Today on the blog, I’m going to introduce you to two rather different spots, which share one thing in common: they are both creations by the same person, chef Julien Agobert.
Both located in the Marais district of Paris, one is a bistronomic restaurant, while the other is a restaurant and bar offering small plates to share. I must also admit that while I really loved one of these addresses, I enjoyed the other a little less (I’ll leave some mystery for later…).
_
Le Jackpot
Located in the heart of the Marais, Le Jackpot is the latest restaurant opened by chef Julien Agobert, where he revisits traditional cuisine through homemade small plates in an apéro/tapas style to share (and you know how much I love this concept of small bites to nibble on!).
A bar-restaurant with an urban and friendly vibe that offers simple, tasty cuisine in a relaxed atmosphere, made with seasonal products. It was a hit with both me and my favorite photographer.
Salty favorites to try: cod fritters with Korean sauce (€7.50); crispy gnocchi with lemon sauce and grated Comté cheese (€7.50); fresh ricotta cheese, pineapple and raisin chutney with focaccia bread (€6.50); potato croquettes with vegan leek mayonnaise (€6.50).
Sweet favorites to try: the super original Camembert macaron with jelly vinaigrette (€7.50); roasted caramelized banana with ginger sorbet (€6.50).
As for drinks, the place offers cocktails, as well as craft beers and a nice selection of wines (priced between €5 and €7 per glass).
In short, Le Jackpot is truly a great address just as I like them for having a stylish and original apéro/tapas in a cool venue, so I can only highly recommend it.
Le Jackpot Jackpot, 10 Rue des Haudriettes, 75003 Paris From 6am to 2am, no reservations, eat-in or takeaway
_
Le Monjul
Very different from the Jackpot I just introduced, Le Monjul is the first restaurant by Chef Julien Agobert, opened over 11 years ago now. It is a bistronomic restaurant with a unique menu that changes daily for lunch; in the evening, you’ll find an à la carte menu or a tasting menu, like the one we enjoyed.
The space is quite original because the restaurant is long and narrow, with an open kitchen at the very back (although I must warn you, if you are in the back during summer, it can get quite sweltering).
I have to say, my favorite photographer and I were a bit disappointed by this dinner. All the effort was there, from the service, which is adorable and very professional, to the presentation of the dishes, which is neat. However, we both agreed that the challenge taken on by the venue—to create a gastronomic restaurant accessible to everyone—was, from our point of view, not achieved.
Indeed, the restaurant highlights original pairings of ingredients, flavors, and textures (maybe too many?) but the result lacks balance on the palate. It sounds good on paper, but in terms of taste, it didn’t quite live up to what we were expecting. Maybe it’s also because we were expecting too much, I’m not really sure…
We also wondered if we had become too demanding after testing so many restaurants, maybe… I don’t have enough perspective to say, because I know that other people I know have really enjoyed this restaurant.
But still, I can’t say that we didn’t have a good time that evening, that would be an exaggeration, it just wasn’t the explosion of flavor we were preparing ourselves for while reading the menu and seeing the dishes arrive.
Monjul 28, rue (clos) des blancs manteaux, 75004 Paris Tuesday to Thursday from 12:00pm to 10:30pm / Friday and Saturday from 7:30pm Tasting menu at €55 / person (+ €23 per person for a wine pairing) Great deal: lunch menus at €14, €18.50, and €22.50
_
Conclusion: on a very personal note, I was much more excited by Le Jackpot and its simpler, less complicated, and ultimately more successful cuisine in my opinion, than by Le Monjul, but well, all of that, as always, is a matter of taste.
Thanks to chef Julien Agobert and to Clara for these invitations.
Find all my restaurant reviews in Paris below:
⇒ All my restaurant reviews in Paris
MAP OF MY FAVORITE FOOD SPOTS IN PARIS AND THE ILE-DE-FRANCE REGION
Restaurant 
Bar 
Bakery / Pastry Shop 
Tea Room / Coffee Shop
Brunch 
Ice Cream Shop
Photo credits: Nicolas Diolez Photos are not royalty-free, photographer's authorization required before any use
