L’Ami Jean — Restaurant in Paris

Had a reservation for one and enjoyed an exceptional lunch. Service was warm and attentive throughout. I regret not asking for my server’s name - she was kind, professional, and made the experience feel personal. If she ever reads this, I hope she knows her hospitality stood out.

The atmosphere is cozy and intimate, with an open kitchen that invites you into the process. My only minor gripe: tables are placed quite close together, which can make things feel a bit cramped. But it’s clear the chef’s focus lies elsewhere - every ounce of care and creativity has gone into the menu, and it shows.

FOOD -

For starters:

Razor clams gently poached in a rich, aromatic fish stock infused with tomato, tarragon, and a medley of other herbs and spices. The broth was the highlight - deeply flavorful and layered, with sweet acidity from the tomato and a subtle anise note from the tarragon. Generous amounts of fried onion and grilled tomato added both texture and umami.

While I typically prefer my clams raw or grilled, these were exceptionally well prepared. Overall, a pleasant surprise that converted even this skeptic of poached shellfish

For the main course -

A perfectly grilled pigeon, precisely cooked, super juicy. Each piece was nestled atop a stunning mushroom ragout that delivered an immediate wow: deeply savory, earthy, and luxuriously textured. Alongside it were root vegetables simmered in a rich beef stock, equally imbued with the depth of the forest and a soulful, slow-cooked intensity.

The dish was served with a flamed wild plant. The aromatic smoke delicately perfumed the dish, enhancing the taste of the pigeon and layering the experience with a wild, yet elegant, edge.

Served on the side were hearty mashed potatoes - super buttery and creamy. It didn’t just complement the pigeon, it harmonized well with the ragout and vegetables, creating a spoonful that was rich and satisfying.

I've eaten four pigeon dishes in my life, three of which were in Michelin restaurants, but this was the best.

For dessert -

The chef’s signature creation: a rice pudding that’s anything but traditional.

The rice was cooked with precision - tender yet solid, holding together in gentle clumps without ever becoming porridge. Simmered in milk and mascarpone, the texture was a 10/10: luxuriously creamy, soft, and infinitely comforting. The dominant flavor was unapologetically milky.

But the real twist lies beneath - an extraordinary salty crème anglaise, unlike anything I’ve ever tasted. Flecked with real vanilla and carrying the unmistakable depth of salted butter, it’s a sauce that stuns on its own and transforms the pudding into a study in contrast: sweet vs. salty.

Also beneath the rice - toasted medley of hazelnuts and walnuts, their buttery richness and delicate smokiness adding dimension. Most crucially, they brought a necessary crunch, cutting through the softness and amplifying the dish’s balance and intrigue.

Bottom line: A show-stopping dessert. And I say that having eaten some decent, serious rice puddings, around the world. This one is in a league of its own.

TO CONCLUDE:

If it’s been a while since a meal truly excited you, do yourself a favor -...

Disappointing, very rushed service, bad atmosphere and vibes, generally the kind of place that seems to say “just give us your money, get out, and thank us for taking it”. Kid of a wasted meal - a shame when in Paris.

Atmosphere. We got quickly sat down on a table next to the kitchen. Felt very crammed, later other guests came and they had to move tables to make them sit next to us - everyone was kind of trapped. Rustic environment, but felt more cheap than charming. Did not feel welcome.

Rushed and impersonal service. Waiters were extremely rushed, served us everything right away and could not wait for us to be done with our starters to shove the main down our throats. When the main course arrived, waiters fumbled around our small table to make place for it, repeatedly touching the top of our glasses and generally to the point of being a bit disgusting. When taking orders, they were also rushed. Also oddly rude: I asked for a starter. The waiter wanted to recommend a different one. That’s in itself fine, but instead of saying “hey, I would actually recommend to…” he said “No! The chef says to get this!”. Kid of felt weird. I also ordered a glass of wine to go with the food and I asked the waiter to choose for me what suited the main course best. I got slammed on the table a glass of red without explanation, and when I asked “ok, what did you choose?” the waiter hurriedly mumbled “Cote du Rhone” while rushing away. Super weird.

Average food. Food was ok-ish. The scallops on mushroom soup were actually very nice, and the best we got. That is at least to be recommended. The starter with cod which was “recommended” was disappointing. Plenty of butter, so of course tasted ok-ish, but the cod was overcooked and dry, had the consistency of baccalà. Even if on purpose, it did not fit with the rest of the plate. We ordered a beef shoulder for main, which was served in broth and boiled vegetables. Tasted ok, just as any cheap-ish beef part cooked slowly in a sous-vide tastes like, but was not at all elevated as a 95€ dish demands. Ok meal, could have done and served it at home myself.

Overall we stayed inside for 1h 10 minutes, paid ~180€ for it. I do not mind the price itself, but I do mind it for something similar to what you’d expect from a slightly hostile rural...

I've been in France for nearly 1.5 years and this was the most "French" experience I've ever had! This cosy hidden jewel is tucked away in the 7th Arrondissement of Paris, not terribly far from the Eiffel Tour or the Musée YSL. We enjoyed great service from the moment we walked in (with a reservation, mind you) which continued until we asked to pay the bill. The 4 course Business Lunch was an excellent choice as it allowed us to try soup, an appetizer, main course and dessert and is very reasonably priced (35E at time of our lunch 2/18). The chef was on fire (not literally) raising his voice to staff members (not sure how much was theatrical vs. real - got my attention though), clapping his hands quite loudly as orders came up. It was like being in a French movie. The food was over the top amazingly delicious. Each course was carefully pieced together with croutons here, and cheese there as a hot pureed lentil soup was served on top of the velvety liquid. We then enjoyed scallops which were delicately seared in a pan, laid gently onto a luscious pool of red wine sauce (not like you may be accustomed to) and rich vegetable broth that included the tiniest diced vegetables I've ever seen in my life. The flavors all melded together perfectly! Next came a tureen filled with broth, vegetables and the main course of rabbit. This was my first experience eating rabbit and it was cooked perfectly and tasted divine. Tender as it was it fell easily from the bone. Finally we were served the vanilla glacé with mandarin orange and meringue like none I've ever eaten before. It melted in my mouth as the sliced roasted almonds became the crunch factor. Amazing. Chef Stephén Jégo takes his skills very seriously and there is no mistake about it based on the food he prepares. ALL staff members were involved in our visit from start to finish and all receive the highest marks from me! Bravo to Chez L'Ami! Thank you for an amazing French (food)...