Le Botanique Restaurant: natural bistronomy in the 11th arrondissement - permanently closed

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Published by My de Sortiraparis · Photos by · Published on February 21, 2016 at 11:59 p.m.
2015 winners of the Badoit scholarship sponsored by Thierry Marx, Botanique Restaurant is THE new 11th arrondissement bistronomic address to try out urgently. It's an establishment that's making a name for itself among the great names in French gastronomy.

Chef Sugio Yamaguchi and sommelier Alexandre Philippe are the winning duo behind Botanique Restaurant, which opened last October at 71 rue de la Folie Mericourt in the République district.

Sugio was born in Tokyo. At the age of 16, attracted by French cuisine, he decided to move there and travelled the country discovering the specificities and products of each region. He then joined the brigades of some of France's leading Michelin-starred establishments: Edouard Loubet** in Bonnieux, Rue Le Bec* in Lyon and recently worked with Pierre-Sang Boyer in Lyon and at his restaurant on rue Oberkampf.



Alexandre, for his part, after a number of experiences in establishments in France and Australia, has spent the last two years developing the Botanique Restaurant project. He is also the creator of a high-end cooking school that takes place every year in a Burgundy château.

Together, they have created their very own two-storey concept: a bistro/wine bar on the first floor and a gourmet restaurant upstairs



The bistro is Alexandre's kingdom, where wine is king. Bottles on the counter, bottles on the wall and even bottles... under your feet thanks to the bay window that lets you see the basement cellar where Alexandre preciously keeps his best vintages"The cellar is air-conditioned and the humidity controlled. These bottles are my treasure"



You can also enjoy top-of-the-range tapas.It's a far cry from a simple charcuterie board,with crayfish bisque, oscietre caviar and beef parmentier. The choice of wine to accompany every dish is perfect, and we'd advise you to let the sommelier choose your glass according to what you want to eat. A few surprises are in store, with unexpected wines off the beaten track that we tend to gravitate towards when the choice is left to us.



At the top of the staircase, a magnificent glass roof, lots of light, twenty or so place settings, this is where the Japanese chef operates. In the evening, this space is transformed into a gourmet restaurant: 5 courses and mignardises , impeccable precision, breathtaking colors, simple yet subtle tastes that return to the roots of French gastronomy. "Appearance cuisine can only satisfy the eyes, not the heart.I'd like to get back to basics: cooking that warms the heart, using quality seasonal produce".



A cuisine full of emotion, sensitivity and detail, where every element on the plate has a meaning, a story. From the perfect egg and mushroom fricassee to the shellfish nage and the delicately peppery chocolate tartelette, everything is perfect. Nothing can stay on the plate.
As for the wines, here Alexandre favors wines by the bottle and will guide you according to your menu and budget.



Let's stop spoiling all the surprises this place, these wines and this cuisine have to offer. It's time to experience it for yourself, and for €24 for lunch (below) / €58 for the 5-course tasting menu, with appetizers and mignardises (above), you can be sure of an exceptional moment. For dinner, ask for one of the tables under the
glass roof, with its apparent sky and view of a beautiful Haussmanian building.

Practical info:
Botanique Restaurant
71, rue de la Folie Mericourt
75011 Paris
Reservations: 01 47 00 27 80

Practical information

Location

71 Rue de la Folie Méricourt
75011 Paris 11

Route planner

Access
Oberkampf (Line 5)

Prices
dejeuner: €19 - €24
5 plats, mises en bouche et mignardises: €58

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