We loved Jugaad (we're still dreaming of those incredible spicy lamb chops and the spice experiment), as well as Seoul Mama, opened hand-in-hand with his partner Sangmi Lee. This autumn, chef Manoj Sharma embarks on a new adventure, in the 15th arrondissement of Paris.
But whereas Jugaad offered a modernized Indian cuisine, steeped in British culture and French gastronomic savoir-faire, at Sharma Ji, the Indian chef's new restaurant, his cuisine returns to tradition.
Personal and authentic, this new address, which means Mr. Sharma in Indian, is a table for sharing that honors Indian family recipes. A cuisine of heritage, far removed from the folklores of Indian restaurants in big European cities, with their illuminations and paintings of the Taj Mahal on the wall.
Sharma Ji 's menu is short, also in contrast to the usual lengthy menus of Indian restaurants in Paris. 6 starters, 7 main courses, only 3 desserts, and a handful of traditional breads made on site and from sides. Manoj Sharma's signature dish is the indispensable lamb chops with kadhai spices (23€), which we mentioned earlier and which are as tasty as ever.
Alongside this, calamari sautéed with curry leaves and chilli (14€), the chef's very fragrant chicken massala (13€), astonishing corn and mozzarella ravioli with cumin (13€), and to top it all off, plain naan (3€) or garlic naan (5€). It's colorful, fragrant, pleasing to the eye, warming to the palate, but the lassi-like Gulabi cocktail (vodka, strawberry, yogurt, cardamom; 13€) is there to put out the fire.
Vegetarians will be delighted with the fried eggplant (21€) dipped in a sesame-tamarind sauce, while others will enjoy the plump half-chicken marinated in fennel and ginger (25€), inspired by Kashmiri recipes.
There's no doubt about it: Chef Manoj Sharma always knows how to treat his guests. An exotic address that's just right for this corner of Paris!
Location
Sharma Ji
16 Rue Frémicourt
75015 Paris 15
Official website
www.sharmaji.fr
