Le Caulaincourt, the musical restaurant that wakes up the 18th - Definitely closed

Le Caulaincourt restaurant, a newcomer to Paris's 18th arrondissement, is the result of a meeting between Guillaume, Paul and Sophie. After opening Le Distrait, a wine, cocktail and tapas bar in the 2nd arrondissement, in 2016, the two boys embarked on the Le Caulaincourt adventure, joined by Sophie.

Nestled in the heights of the 18th arrondissement, Le Caulaincourt is a hybrid venue, part restaurant, part music bar. The ideal place for anyone wavering between the two options! It's on this rather novel formula that the place was built, since it's divided into two spaces, one for dining, the other for drinking and dancing. But there's a fine line between the two, and it's not uncommon to see customers dancing the night away in the restaurant area.

From the raw-material decor to the carefully selected plates, everything here is done with great taste, and you'll feel right at home. In fact, let's talk about the cuisine! Everything here is fresh, seasonal and homemade. Quality products are selected by Chef Julien Gasperi (who has worked at Le Sergent Recruteur, Les Fauves, La Maison Bleue and Le Poincaré) from small producers, in a short circuit, with the utmost respect for the consumer.

Sitting on the veranda overlooking the street, a cocktail in hand (the Lamarck or the Caulaincourt, two delicious cocktails that pay homage to the neighborhood), we contemplate the menu with envy and set our sights on the truffled gouda (6€), one of the 4 starters to be shared. This gouda is so good that we warn you in advance, you won't want to share it with your friends!

Next on our table was a ceviche of black mullet (8€) marinated in tiger's milk (a marinade straight from South America): an ultra-fresh, perfectly seasoned dish, with its pomegranate seeds exploding in the mouth. We were also tempted by another starter: crab and avocado cannelloni (11€) topped with pretty edible flowers. A diligent, spring-like presentation that made us think of Monet's painting Les Nymphéas.

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A secreto de cochon (19€) with Agria mashed potatoes and a quasi de veau rosé (25€) with butternut purée followed, each more melting than the last. Hats off, too, to the condiments - wild garlic for the pig and apricot and tarragon compote for the veal - which sublimate dishes that are already out of their league.

A revisited Sicilian lemon tart (8€) and a generous chocolate mousse (9€) sprinkled with peanuts round off this delicious meal.

Two Thursdays a month, Le Caulaincourt organizes musical events with DJs and small collectives. Shadi, a collaborator of the duo Acid Arab and DJ Gilb'r, has already played there. On May 3, 2018, the Namek Records collective will take over the decks, and on May 17, the La Horde collective. The idea here is simple: break codes by democratizing the marriage of good food and good sound.

So whether you're in the mood for good music, dancing, chilled cocktails or gourmet delights, Le Caulaincourt is THE cool place to be. We're telling you: it's a sure bet!