Racines des Prés — Restaurant in Paris

After many "Racines" establishments across the river, the well known chef David Lanher, opened up his newest on the left bank, in the St. Germain part of the 7th Arrondissement, Occupying a small, elongated space with an open kitchen, the kitchen bar seats reign, as the young staff can be very entertaining, but Madame preferred the intimate two top in the rear of the restaurant. This kitchen is excellent, with Chef Navarro displaying his pedigree and well honed talents.

Oeuf mollet croustellant, a crispy boiled egg, was a delicious starter, but my Tartare de mulet noir, a mediocre ceviche tasting dish. The star of the evening was the Joue de Veau braisée main, veal cheeks that caused my own cheeks to pucker in exaltation. It was amazing! Our other main, Pintade de Mr Duplantier, roasted guinea fowl, was good, but not great. It wasn't in the same league as the veal cheeks. Our desserts of Ananas rôti, mousse fromage blanc, sorbet piña colada and Mont-Blanc aux marrons d'Ardèche, sorbet myrtilles were wonderful. We washed everything down with a unique and piquant 2012 Rhone white, Domaine Des Tours Vin de Pays de Vaucluse.

One discordant note of Racines des Pres was service. Young and seemingly eager, the two women were quite different in their affect. One server was happy to describe the menu items and took great joy in our happiness. While the other server seemed more taken with her appearance than the food. At the end of the evening, both servers disappeared. The large group behind our own two top, were compelled to stand around in front of the kitchen waiting for their bill to be paid, blocking the entire restaurant. We also were forced to walk up to the kitchen to pay our bill. This is inexcusable in a restaurant of this quality. However, nothing could detract from the deliciousness of those veal cheeks. It was the tastiest dish of the...

This delightful restaurant is a MUST for visitors and locals alike! Everyone should visit Racines des Prés! This stylish spot has a world class chef in Alexandre Navarro and his team offer an incredible gastronomic experience. The minute you walk in and see the chef and team preparing their daily dishes (request a table top view of the kitchen so you can watch the magic happen!) - you will realize you’re in a special place. I had a langoustine starter with foam that was heavenly. My chicken dish was so flavorful and so beautifully prepared that I wasn’t sure if I should eat it or keep it as a Parisian souvenir. My apple tart with crème capped off a perfect meal. The wine pairings are fantastic and the service is attentive and supportive but not hovering. You must visit this marvelous place for a meal - you’ll be delighted with the experience and the amazing...

We were pleasantly surprised at how the ambiance managed to be smart casual yet cozy at the same time. The service was friendly and welcoming, which can be a rare thing in Paris. The open kitchen worked its charm like a magnet; I was totally intrigued and was drawn to what was going on in there, kinda like watching Top Chef live.

And, let’s talk about the food. Everything from the amuse-bouche all the way to dessert was impeccable. The flavors were comforting yet sophisticated. The highlights for me would be the scallop tartare appetizer and the roasted apple tatin dessert.

Racines des Prés will be my go-to restaurant for a night out with my friends and family. It’s also an excellent restaurant for those who are visiting Paris.

Reservation is highly...