Restaurant ES

#110 in my Parisian Michelin Stars Challenge to try them all in a year. Follow me for the other reviews and updates. So perfectly French, it’s Japanese. What’s interesting here? I guess this is the perfect example of a Japanese chef establishing himself in Paris and opening a restaurant in hommage to the French cuisine. Let’s start with the obvious. It’s a Japanese restaurant. The chef is Japanese, alone behind the bar where he works. Nearly a one man show. He is only helped by a Japanese lady that does mostly the service for some happy few. Because, there’s the counter and only two/three tables (one is taken for the service). Just like in other Japanese restaurants, the master only cooks for an handful of customers per day (when I came, he wasn’t doing lunches anymore, with some exceptions for special groups). And the design is very zen, very minimalist. Even the charcoal used to cook the meat is Japanese. It’s totally Japanese but…. It’s French. It’s French first because the products are French. You sense the respect for the product and therefore for the local producers, and that means that there must be some sort of dialog, exchanges. It’s French because there’s a love, an admiration for the French products but also for our cuisine. If you look at the pictures, it’s a French haute cuisine restaurant, a tad minimalist (and with dessert de chef). It’s really interesting because you can see what’s left of the French cuisine when you remove the decorum, the French service, the bourgeois atmosphere and even a French chef. You just have the products, the essence. This will not be complete nor possible without the perfect execution, and even sensibility of the chef. Perfect for a date or a dinner with a foodie friend (or both!) A very solid one star. Update 2023: I went back. The level is very similar with two notable things. One difference and one i realized this time. The first one is I think the chef rely less on the nobility of the ingredients, and more on himself. The second is more important. It has the Auberge (inn) spirit. It’s actually the Japanese Auberge. Obviously you can not sleep there, but the couple is running the operation, giving a family spirit, and the proximity with the chef, a certain warmth that transpires from all of this. With the time, I realized how great the memories were created that night. An extremely solid Auberge Star!

French cuisine brought to perfection with Japanese precision and delicacy at Michelin restaurant ES by chef @takayuki_honjo. ⠀ Outstanding tasting menu from ES for our 8-course "brunch".⠀ ⠀ Started with Pumpkin mousse and croque monsieur au foie gras. Followed by Girolles ravioli with delicious chestnut sauce. Unforgettable Lobster with truffle and cauliflower sauces. Turbot fish and lean crunchy chicken with a hint of lemon and apricot were the hero. Delicate Lichi sorbet with mellow smooth Jasmin jelly as pre-dessert and ended with heavenly ice cream

Very subtle and refined cuisine , in a little minimalisticly decorated restaurant . I went for the basic menu , but surely worthwhile exploring the Menu Degustation . Enjoy !

Inspired fusion cuisine, beautifully presented in a charming and stylish venue with engaging hosts. Delightful.

Excellent modern & finest French food. Simply exquisite ! Recommended.

The Japanese chef has done a great job; a delicacy tasting menu, very well thought Japanese / French ingredients and sauces. Highly recommended. Attentive service and cosy dining environment.

Imaginative fixed menu with a series of delicious surprises. The Japanese influence is more in the beautiful presentation than in the flavors. ES was much better than a well-known Michelin 2 star restaurant where we ate the next night.

Small restaurant with 2 tables and a chefs table. Excellent tasting menu of seasonal produce. Very friendly service with the Japanese chef describing each dish.

Outstanding tasting menu from Es on our first night in Paris. We were extremely lucky to get a seat without a reservation as they only can only seat 16. Delicious from the start to the ten-courses-later finish. And service - excellent in any language.

Words cannot do justice to the incredible meal I enjoyed with six friends at ES last night. Every dish was delicious and innovative, yet not "weird." Ever have white cheese ice cream? Don't knock it until you've tried it. Some plates were almost traditionally French, but always had a unique twist. Delicious fish but "salted" with an anchovy glaze. Fresh asparagus, not with traditional hollandaise, but with a Scottish cheddar sauce. Not the slightest morsel was left on any single plate by the time it was retrieved. I lost track of the number of dishes that landed on our table over more than two hours. Each was delivered with a short explanation of the dish and usually the origin of the ingredients in your choice of English, French, or Japanese. The service was perfect! Very professional yet friendly and not the least bit intimidating. Two of my party had some dietary restrictions which were individually accommodated but one of the several desserts contained bananas which one guest could not consume. Chef Takayuki Honjo brought her an alternative to our table that must have been just as good, judging from her expression and the fact that it disappeared entirely, like everything else. Given the quality, originality, and presentation of the food along with the impeccable service, I'd have to say that it was also an excellent bargain. I can guarantee any food lover will enjoy the meal. Unfortunately, you will be on your own trying to find such interesting company to share the experience.