Fleur de pavé — Restaurant in Paris

#17: I tried every Michelin Star in paris in a year, follow me to check all the reviews A young chef that hides his maturity.

This chef in real life must be very good at convincing people, because he knows how to bring you slowly but surely to a point. Also, he’s low playing to be able to baffle you with some, what seems to be simple, masterful dishes.

The restaurant looks like a classical yet modern étoilé. Nothing crazy, nothing pretentious no big ego. The cuisine is the same. The appetizers are nice but they do not represent what’s in store. The real deal starts with the starters (see photos and videos). There’s a lot to say, so let’s just take three points. There’s a nice continuity that gives a sense of unity and coherence. The ingredients and their cooking are close to perfection (the ingredients alone do not make a dish, or should not!). The maturity can be seen in the fact that’s the main dishes that is the strong note. Very often, the strong note is on the starter (more freedom, more technical, less standard to respect) or the desserts. Only old masters manage to have the main dish as the strong note.

The service is on the same note. Classical (you have the greetings when you arrive) yet modern.

This place is great if you want a “modern yet classical “ setting, where you can dress up if you want, or be a little more relaxed. You’re not there to people watch. You’re there to have a great meal. Perfect for business, friends and family. For couples, it’s great also but it’s not the place to be seen, it’s a place to live together an good moment.

Very solid one star. A place where the cuisine becomes the discussion, leaving your worries behind, and that will brighten your day days after.

Update 2022: I went back but I sat downstairs to enjoy the show. I’ve noticed some improvement and some changes. It did consolidate last year experience. It’s between a Bistronomic and a gastronomic, so don’t expect 20 waiters but there’s a strong coherence in the dishes. For some technical reasons the new pictures and videos had to be posted directly and not added to the existing review. Next time I think I’ll try the dinner

Definitely a...

We made reservations for the 4-course lunch tasting menu at Fleur de pavé for our first Michelin star experience in Paris. The food was truly creative, oustandingly executed, and featured the best of seasonal, spring produce and flavors. The fish was cooked perfectly, and I will remember the passion fruit pavlova for a very long time. Also excellent wine pairings.

However, there was a disruption to the meal in our second course where my vegetarian partner was served an asparagus dish with chicken sauce. This was despite him saying very clearly in English to the host/server at the beginning of the meal that he does not in meat. I also noted this in writing in French in our reservation. I was disappointed that the host initially disagreed and pushed back on us, until she went and checked the reservation again, then confessed to us that she did not read my notes I had entered.

The dish was immediately returned to the kitchen, and then brought back within 10 minutes a new -- but it tasted again like there was chicken bouillon as a garnish! I didn't say anything this time so we could just continue the meal. I want to emphasize that this didn't ruin our experience, but I'm disappointed how these food restrictions were not accommodated more accurately and seamlessly. Especially given that we alerted the restaurant in advance and upon arrival in both English and French.

The atmosphere in the dining room was also a bit hectic. We were seated at the 2-top right next to the stairs where the staff are hustling up and down constantly. I also understand this is necessary given the need to keep pace with the tasting menu during the lunch hour where some clients need to eat quickly (which the host did explain afterwards), but I found that quite distracting.

Despite some of these let downs, I would absolutely come back and recommend Fleur de pavé to anyone looking for a...

Fleur de Pavé, gourmet restaurant, Paris

I reserved a table there online at the end of October 2024 for March 1, 2025, which was confirmed to me immediately by the restaurant. In mid-January 2025, my reservation was canceled by the restaurant.

Something comparable has also happened to me on rare occasions at other gourmet restaurants in recent decades. These gourmet restaurants, which usually set very high standards for their service, among other things, were then in pains to explain why they unfortunately had to cancel the reservation and, for example, tried to offer an alternative date.

But not at Fleur de Pavé, where I received no explanation whatsoever for the cancellation, let alone an apology. I probably have to consider myself lucky that I didn't receive the cancellation at even shorter notice.

When I checked the restaurant's website again in February 2025, I was able to find out why my reservation had been canceled: The restaurant was closed for vacation from February 23 to March 3, 2025.

Dear Fleur de Pavé team, I hope you had a nice vacation. Please don't worry about me in the slightest: I managed to get another table reservation for the evening in question in Paris.

I can also assure you that I will certainly never bother you with a table reservation again. After all, I would by no means want to get in the way of your last-minute vacation...