Alluma - Review - 11th Arr. - Paris - The Infatuation

"While the husband and wife team behind this spot on the quiet end of busy Rue Saint-Maur are Israeli, it’d be a disservice to call the cuisine solely Levantine. Yes, you’ll find ingredients and flavors from their home country, such as tahini, dried olive powder, and dukka in the six-course, €55 dinner menu, and there may even be a cold kugel as an amuse bouche. But did your bubby top her noodle casserole with caramelized pears and tarragon? Probably not. In its former life, the spacious, dimly lit room that both your date or your parents will approve of was a Moroccan restaurant, which explains the lattice woodwork walls that have been painted stark white and give the restaurant a clean, almost spa-like feel. The menu changes seasonally, and when you visit, it’ll hopefully include the tiramisu-like mascarpone, pumpkin, and caramel dessert. We’re not telling you to lick the bowl, but we’re not telling you to not lick the bowl, either." - Sara Lieberman