This magnificent address is located within the 4-star Lumen hotel, which is situated on Rue des Pyramides, between the Opéra and the Louvre. A particularly attractive location, especially for me since I work right nearby.
Discovering this restaurant and the cuisine of the Japanese-born chef Akira Sugiura was undeniably one of our biggest favorites in recent months, along with the favorite photographer!
The chef interprets his vision of Italian cuisine, which he fell in love with, on his plates. He also enhances it with subtle Japanese touches, all for a result that is extremely elegant on the palate, as well as visually.
I particularly liked the restaurant’s dining room, which is designed as a glass-roofed conservatory. It gives beautiful luminosity to the space and also allows you to admire the beautiful Saint Roch church in the background.
In short, as you will have understood, it is also the perfect place for a romantic meal! Because each table is also somewhat “isolated” from the others, allowing for a certain intimacy not always obvious in every restaurant.
The menu we tested is the equivalent of the chef’s ‘Carte Blanche’ Dinner menu, where you let yourself be guided through a 6-course meal (€85); the portions are therefore a little smaller than when ordering à la carte. And even with these reduced portions, I must admit we had a hard time finishing everything. But it was so good that we didn’t want to leave a crumb!
Finally, the icing on the cake, so to speak, is that the establishment’s sommelier knows perfectly how to play with flavor complements by choosing from their menu of French and Italian wines, as well as high-end sakes. Here, the food and alcohol pairing is truly a journey of the senses not to be missed!
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Our tasting menu
The dish pairings work perfectly, and the flavors are balanced. And a special mention for the bread served with the meal! We never talk about it enough, but bad bread can ruin a meal…
Amuse-bouche: + Glass of Nino Franco Prosecco
- Rice crisp with nori seaweed and Osciètre caviar from Maison Caviar De Neuvic
- Crispy duck foie gras candy, apple chutney, and sweet miso
- Smoked scallops, Colonnata lard, and salmon roe
- Cod brandade and clementine, mozzarella espuma, and tomato consommé jelly
Starters: + Conte Brandolini d’Adda Friulano DOC 2015
- Kobujime sea bream carpaccio, bottarga, yuzu turnip leaf pesto €22
- Hay-smoked venison tataki, wasabi eggplant tartare, black garlic puree, and winter truffle
Pasta specialties: + Su’entu Vermentino Di Sardegna DOC 2017
- Tagliolini with grilled farm-raised guinea fowl, shimeji, and cacio e pepe
- Mentaiko spaghetti, nori seaweed, and grated daikon (for info, mentaiko or ‘pollock roe’ is a highly prized condiment among the Japanese, bursting with flavors of the sea, as it is a sack containing salted cod or pollock eggs marinated in various seasonings)
Indeed, the restaurant is historically Italian, and pasta is therefore a must-have at the Lumen, almost a signature dish.
Catch of the day + Pouilly-Fumé Nicolas Gaudry AOC 2017
- Sea bass in a crispy potato crust, porcini mushroom and parmesan risotto, balsamic sauce
Selected meat: + Suen’tu Cannonau Di Sardegna DOC 2015
- Hot Muscovy duck and foie gras pâté, sweet potato and bell pepper puree, marsala cooking jus
Desserts: + Kuheji 50 Junmai daiginjo Sake
- Tarte Tatin with caramel and raspberry
- Yuzu tart, white chocolate, and yogurt espuma
As for desserts, pastry chef Erika Koyama (also Japanese) works in the kitchen, and her subtle creations offer plays on texture and very delicate harmonies.
Mignardises (served with coffee):
- Hazelnut vanilla shortbread
- Matcha green tea macaron
The tip: the express lunch menu (Tuesday to Friday lunch) at €32 for appetizer + pasta or pasta + dessert, or €36 with appetizer + pasta + dessert / the discovery lunch menu (Saturday lunch only) with a 4-course surprise menu for €48.
Thanks to the Lumen and Vinciane for this very lovely invitation, but also to Steven Bernot, the restaurant manager who knows how to welcome all his guests with special attention, and it is so appreciated!
Lumen Restaurant 15 rue des Pyramides 75001 Paris Open Tuesday to Saturday, 12pm-2:30pm and 7:30pm-10:30pm
Find all my restaurant reviews in Paris below:
⇒ All my restaurant reviews in Paris
MAP OF MY GOOD FOOD ADDRESSES IN PARIS AND THE ILE-DE-FRANCE REGION
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Bar 
Patisserie / Bakery 
Tea Room / Coffee Shop
Brunch 
Ice cream parlor
Photo credits: Nicolas Diolez Photos are not royalty-free, photographer's authorization required before any use
