Septime, helmed by chef Bertrand Grebaut, is a modern French bistro that has been one of the hardest tables to secure since its opening. Of all the restaurants I had visited in Paris, I had the highest expectations at this restaurant. The verdict: the food at the restaurant will not wow you in terms of creativity and unexpected surprises, but I was deeply impressed with masterful execution of each dish composed of fresh ingredients. It is just one of those places I want to come back again on my next trip to Paris.

I was extremely lucky to score a lunch reservation, where you can go for three-course option at 30 euros or the full six-course carte blanche option at 60 euros. While my dining companion was afraid of having too much food at lunchtime, I ultimately convinced her and we went for the latter; suffice to say, neither of us wasn’t disappointed. I didn’t find a lot of unexpected surprises like I had seen at other modern French restaurants in the city, but each dish had beautiful plating while retaining very balanced flavor and texture that would make you feel very satisfied, starting with fish rillettes that came with raspberries and tomato to whet my appetite, followed by aromatic eggplant that came with onion and black pudding jus.

John Dory that came with cockles, zucchini and cabbage was perfectly cooked, and I was also a fan of the juicy pigeon that came with roasted carrots and beet root. No ingredient in each dish felt like an afterthought but the sense of harmony was evident there, whether in terms of visual effect or flavor and texture. Desserts were also quite pleasant, starting with the absolutely delicious corn ice cream that came with pumpkin mousse, followed by refreshing red fruit sorbet that came with rhubarb, pear and red fruit compote.

I really liked the lively vibe of the restaurant that looks like a café somewhere in the Mediterranean. The restaurant has some nice wine selections, so definitely go with a glass or two even if it’s for lunch. Septime is a truly worthy dining destination in Paris if you want to experience modern French cuisine with attention to ingredients and execution. It won’t wow you with inventive twists, but the consistency of the food throughout the tasting menu will impress you.

KenScale: 8.5/10

• Creativity: 8.5/10
• Execution: 9.0/10
• Ingredients: 9.0/10
• Flavor: 8.5/10
• Texture: 8.5/10

Address: 80, rue de Charonne, 75011 Paris, France

Telephone: +33-1-43-67-38-29

Website: http://www.septime-charonne.fr/