The 11th arrondissement never stops welcoming new restaurants. Here's just one that opened its doors at the end of June 2018, on rue de la Fontaine au Roi, and that we couldn't wait to try out. Robert, as it's called, is the latest addition to the team behind Martin Boire&Manger, on boulevard du Temple, and Au Passage, just a few blocks from Robert.
This little Robert boasts a chic, refined menu, because its credo is above all good eating: the vegetables, grown by the restaurant team, come from Sancerre or Natoora, an organic market; the meats come from Ferme de Clavisy in the Yonne and the fish from Tom Saveurs, which practices responsible fishing. Here, everything is done with the utmost respect for the product, and you can eat with your eyes closed.
But what exactly is on offer at Robert' s? The menu, which changes monthly and seasonally, is full of surprises. For starters, when we went, there was a choice of: Vegetable salad, smoked egg yolk, ricotta salata (13€); Tartar of brill, cucumber pickles, nori, oyster leaf (15€); Lobster, datterino tomatoes, peaches, fresh walnuts (17€) or Parfait of foie gras and poultry liver, pistachios and brioche (15€).
We tried the last two, and were quite simply won over. The dishes are based on exceptional products, enhanced by combinations that work wonders: fresh walnuts and lobster? What a great idea. A liver parfait topped with pistachios, to be enjoyed on a soft brioche? We'll sign off right away!
For the main courses, we put our trust in Australian-born chef Peter Orr, who offered the following that evening: Gnocchi, served with artichokes and fresh goat's cheese cream (23€); a piece of free-range Veal, eggplant parmigiano, chanterelle mushrooms, Colonnata bacon (28€); Cod, Paimpol coconut, zucchini (26€), cooked to perfection and subtly seasoned with crab crumbs; and a Magret de canard, raviole farcie, spinach, fig (27€), a very gourmet dish, full of flavors - our big favorite of the evening.
While the chef, who trained in Michelin-starred Italian restaurants in London, gives pride of place to pasta, he is also an undeniable master of meat and fish, which he magnifies with panache.
To end this feast in style, we fell for the buckwheat Panna Cotta, matcha ice cream, mirabelle plums (8€) and the Walnut Cake, honey mousse, cardamom ice cream (9€), two little marvels of gourmandise.
Robert is THE new must-visit address in the 11th arrondissement, and surely one of the best restaurants to open in Paris this year. Don't delay!
Please note that it's been over 4 years since our last visit, so the place and experience may have changed.
Location
Robert - permanently closed
32 Rue de la Fontaine au Roi
75011 Paris 11
Prices
Entrées: €13 - €17
Entrée + plat ou Plat + Dessert: €21
Plats: €23 - €28
Entrée, plat & dessert: €25
Menu dégustation en 5 plats: €55
Official website
robert-restaurant.fr
More information
Open Wednesday to Saturday 12:00-14:30 / 19:00-22:30 Lunch menu Wednesday to Friday