Le Bélisaire — Restaurant in Paris

Loved this place when my partner and I visited Paris! It’s quite small but most places in Paris are. The menus change depending on what they have for the week I think. They’re also in French so if you don’t speak it then it might be a little difficult. We were probably the only diners there who were not French or did not speak the language very well. I tried my best but the waiter we had was very nice and explained every single item to us in English. He was so helpful throughout the whole night too. The menu is set up as a set menu so you can choose to get an appetizer, main course and dessert or just two out of the three. They even let you split it up so I got an appetizer and main course while my partner got the main course and dessert. So really we shared an appetizer and dessert.

For appetizer we got the bone marrow. They give you a basket of bread so it was tempting not to eat all the bread before our appetizer came out but the bone marrow will change you. It was amazing. So much marrow and the flavors were so rich. For the main courses I got the foie gras and veggies while my partner got the duck breast and mashed potatoes. The foie gras was so so good. It was seared so it gave it a little charred flavor. It melts in your mouth! The duck breast was perfectly cooked and great too. We finished it off with a “floating island.” I don’t remember what exactly it was but it had the texture of a meringue or marshmallow with a vanilla cream on the bottom and caramel on top. The dessert was good although the appetizer and main courses were definitely the best of the courses. The food was very good and we even thought about going back again...

We stumbled upon this place based off the Google reviews and are happy to say they did not lead us astray. It was fantastic! We got there before they opened and perused the menu as best we could (given that we are not fluent in French). When they opened, we explained that we did not have a reservation, but they were gracious enough to find a spot for us. (If you can, make a reservation.) The server was incredibly patient and helpful in translating the menu for us and making recommendations. And then there was the food, magnificent. The menu changes regularly, so I can only speak to the dishes we had, but my oyster appetizer was incredible, and my partners seafood ravioli was very satisfying as well. For our main course I had duck that was thick and juicy like steak with a sweet potato mash that paired nicely (and I typically do not like sweet potato). My partner got a salmon steak over mashed potatoes that was perfect. Lastly, the price was absolutely reasonable (truth be told, we'd have to pay twice as much stateside for a...

Succulent, joyeux, inoubliable !

Nous avons quitté Paris XVème il y a un peu plus de deux ans. Nous y avions nos petites adresses habituelles pour déjeuner ou dîner plaisamment. Nous en gardions aussi jalousement certaines de côté; de ces établissements qu’on voudrait bien partager tellement on s’y sent bien, tant on y mange de ces petits plats hors des sentiers battus, mais dont on redoute que trop de renommée ne gâte l’ambiance ou pire, la qualité de ce qu’on y déguste.

Le Bélisaire est de celles-ci. Un lieu inhabituel de par la capacité du patron et chef à maintenir dans le temps une cuisine savoureuse, un accueil « comme jadis quand les habitués avaient chacun leur casier à serviette réservé » et où on se sent bienvenu comme des amis.

Il n’est pas vraiment question ici de souper romantique en amoureux, les yeux dans les yeux, dans un calme de crypte. C’est possible toutefois, mais cela ne me semble pas la vocation du lieu.

Les habitués du Bélisaire viennent ici pour faire bonne chair, se pourlécher les babines dans une ambiance bistrot, au sens noble du terme, de mets traditionnels, revus à la sauce maison, agrémentés de petites touches personnelles excellemment réalisées et qui en font des spécialités uniques, des souvenirs gustatifs inoubliables.

Un exemple du moment ? Le ragoût de homard breton. Le candide imaginera une de ces petites marmites de cuivre ou en fonte dans laquelle surnagent quelques morceaux du crustacé. Halte là ! L’assiette que le chef vous servira régale les yeux, la bête est savamment présentée, façon tableau de maître, au point qu’on hésite à en rompre l’agencement, mais les fumets qui titillent vos sens mettront fin rapidement à cette contemplation. Pomme de terre tendre et goûteuse et une portion de lard anoblissent le breton arthropode aquatique pour en révéler la substantifique saveur.

Vos papilles sont au septième ciel, l’extase est proche, le moment se transforme en un souvenir impérissable !

La vie est trop courte pour manger triste : foncez, réservation conseillée, les places sont comptées et les retardataires n’auront que leurs yeux...