Le Bien Aimé (“The Well-Beloved”) was the nickname of Louis XV. In homage to this king, whose reign was prosperous and who—along with his Royal Court chefs—brought what is known as “la nouvelle cuisine” into fashion, the restaurant I am introducing to you today chose this evocative name.
Indeed, Louis XV knew how to break away from the excesses and ostentation of his great-grandfather Louis XIV, and he developed a gastronomic culture of excellence featuring refined, decorative, and light dishes.
Located between the Faubourg Saint-Honoré and the Madeleine district, this French gourmet address opened its doors in Paris not long ago.
It is truly a timeless place, where the decor evokes the era of the French monarchy with walls adorned with gold leaf and moldings, Louis XV-style chairs, sparkling chandeliers, and paintings that fall within the Regency artistic movement.
An establishment with refined decor, then, and graphic, colorful dishes whose combinations of flavors are as good as they are beautiful—which is worth noting.
At the helm of the establishment is the young and creative Chef Régis Versieux, who has worked in several Michelin-starred restaurants, notably alongside Joël Robuchon.
The restaurant menu respects the spirit of the place by offering revisited French gourmet cuisine that draws inspiration from the great classics: “Quail with Nori seaweed,” “Beef fillet with marrow toast,” “Veal cheek blanquette style,” and the Chef’s famous dessert, “Matcha Tea” combined with saffron and lemon.
Régis Versieux also loves using flower petals in his dishes, as much for their shimmering colors as for their differing textures and tastes on the palate.
To try:
- The Sashimi-style Royal Crab, finely seasoned: an extremely colorful dish, a delight for the eyes and the taste buds.
- The Green Asparagus inverted gratin and Colonnata: ultimately, asparagus and cheese go well together, and honestly, it’s simply succulent—an absolute must-try!
- The Beef fillet piece selected by Mr. Desnoyer and its marrow toast: just a delight. I believe the last time I ate meat this tender that literally melted in my mouth was at the excellent restaurant at the Fontevraud Abbey.
- The Spaghetti with olive oil and crispy garlic: achieving excellence through simplicity isn’t given to everyone, but here, it is perfectly the case. A dish to discover for its marriage of textures (crunchy, melting, crisp), though I would advise against it for a romantic date if you intend to “conclude” afterwards (yes, remember that garlic isn’t necessarily your ally in that kind of situation…).
- The Chef’s famous dessert, the “Matcha Tea” in combination with saffron and lemon, a surprising and successful marriage of flavors.
- The Crunchy and melting chocolate sweetness for those who prefer to stick to the classics in desserts, and for chocolate lovers, of course.
The little extra: like in all great restaurants, you can let yourself be guided with your eyes closed by the establishment’s sommelier for the choice of wines, so that they pair perfectly with the chosen dishes.
Le Bien Aimé is obviously not a restaurant you would treat yourself to regularly, but it is a magical place for a romantic dinner or for a dear friend’s birthday, for example, or just to treat yourself gustatorily and visually, because that is always an important detail when you are a gourmet.
Price: expect between €28 and €42 for a starter; between €28 and €56 for main courses; €18 for desserts / tasting menu (2 starters, 2 main courses, 2 desserts) at €140 or €220 with wine pairing
The Pro Tip: the lunch menu at €54 / person (amuse-bouche + starter + main course + dessert), which offers excellent value for money and is a great way to discover this address.
Le Bien Aimé
18 Rue d'Anjou, 75008 Paris
open Tuesday to Saturday from 12:00 PM to 2:30 PM and from 7:30 PM to 11:00 PM
closed Sundays and Mondays
Update 04/21/2020: this restaurant is now permanently closed_
To discover my other gourmet addresses, head to the gourmet restaurants section.
Photo credits: Mademoiselle Bon Plan Photos are not royalty-free, photographer authorization is mandatory before any use
