[France: Paris] 2* Restaurant David Toutain

June 19, 2024

[France: Paris] 2* Restaurant David Toutain

Rating: 5/5

My best meal of the year so far has definitely got to be at 2* Restaurant David Toutain in Paris! Originally from Normandy, Chef David Toutain’s love for herbs, flowers, and fruits of the earth came from his grandparents who were farmers. His vegetal-focused cooking philosophy was further shaped by working with culinary masters Alain Passard and Marc Veyrat. He opened his eponymous restaurant in 2013 which has been awarded 2 Michelin stars and a Green Star for his sustainability efforts.

Last year, the chef opened his first venture outside of France at Feuille in Hong Kong. The opening was met with great fanfare, and the restaurant has already been awarded 1 Michelin Star and a Green Star. I enjoyed my meal at Feuille very much so I decided to visit Restaurant David Toutain on this trip to Paris. And boy am I glad that I did because it turned out to be the best meal I’ve had so far this year! The food was super elegant and exquisite, and the balance of flavor was just right - we were mind-blown dish after dish. To me, this was a 3 star meal for sure.

Four experiences are offered at lunch at where the menus bear the name of a plant. We opted for the 8-course Menu Queen Of The Meadows which started with a series of lovely small bites, followed by a flavorful focaccia, a beautiful John Dory, and a delightful cuttlefish. Other incredible highlights included the herring in a super refined black sesame sauce, the white asparagus with rhubarb & almond, the abalone with buckwheat & sea lettuce, and the most elegant vanilla & caramel dessert ever!

Our menu:

Oyster - Kiwi - Coriander