53 votesAn original and brilliant place to wine and dine in the heart of Paris, Restaurant Helene Darroze offers a one-of-a-kind menu that changes almost daily depending on the day’s produce and the freshest ingredients of the season. Built with the heart and passion of a hard-working woman and one of the most celebrated chefs in France, Helene Darroze, the restaurant exudes warmth, charm, as well as grace and elegance, all of which characterize and reflect its owner and founder.
Hailing from the Landes region, Chef Darroze brings traditional family and country cooking to the city and gives it a contemporary haute cuisine presentation in her award-winning restaurant. Chef Darroze biggest influence in the creation of her cuisine is her grandparents who instilled in her a love for local and fresh ingredients. She comes from a tight-knit family of hoteliers and restaurateurs. Her cousin was the one who decorated her restaurant, combining quaintness and sophistication that go well with the natural cuisine of Darroze.
On the first floor is a tapas bar that serves appetizers and traditional Landes dishes, and on the second floor is a romantic, minimalist, and stylish setting where exciting gastronomic creations are served. Foie gras appears a lot and features prominently in the menu. The female sommelier suggests wines to pair with the delicate and bold dishes, choosing from a wide selection of the greatest crus from the cellar.
A more informal and casual ambiance downstairs allows guests to sit back and relax while dining upstairs requires one to dress up a bit more. Starters include a ham trolley with a wide array of sausages to choose from. Different selections of cheeses from southwest France are also offered. Some of the highlights in the menu include suckling lamb from the Pyrenees and roast wild duck stuffed with truffles and foie gras.
