Symbiose Restaurant Epernay

We did a tasting menu, which was an superb value for money. All courses were very tasty, my absolute favourite was truffle ravioli. Wine and champagne - top notch. Service was attentive and friendly. We had a lovely dinner!..

We had the introduction menu on a Saturday for lunch. The atmosphere of Symbiose was very simple and unassuming. We were greeted by the waiter who was kind but due to just being alone the service was a bit slower than expected. We completed the introduction menu in 2.5hrs. The food was amazing, we had oysters as an addition to the introduction menu starters. For starters we loved the tuna and the snails. For mains both the fish and the veal were great, we preferred the fish. For dessert, we opted for the cheese platter and the chocolate mouse. The cheese platter was just enough quantity and of good quality. Meanwhile the chocolate mouse with vanilla ice cream was a perfect end to a gastronomic experience. For drinks we had 1 glass of white wine, 1 red wine and 2 roses. Wine glasses ranging from €6-€8 per glass. All of them were really good. Definitely a restaurant to come back to when visiting Epernay.

The food is very good and the dishes well presented. The atmosphere however was very off. Plastic tables with no towels, poor toilets, terrace not very clean. I felt like dining on a neighborhood restaurant and was expecting gastronomic experience for this price. The service also was poor. We were with babies and asked to seat inside (it was a bit fresh outside) which was denied because “it would make the service difficult to them”. The experience was not worth the price.

Very good restaurant in Epernay! The choices on the menu is fairly limited as the restaurant focuses on fresh and quality products. For us though this was totally worth it as the dishes were of great quality (the escargot definitely standing out). Also the wine menu is not extensive but the choices are great for this type of dinner.

Came here for lunch and had the set menu, plus oysters and wine, which came to roughly £65pp. The set menu was well priced for the quality of the food. I enjoyed every dish and it was well presented. It's a relatively small restaurant, so I would recommend booking, particularly in busier seasons

The restaurant has changed the menu between my reservation and my visit. The new menu did not have what we would originally prefer. Moreover, it had a rule written on the menu “Every client MUST order at least one main course”. This is what we did not want, so we sent the waiter to check if we can do two starters instead. The answer was no. As a result (as we were hostages of the situation, with the credit card on file and no desire to search for other options), we took theee main courses and three glasses of wine as a bare mandatory minimum. We decided not to do starters, skip the oysters and get drinks and deserts elsewhere. As the total outcome, instead of €250-300 and the tips, they got €119 and a negative review. Yes, and the duct tape on the ceiling looks very disgusting. You should fix that thing.

We dined last night and just had the a la carte menu. Absolutely beautiful food, unusual, tasty flavours. Lovely, discreet service. Would highly recommend if visiting Épernay.

The food was amazing. Natural flavours with the chef knowing how to serve. Amazing. As well as the service. The maitre knew at all times what was happening and what was up. Remained calm and professional in a filled restaurant. Very good job. Only downside was the constant presence of smoke smell (presumably cigarettes).

It's only a Michelin Guide restaurant but I believe it deserves a star. It was a random pick from our day adventure in Epernay. Order: a potato mousse with apples, raw oysters, Truffle Ravioli on a butternut mash sprinkled with hazelnuts, cod with asparagus and buckwheat. Everything was very light unlike American food that's super heavy. I loved that their ingredients were fresh and perfectly seasoned. Our server was very patient with translating the menu to us. The atmosphere was elegant and tranquil (we were also the first guests for that day so not noisy at all lol)

When you come to Epernay you understand two things.... There will be great food, and there will be even better Champagne! Symbiose is both of these things. As a brand new restaurant people need to be patient with the wine list as it improves over time. The foundations are amazing however, and the greatest of wine connoisseurs must appreciate a solid foundation for a wine menu. Symboise has done this with their selections, from affordable common and grower producers to amazing finds like Jacques Selosse. While Selosse is going to run you into the mid 100 euro area it is well worth the investment, since how often are you in Epernay? The second thing that I found charming and great about this restaurant is that the host/server/bartender was the wife of the chef. It is a locally run business by two young people who are actively working hard to make their mark on Epernay through amazing food, service, and wine. They speak very good English by French standards, and my wife and I had no trouble conversing with them both about the restaurant, food, wine, and life. We found out that the Chef went to school in Paris for his culinary diploma, and they had moved to Epernay to establish themselves as a couple after being married about one year ago. Okay.... now that you have ALL that back story (and there is much more I did not share) it is time for the food. You can choose from an assortment of "Pick your own" style Prix Fixe menu. Prices are moderate considering the rest of Epernay, but I can guarantee that their prices will increase as time goes on and people find out how amazing this spot is. The value is absolutely present here. We started with a pumpkin soup for my wife and Foie Gras for me. After completing the Foie Gras (and soaking every last bit of it up off the plate) I struggled through my awful french to ask Justine (the host/owner/server/bartender) for a second plate of Foie Gras served after the main course. She seemed shocked, but I was so excited about the Foie Gras that I couldn't just have one plate. I have had Foie Gras many times and in many places, and this is the best I have had yet! The pumpkin soup was good, however personally when it comes to choosing between the two you should go with the Foie Gras! For the entree we selected two different things again. I chose the Poultry dish that had chicken, and my wife chose the Filet (steak) option. Both were fantastic, and were well executed when it comes to flavors. Nothing that was overpowering, and yet if you don't eat like your in the military (scarfing your food down), then you enjoy the development of so many subtle flavors over your palate. I was impressed with both my wife's and my dish. I would not hesitate to order both again. At this point I ate my second helping of Foie Gras, which was still just as amazing as the first round, and my wife enjoyed the fromage (cheese) selection. The cheeses were well selected, and portion was perfect for a single person. Last but certainly not least was the dessert. We enjoyed a pineapple/fruit dessert with vanilla ice cream, and a chocolate dessert with mascarpone. There were many other details that I am now forgetting, but if you are still reading you understand that its possible my mind had just been blown and I had forgotten the details. The desserts were amazing, and the perfect cap on a great dinner. Along with the beginning we opted to order the Ratafia de Champagne (which was sourced from a grower just 20 minutes driving to the south of Epernay), and it was incredible. We opted to not have champagne since we had a magnum waiting for us when we got back home (I know ... sometimes life is just hard!). By the end of the meal we got to converse with the chef and his wife who were the only ones working in the restaurant, and I can only imagine when it is busy they are working their tails off! Luckily Sunday is a slower evening to enjoy dinner, but with that said I would advise anyone to have a little bit of grace when reviewing this place understanding the amount of work, effort, and energy these two are putting into their restaurant. Bottom Line: These are two young people who have a passion to bring exquisite food, wine, and atmosphere together so that anyone willing to experience a meal at their restaurant will leave with a full belly, great memory, and changed outlook on what a meal can mean. I will never hesitate to recommend, come back, or sing the praises of this restaurant! I thank Maxime (the chef, and Justine (the server/bartender/host) for an experience I will not forget. Sincerely, Brad & Alex

Excellent meal overall. Focus is on the food, not the service-- though not disparaging the service, it was good. Selections were of perfect proportions and balance. Presentation was nice. Overall a great value. Recommend highly. Merçi Maxime et Justine!

Exquisite food prepared with skill and love. Great service and personal attention from the owner and the Chef. Must do if in Epernay