Quinsou — Restaurant in Paris

Quinsou, Paris » My visit: March 2025 » Total score: 4.4/5 – good to very good » Comment: In my opinion, the food tasted very good. I would particularly highlight the dessert, which I found outstanding overall. I also thought the wines were very good overall.

The restaurant is supposed to be a gourmet restaurant and describes itself as such on its website ("Restaurant Gastronomique"). Having said that, I would suggest that they could inform their guests on their website not to expect the usual fine-dining ambience. Rather the ambience of a cramped down the road bistro.

Besides, I would suggest turning up the heat and fixing what I thought was bad lighting. Last but not least, I have one final suggestion: Please ban all pets (yes, even the cute little ones) from the dining room and start with the dog that apparently belongs to one of the team members and which kept appearing behind me throughout the evening. 1|122|69

My ratings for this gourmet restaurant in detail:

●● Service – 4.6/5 – still very good: ● Hospitality, friendliness, obligingness, etc.: 4.6/5 ● Atmosphere, temper, facilitation, etc.: 4.5/5

●● Food – 4.5/5 – good to very good: ● Flavors (range, depth, composition, harmony/balance, etc.): 4,7/5 ● Level (thoroughness, craftsmanship, originality, exclusivity, variety of impressions, consistency/diversity, etc.): 4,4/5 ● Choices: 4,3/5

●● Beverages, mainly the wines – 4.7/5 – very good: ● Taste (depth/range, length, complexity, balance, accessibility, elegance, intensity/subtlety, etc.): 4.7/5 ● Level (variety/novelty of impressions, consistency/diversity, exclusivity, etc.): 4.8/5 ● Did the beverages (mainly the wines) match the dishes?: 4.7/5 ● Choices: 3.9/5

●● Presentation of the food – 3.7/5 – satisfactory: ● Textures and (differences in) temperatures: 3.7/5 ● Colors and decorations: 3.4/5 ● Timing and sequencing as well as sizes of portions: 3.9/5 ● Special effects (positionings, DIY-effects, sculptural or thematic elements, surprises, color and motion effects, fake effects, olfactory effects, fog or smoke effects, etc.):  2.9/5 ● Procedures at and around the table (attunements and explanations, elements added/changed, service and staffing intensity, involvement of kitchen team, orchestrated dish presentations, preparations and dishes (partially) built up at the table, etc.): 4.4/5

●● Presentation of beverages, mainly the wines – 4.6/5 – still very good: ● Procedures at and around the table (explanations and attunements, etc.): 4.4/5 ● Quantities poured as well as timing in relation to the dishes: 4.9/5

●● Premises and location – 3.5/5 – sufficient to satisfactory: ● Accessibility, surroundings and - as applicable - the view: 4.1/5 ● How did I like the room or - as applicable - outdoor area’s style, decor and atmosphere?: 4.1/5 ● Well-being (space, privacy, temperature, ventilation/odors, lighting, soundscape, sanitary facilities, etc.): 2.8/5

●● Price – 4.5/5 – good to very good: ● Price-performance ratio for food: 4.4/5 ● Price-performance ratio for wines and other beverages: 4.5/5 ● Price transparency and correspondence of the expected to the actual price (simple, complete and unambiguous price information on the restaurant's website and in the menu,...

This was a clear disappointment and I personally would not go there again. For context: This is a 1* Michelin (at least as of the current guide). On that Saturday evening, in all dimensions it did not live up to what you would think you could expect for that.

Service: There was no person who really took of the process, no one even asked if we would like to order a Aperitif to start with. So we started out with the Amuse Bouche with a water on the side.

The Menu: In written at first it looked kind of, though it already felt a bit weird that on this day there were no real choices at all (and... what would happen for a Vegetarian?). No clear concept spanning across it. The fish in itself was good, the 'steamed' vegetable ok-ish, partially still pretty raw. The real downer came with the beef, that was simply really hard to chew and still overall as a dish not really inpressive. I hung in there, hoping for a better ending. The dessert then was somehow based on apricot, which seemed to have been pickled (? it was really sour at least). I recall lots of cream with some matcha taste on top of it. While I was still contemplating what the intention behind could have been... this dessert totally did not work for me.

The wine pairing... Well, I love when interesting wines complement the food in a thoughtful way and have several times have had the pleasure to enjoy experiences like this. However, this was not the case here. I had kept my hopes till the Rosé to go with the Romesco tomatoes, but then the Red wine to go with the beef was clearly lacking depth and too acidy. The sour beer from Germany (!?) to go with the sour apricots might have been intentionally but for me simply did not work. The wine pairing was overall not up to the game (nothing of real depth), poured very sparingly, not worth its money (60 €).

The atmosphere ref. decor and lighting is probably supposed to be minimal and cool, it unnecessarily adds to the anyway not very welcoming atmosphere. You just sit in really gloomy cold light wondering what overall is going on. That at least should be a quick thing to fix if willing.

You might wonder "hey, why didn't she just say anything?". Well, the thing is: I did. At first, we had to track down service to get a glass of something other than a water to go with the amuse bouche. Then had informed the service ref. the beef. I was offered a replacement, but hey... this is supposed to be star gastronomy and a plate like that should simply not happen. Lastly, after the dessert/beer experience, for me it was clear that this is and will stay disappointing and I asked to see whoever really is in charge.

Well, what followed was a polite conversation where I informed about our perception and that we felt the whole deal is not really adequate. The chef then verbally apologized, offered a digestive (nope, sorry this does not really make up for such an experience).

The bill? 315 €. I guess that needs no further comment.

For me a clear: Not. ever. again. Plus: Have made a mental note that in the future will rather take more time reading other Google reviews in detail than just trusting the...

I made a reservation for two people on Saturday, 23/03/2025, at 8:00 PM. Having had a positive experience during my first visit in 2022, I decided to return with a guest visiting France for the first time, hoping to offer her a memorable dining experience. Unfortunately, the evening fell far short of expectations.

We ordered 2pc oysters, two Menu Découverte en 5 Temps, and two kombuchas. The Radish Tart, the first thing served, was excessively hard and difficult to cut. Both the staff and the chef pointed out that my guest was holding the knife incorrectly, but even with the correct use of the knife, it was impossible to cut. Additionally, the oysters we ordered were forgotten and only served after I inquired—long after the entrée had been finished. The food was mediocre and did not live up to expectations. While food preferences are subjective, the overall execution left much to be desired.

However, the primary reasons why we left before getting the main course and dessert—was the persistent, excessive noise from a client, and the way the chef handled our concerns. A client sitting by the window was laughing and talking so loudly, sometimes screaming, that conversation became nearly impossible. At first, we tried to ignore it. However, as paying customers, we felt it was reasonable to request some form of intervention, especially in a fine dining setting.

I discreetly adressed the issue to a server, and when the noise continued, I spoke directly to the chef, who was present in the dining area that evening. He responded to me saying that it was a Saturday night, and that there was so much suffering in the world that we should be more understanding. He dismissed my concern as just my personal opinion and even asked if I had consulted other guests.

Perhaps I misread the atmosphere, but when this individual laughed loudly, several guests—including ours—turned to look, and some even covered their ears. Of course, that table had all the rights to enjoy their evening, but so did the other customers.

To my surprise, the restaurant reached out to me via email on March 25th, 2025, offering an apology and inviting me to a dinner for two. However, based on the overall experience I had at this establishment, especially the hospitality from the Chef himself, I respectfully declined. A truly unfortunate evening that did not reflect the level of hospitality or the food I had expected at a fine dining, 1-star restaurant. I will be exploring other dining options...