Le Camondo is the hidden gem of the Rue Monceau. Adjacent to the Musée Nissim de Camondo (a private mansion transformed into a museum of decorative arts, showcasing sublime 18th-century furniture) and the Parc Monceau, this 8th arrondissement restaurant and its sublime terrace are sure to please.
As soon as you arrive, you'll be seduced by the high volumes and metal columns. In fact, this listed building was once the former stables of Moïse de Camondo, to whom we owe the museum inspired by the Petit Trianon. A beautiful, imposing central cocktail bar stands in front of us, providing the perfect setting for a refreshing evening.
Once past the dining room, we discover a second bright room under a glass roof, a winter garden where we like to take shelter and unveil a superb stone fountain. The bay window opens onto the green paved terrace, where a variety of plants and palm trees provide a welcome change of scenery.
On the kitchen side, Bordeaux-born chef Fanny Herpin took over the reins in 2020. Formerly head chef at Restaurant Allard, she worked at Épicure in the Bristol under the wing of Éric Frechon, and at Taillevent with Alain Solivérès. Fanny Herpin also worked for Maison Ducasse, successively at Hôtel Byblos, Pinch, Jules Vernes, Le Meurice with Christophe Saintagne and Chez Benoit.
It's fair to say that she's no stranger to the big houses, and at just 32 years of age, it's a fine cuisine that she's delivering. A light, responsible cuisine with slow, low-fat cooking - a real treat. There's no such thing as good food without good produce, and the chef, in her responsible approach, likes to source quality produce direct from producers and in short circuits.
These include fruit and vegetables from market gardener Christophe Latour in Lot-et-Garonne, poultry, veal and lamb from Ferme de Tauziet, and fish from Les Chalands, which Tom Saveurs buys from small boats in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Cap Breton and the Pyrenees for the former, and on the Atlantic coast for the latter. There's no such thing as good food without good points, and on this point , Jean-Luc Poujauran and his sourdough bread are the stars.
La PetitePêche at Le Camondo is the place to be every Saturday lunchtime. As a lover of seafood and an advocate of sustainable fishing, Fanny Herpin proposes a fish dish every Saturday, depending on what's available and what inspires her. If you love fish and want to try some of the lesser-known pout, horse mackerel, gurnard, mullet and other julienne, this is a good idea not to be missed. At €18 for the Petite Pêche and €22 for the main course accompanied by an iced tea, you won't be disappointed.
The Camondo restaurant menu:
The à la carte menu features summer dishes that seduce our taste buds. Starters include Burratina on a bed of butternut squash; Organic Hen Egg on a bed of white asparagus, Belles du Marsan, Colonnata bacon and grilled buckwheat; the excellent Scottish Salmon gravlax with lemongrass pea cream, radishes and croutons; the Truffle Croques and the sublime Beet Carpaccio with fresh goat's cheese and arugula pesto accompanied by mustard caviar. Well-seasoned and well-spiced, with fresh products ideally prepared, we're in for a treat.
On the main course, the short menu may seem classic, but there's never a dull moment on the plate. You'll love the Cochon de lait confit, flavored with herbs, and the sublime Pyrenean trout, poached in its own swimming sauce and melting in the mouth. With its crunchy fresh peas, whole carrot on a bed of purée and redcurrant emulsion, it's a marvel. The special of the day that day was a delicious roasted line-caught grouper, with colored beets, horseradish cream and condiment from the tops, a wonderful discovery .
For dessert, we highly recommend the Vanilla Rice Pudding. Lightly sweetened and expertly complemented with crispy black rice and a drizzle of caramel, it's divine. If patisserie is your thing, you can opt for two of Nina Metayer 's pastries (the chocolate tart for us). Last but not least, when the weather's nice, it's hard not to fall for Glazed's ice creams.
In short, if you feel like going green, after a stroll in the Parc Monceau, a tour of the 8th arrondissement or a visit to the Musée Nissim de Camondo, this is a charming address.
Dates and Opening Time
Starts January 1, 2023
Location
Le Camondo restaurant
61 Rue de Monceau
75008 Paris 8
Prices
Entrées: €16 - €23
Recommended age
For all
Official website
lecamondo.fr
More information
Open Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner Sunday brunch
