Le Dodin

I met a friend from Paris at le Dodin who had read the reviews. The food was excellent: inventive and light. We were the only table that evening and service was provided by one person — who seems to double as maitre de and waitress. However the setting is very nice — the décor elegant but contemporary and the quartier quite lovely. We opted for the A La Carte: The starter stuffed zucchini flowers — Fleurs de courgettes au parfum de truffes et jus de crustacés was wonderful and the lamb with shaved potato logs — Selle d’agneau aux herbes, frites de vermicelles succulent. The desert Sugar tart and minute made aloé vera ice — Tarte au sucre et sorbet aloé vera consisting of 4 airy pancakes with vanilla glacier and mangos in the center was terrific.

My husband and my children treated me to this restaurant on my Birthday on our Paris trip based on the good reviews from tripadvisor. When we first got there, we were the only table which got me a bit worried. Within 20′, there was another party of 4. Then there was another table upstairs. So, there was only 3 tables the entire night in a restaurant that could house 10+ tables. The food was OK, not great (red snapper was bland, beef was salty, and fudge was hard and dry), but the service was horrible, especially on a day I’m trying to celebrate my birthday. The chef came out to take the order which we thought was nice, but the waitress (his wife) took exception of us 5 sharing 4 dishes. During the night, she didn’t respond to our multiple requests for utensils and water. She never gave us eye contact even though we tried to smile at her. We asked her to take a picture for us twice and she responded that she was too busy. When she cleaned the bread crumbs off the table, she made a face. While I understand she was busy, I felt that she didn’t treat us very nicely. We thanked her husband for giving me a candle on my little BD cake, but the service as so bad we just wanted to get out of there. As we left, she even told my husband «no smile from me». We paid $ 200 Euros and I was very disappointed at the food and the service. There are so many great places in Paris, you don’t need the sub-​standard food and service here.

Refuge dans le quartier
Emmené par ami, un samedi soir, vers l’Arc de triomphe, je me dis que la soirée risqué d’être un peu laborieuse, n’étant pas un aficionados du quartier. Pire le fréquentant par obligations professionnelles de temps à autres je sais pertinemment qu’il est très difficile de trouver des tables correctes à cet endroit… Et bien voici un refuge pour un déjeuner dans le quartier et pour une assiette sincère et joliment préparée. C’est frais, c’est doux et plutôt agréable, service au petit soin.

Staying in the area, we chanced upon this little gem of a restaurant. Sure, what first perked our interest was the Michelin rating, but what we got was the best experience I have ever had at any place Michelin rated…
As others have stated, the restaurant is owned by the nicest couple. She sweetly manages the front of the house while he is the humorous and knowledgeable chef who comes out to meet the diners when he has time. That is only just where the niceties begin.
Talking to him, he informed us that the family has a farm some distance from Paris. He mentioned that they were growing rhubarb on the farm and when I told him how much I love rhubarb, he said he would have some brought in and make us something special with it when we came back (we were staying across the street). Sure enough, come Monday (or Tuesday, I forget) we came in and he had brought it just as he said he would. We talked about what ingredients he had available and he made us something special and wonderful and not on the menu. Later that night, his wife told us a little more about what went into dinner. Hand picked wild mushrooms. Fresh duck that had to be hand plucked. Just lovely.
The menu is small and I suspect changes with what is ripe on the farm. The flavors of the restaurant are rich and savory when they should be, and subtle and delicate when that’s what’s appropriate. The atmosphere is attractive. And their presence lends it the feel of home.
More than any place we visited, this is the one I wish I could have put in my pocket and brought with me back to LA. If I lived in the area, they would see me very, very often.
Go. I promise you won’t regret it.

Ran across the Restaurant by chance… and what a pleasant surprise.
We opted for the set menu and what a bargain for the quality and presentation.
Chef Mark joined my wife and I after the meal to chat. We enjoyed talking, and were not rushed out the door, though we were the last party inside.
Thanks Mark, and we will definitely see you again.
Dale & Gloria

Excellent!
J’ai connu le petit colombier à la grande époque, et j’ai découvert avec grand plaisir le Dodin de Mark Singer, chef américain qui semble toujours en quête de création et d’innovation.
On y rajoute un décor modernisé, cosy, agréable, un accueil d’une grande sympathie de la part du chef et de sa femme en personne.
Grande cuisine, travaillée, succulente, des produits frais et de saison! gibiers, champignons, poissons… Un régal et c’est bien l’essentiel!
Et combien cela nous a coûté? Moins de 100 € par personne! Nous y reviendrons avec grand plaisir…

Run by an American ex-​pat chef, Mark Singer, and his French wife, Le Dodin greatly impressed my wife and I for our final meal in Paris. In a trip filled with fine food and wine, this restaurant stood out as the best of them all. Chef Singer chatted with us for over 30 minutes after we wrapped up an outstanding 3 course meal. My wife’s filet mignon was perfect, as was my fish. I give this restaurant my highest recommendation. You won’t be disappointed!

Ce lieu revit !
Pincement au cœur pour ceux qui ont connu le petit colombier de Fournier. Après une succession difficile, reprise par mister Singer. Et tout a changé ! Modernisé ! Le style est plus épuré et moderne; bien assis et tables plutôt espacées (c’est bien pour discuter sans les voisins). Le niveau culinaire remonte vite avec plats bien travaillés et bon produits. La formule E/​P/​D est à 35 euros… Très bon rapport Q/​P. Le serveur était un peu coincé mais je n’en mange pas donc pas grave. A bientôt !