur homard émulsion aux algues et citron, juste renversant.

Désolé pour mes amis .fr, Mais je né pense pas que j’ai la salle, ni
la fluidité de traduire mon avis. Anglais, il devra être
cette fois.
*****
Oddly enough, the only Michelin 3 star restaurant I’ve been to that fully lives up my perception of the red guide’s highest honor.
Sure, there is always debate, and the variance at both the 1 and 3 star level certainly fuels that fire. (My current belief is that the most interesting cuisine happens at the high 1 to 2 star level). However, if we take a romanticized view of the bibendum, and think of the rating as an assessment of how far out of the way a person should be willing to go to visit a restaurant, then L’Astrance certainly fits the the «exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey» assessment.
And while I’d like to focus on the cuisine, as it is the reason for coming here, I can’t quite ignore the level of refinement in the front of the house. For us Americans who consider TFL and Per se as the reference points for efficient, formal, yet sincere and unobtrusive service, you might change that reference point after dining at L’Astrance. M. Rohat and his team seem to disappear into the background while always anticipating your needs even before you realize it. At one point, they cleared one plate while setting a charger for the next course and I didn’t even notice. Almost like a bit of slight of hand, my place was set without the formal ceremony that I typically experience. Add to that the fun game of «guess the wine» and there’s a nice balance of playfulness and formality.
The cuisine however, is where all of this refinement begins… refine, refine, refine, is what I kept thinking while eating the food. It’s obvious that Chef Barbot has a distinctive voice and he uses his minuscule kitchen to be heard without having to be loud. His signature dish of Foie gras mariné au verjus, galette de champignon de Paris, pâte de citron confit was a dish that changes your perception of the main ingredients. Most know foie as a rich, luxurious centerpiece of an ingredient… like truffles or caviar, it’s a symbol of luxury about as subtle as a scuderia badge. However, here Chef turns it into a team player, so that the humble button mushroom can have equal footing. Along with them, texture, richness and acid are all balanced out by the individual components. It’s a dish that tells a story… one that you can talk about and break down for days, yet it’s best to simply eat it up and enjoy it in the moment. Many wonderful dishes preceded and followed, but this is just one example.
The ingredients were all exceptional, but I suppose that should be a given. However, I couldn’t help but be taken aback by the cheese course. Fleur de Courgette safranee, fruits rouge, gorgonzola cremeux. The rich cheese (perfectly afinee), served as a base, its richness and flavor balanced by the acid in the raspberry and the whole covered with the most ephemeral squash blossom. The blossom appeared to been «cooked» until it was transparent and infused with saffron, however it still retained its natural structure… similar to the compressed melons you see from time to time, but a much more delicate execution. But that raspberry… I don’t know if it was simply the most delicious raspberry that I’ve ever had, or if the components of the dish made me think it was the best raspberry I’d ever had… either way, the final effect was other-​worldly. Mind you, I’d sampled flat after flat of raspberries in California in the weeks prior, so I’d refreshed my familiarity with the year’s raspberries… but this one instantly made me think that the ones I had been getting simply weren’t as good. This was confirmed at Astrance with the final course of fruit… the raspberries on that plate were more typical. Still tasty, but hardly the platonic idea put forth in the cheese plate. So… did they really save the best raspberry in the bunch just for the cheese course, or was it the composition highlighting the fruit? A little of both? I’ll never know.
L’Astrance is cuisine that approaches on the literary, and while that might appear to be effusive, there is no question that Chef Barbot has a clear, confident and subtle voice in his cooking. And really, there are still far too few places and chefs with that kind of strength.
Plus, Chef Barbot rocks New Balances instead of clogs in the kitchen. Total Badass.

We’ve been here three times for lunch and we love the food, ambiance, and service.
One of the times, we have the eight course lunch, and it was one of the best meals of my life. This is partly because it was only 65 euros, before the dollar tanked and before the establishment raised the price of the multi-​course lunch to 120 euros due to rising food costs and rising fame after earning a Michelin star. Some of the things we had were: their famous avocado and crab appetizer/​salad, beef with a delicious sauce, pristine poached fish, an egg shell filled with the most tasty «soup», and chocolate cake layered with praline.
The three course prix fix lunch is excellent too. That’s what we had the last time we were there.
The service is outstanding too. Each course is served with plates placed in front of the each person at the table exactly at the same time. Same with removing plates at the end of each course.
At our most recent visit, we met Chef Barbot who came out of the kitchen at the end of the lunch service to meet diners on their way out. Seems like a nice, down-​to-​earth young man!
The contemporary french décor is very relaxing, all done in soothing greys and golds.
This is our very special splurge place when we go to Paris.

Pascal Barbot est un des rares hefs a avoir obtenu ses trios étoiles au Michelin aussi vite ! On vient à L’Astrance pour se faire un vrai plaisir culinaire que l’on réserve tôt, les places sont rares. Autre particularité, le restaurant n’a pas de menu, c’est une surprise à chaque fois. On y goûte une douzaine de petits plats tous plus surprenants les uns que les autres. Avant de dîner, Christophe Rohat vous fait la lecture du menu pour s’assurer que vous n’ayez aucune allergie et aucun problème digestif. Pour ce qui est du menu comptez entre 70 et 115 euros pour un déjeuner et 150 pour le dîner. Évidemment tout à un prix.

one of the best restaurant in paris. i tried many star restaurants, but this one is one of the best and one of the most special. try for yourself. it is really worth it and you will not be disappointed. guranteed!

Puis je me permettre ?
Si nous pensons au même restaurant qui a 3 étoiles Michelin: L’Astrance
les bonnes coordonnées sont indiquées ci-​dessous :
4, RUE BEETHOVEN
75 016 PARIS
Tel: 01 40 50 84 40

Réservation 3 mois l’avance…
L’Astrance :L’accueil impeccable, un décor contemporain, petite salle ouverte à l’étage. Très agréable !Goûtez au cabillaud aux châtaignes et citron vert, au lapin confit au curry et la grande spécialité des desserts à base de lait: glacé au lait, confiture au lait. Il y a aussi le Piment et citronnelle en sorbet; le Sabayon au sirop d’érable, fruits rouges ;la Mousse de chocolat blanc et gingembre, praliné, lait et sorbet fraise ;la Tarte au chocolat noir et griottes; Mignardises; le Lait de poule au jasmin etc !
Comptez environ 270EUR avec les vins, l’eau, l’apéritif et le café

Best of Paris
Je recommande le menu gastro (120 euros) dans lequel le chef laisse exprimer toute sa créativité qui lui a valu sa deuxième étoile. C’est vraiment le restaurant qui né cesse de monter depuis plus de 2 ans. Les réservations se font plus d’1 mois à l’avance. C’est une expérience culinaire qui se prépare. Demandez la mezzanine pour les amoureux.

On en redemande
Un délice de saveur, un sommelier hors pair, c’est sublime. Donnez leur prochaine étoile (et on né pourra définitivement plus y manger). Attention, il faut se lever tôt pour réserver ! En tout cas, c’est un lieu d’exception à Paris.

Une délicieuse expérience
Chaque saison, l’Astrance change son menu-​dégustation et nous, on y court ! Pour le plaisir des sens, les papilles en éveil, un réel émerveillement. Évidemment, le prix est à la hauteur de la qualité (75 euros le menu dégustation) et du service.

Au sommet
Enfin l’Astrance vint ! Un peu emphatique bien sur; mais l’endroit est vraiment remarquable. La cuisine de Barbot (qui vient de chez Passard) est un éblouissement. Le service est gentil et chaleureux, la salle est élégante et on a beaucoup de place entre les tables, les arts de la table sont de toute beauté. Il faut absolument y aller. Et le menu du déjeuner est très abordable.