HOTEL ROYAL

Bruno Verjus's approach is to select the finest ingredients and cook them with humility and the utmost respect. This remarkable character was previously an entrepreneur, blogger and food critic. Behind the counter (where diners are seated on comfortable bar stools), he waxes lyrical about his suppliers and the desire to take a back seat to the artisans who produce what he then cooks – on that note, when it comes to either the recipes or the ingredients, the chef considers himself to be a "middle man". Everything is made to order, with garnishes and sauces designed with just one thing in mind:

A stone's throw from the Marché d'Aligre, the navy-blue façade of this restaurant conceals a vintage interior strewn with Art deco details that is reminiscent of a Parisian apartment and which is the work of Argentinian architect Marcelo Joulia. A talented couple is at the helm: Frédéric Lorimier in the kitchen and Camille Gouyer who graciously supervises the front of house. After honing his talent with the greats (not least Arnaud Donckele in Saint-Tropez), the chef crafts a meticulous, almost surgical score. Think seasonal produce, virtuoso technique and exquisitely aromatic sauces, e.g. lin

Jacky Ribault (Qui Plume la Lune, in the 11th arrondissement) makes no secret that he considers this Ours (bear), near the château de Vincennes, to be the pinnacle of his career. He designed it in his image, mixing volumes and shapes in a felicitous blend of wood, metal, stone and leather, creating a coherent setting for culinary creations to which he holds the key. Guaranteed to uplift, the food is rich in everything we love about this veteran chef, as talkative as he is enthusiastic: his instinctive hallmark, exquisite plating and raw inspirations that subtly underscore first-class ingredien

The title says it all – a duo of chefs who trained under Thierry Marx and innovative fusion cuisine in which South American and Asian influences rub shoulders with pedigree French ingredients. The aubergines are underscored by miso sauce; pollock is flanked by creamy green peas, risotto of quinoa and Thai herbs sprinkled with grilled buckwheat for a roasted flavour; beef dumpling and a teriyaki sauce: everything is intelligently and patiently combined and assembled by our gourmet duo. This warm, colourful bistro, fully in tune with its era, is good news for the town centre of Saint-Maurice!

Indulgence and good wine: Gilles Choukroun has taken his friend Émile Cotte's motto and made it his own! In the lively atmosphere of a Parisian bistro, he serves up his generous take on hearty bistro classics: marinated herring and potato salad; calf's head, tongue and brains in sauce ravigote; floating island with praline and crème anglaise… Appealing menu-carte on the blackboard.

Not far from rue de Cîteaux, this restaurant in an apothecary-style shop dating back to the 1900s is not merely aesthetically pleasing. It serves modern cuisine packed with quality ingredients: seared scallops with parsnip cream and parsnip crisps, stuffed breast of veal from the Basque Country… The chef knows how to draw out flavours with a generous touch, and the service is attentive.

Brazilian-born chef Alessandra Montagne is delighted to be in her new restaurant, which has an inviting contemporary interior featuring a preponderance of concrete and wood as well as floor-to-ceiling windows. Her recipe for success (and pleasure) comprises meticulous plating, seasonal, locally sourced ingredients, a whirlwind of flavours and a patchwork of influences (from Brazil to Asia). Zero waste and 100% natural. Tasting menus in the evening.