Kubri — Restaurant in Paris

Restaurant Review: Kubri, Paris — A Culinary Coup de Foudre

From the moment we stepped into Kubri, nestled discreetly in the heart of Paris, we were wrapped in a welcome as warm as freshly baked khobz. The ambience is effortlessly chic, without a trace of pretension — the kind of place where you feel instantly at home, yet subtly aware that something extraordinary is about to unfold.

We began the evening with a cocktail of rose infused with sumac and a crisp white wine. While neither drink reinvented the wheel, both gently nudged our palates awake, setting the scene for what was to be a sensational culinary journey.

Now, we were advised — gently, and with knowing smiles — to order three or four smaller plates or two smaller dishes and a main. But being the greedy gastronomes we are, we naturally took this suggestion as more of a polite guideline than a rule. A wise move, in retrospect.

First up: the hummus. A true litmus test. If you can’t get hummus right, you’ve no business in Levantine cuisine. Thankfully, Kubri didn’t just pass the test — it aced it. Silky smooth, impossibly light, and paired with flatbread on constant rotation, it was a dish so moreish it could’ve been our entire meal. But we were only just beginning.

Next came the hispi cabbage — and let me just say, I hope it never leaves the menu. Each bite was like a kaleidoscope of flavour, unfolding in waves: sweet, smoky, tangy, spicy — a carousel of complexity that danced on the tongue and refused to be pinned down.

Then came the octopus. How do I describe it? I won’t. I can’t. One word will suffice: sensational. Perfectly tender, charred just-so, it was a dish that silenced the table — no small feat, I assure you.

Our watermelon fattoush arrived in tandem — light, crisp, and (yes, I’ll say it again) refreshing. A vibrant palate cleanser that reminded us that summer was still very much in session.

By now, the waitress’s portion advice was echoing in our minds — and in our tightening waistbands. But we pressed on, determined to meet our main course like the culinary warriors we fancied ourselves to be. Enter: the roast chicken.

It was a masterpiece. Golden, succulent, and crowned with a green sauce so joyous, so vivid, it practically composed a symphony on the tongue. A fiddle, if you will, and our taste buds danced to its tune.

If I may be bold: this was, without exaggeration, the best meal I’ve ever had. Not in Paris. Not this year. Ever. There’s something sacred happening at Kubri — a reverence for ingredients, a fearlessness with flavour, and a generosity of spirit that transcends the plate.

Yes, the food did take its sweet time to arrive. But when each dish is prepared with this much soul and precision, it feels less like waiting and more like anticipation.

We’re told the menu changes in a few months. No matter. We’ll be back — fork in hand, appetite in tow, and ready to surrender all over again.

Five...

On our visit to Paris, my lovely bride put together a great list of places to eat. Our visit to Kubri was, and still is, the absolute best meal we've had in France.

We were fortunate to sit at the chef's table. I'd say by about ten minutes into our visit, we felt as if we were regulars. The staff were simply beautiful in their hospitality, service and genuine warmth. Of course, while watching these absolute pros perform their craft, they were gracious in answering questions about how certain dishes were made and they showed true professionalism by explaining processes.

Chef Rita Higgins, the mind behind the culinary artistry, was an absolute joy. She spent her valuable time taking with us and made us feel like we were the only guests in her restaurant.

The food....

I could easily write multiple pages, praising the epicurean blessings that were placed in front of us. I'll do my best to keep it realistic.

Lentils. Incredible. Prepared on a flat top. Yes, a flat top. Smoky, tender, light, perfectly cooked and as fresh as if they were harvested moments before.

Cabbage. Savoy-ish (thanks Rita), prepared at high temperature and charred perfectly. Served with a type of remoulade and on a bed of hummus. This dish could be a meal in itself. Never before have I had such a desire to go home and attempt a dish.

Chicken. Ok, it was at this point in the meal when my life changed. Prepared with a simple puree of parsley, coriander, OO, S&P. Sous vied for three hours and finished in the broiler, which resulted in an audibly crispy skin while the inside was juicy, melt in your mouth tender and seasoned uniquely and perfectly. Chicken shouldn't taste this good.

Hummus. The creamiest, most delicious hummus I've ever had the pleasure of eating and that goes up against some incredible middle eastern restaurants I've visited both in the States and abroad.

Let's not forget the delicious Almaza Lebanese beer. Delicious.

We didn't want to leave. We felt like we were leaving a group of old friends.

Rita Higgins is an absolute genius. She is the Derek Jeter, Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky and Tom Brady of food.

If you're visiting Paris (or even if you're within a couple of hours away), Kubri is an absolute required visit.

Rita and staff, thank you so much for blessing us with what proved to be a top five meal of...

What can I say that hasn’t already been said about how amazing Kubri is? From the staff who make you feel at home, to the food and the atmosphere, everything at Kubri was perfect. My husband and I made reservations at Kubri 2 months in advance, which I’m so happy we did, as they reluctantly had to turn people away at the door because they were full. In the reservation, it asked if we were coming for any special occasion, and as it happens, our trip to Paris was to celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary. They treated us with complimentary champagne which was so sweet and helped us through the menu. We ended up ordering the new lamb kebabs and cabbage starters and got the chicken entree. My husband was skeptical as, on their own, he didn’t like many of the ingredients, but by some magic, all of these dishes tasted decadent. They really created a masterpiece with each dish, the combination of spices and flavors transformed each piece to far more than their parts. The service from the waiters was also the best, by far, in all of Paris. They were attentive and gave us more bread whenever we were out. We finished the meal with the orange dessert and their highly reviewed ice cream. Oh my gosh. I don’t even like pistachios and it was AMAZING. I still am baffled by how they did it. The closest taste to it is like a Snickers ice cream bar. SO. GOOD. If you aren’t familiar with a lot of the dishes on the menu, don’t be overwhelmed. Just try what’s often recommended and go in with an open mind and I promise, you won’t be disappointed.

Run. Do not walk to Kubri. But make sure you have a reservation first because this place DESERVES to be fully booked, and it often is. Our only complaint is that we don’t have more time in our trip to return to try the dishes we missed. Our BEST meal in all of Paris, followed very closely be Le Train Bleu. Which was also exceptional which says quite a lot about how...