Les Fables de la Fontaine, a cosy and modern restaurant

I was so surprised to get a table one day ahead at Les Fables de la Fontaine, which is constantly full, that I did not immediately realize the reason for it:   it is located right in the Football fan zone of the Champ de Mars, which is totally closed to traffic for the period of the “Euro”. So it took us a little time to actually walk there from Pont de l’Alma, but it made the charming welcome and the delicious food, even more precious.

Aïoli of cod is the signature dish…

I first heard of this modern yet cosy restaurant when its 21 year old chef, Julia Sedefdjian, won her first Michelin star last February. The articles describing her way of cooking were so wonderful that I put in a corner of my mind to book and then I forgot. Only, when a dashing British  financier asked me to find an idea for dinner, did I remember and I am glad we went.

The oysters in jelly on hay is a great starter

The starter, four smoked oysters in jelly on hay, was fantastic and so was the crunchy egg yoke with smoked haddock and vegetable. I am a passionate lover of skate and there was a nice “effiloché de raie” on the menu with celery and spinach. The signature dish, aïoli of cod was very pretty and according to my friend, tasty.

I thought it lacked a bit of aïoli which is artistically displayed in dots around a yellow plate, but apparently not?

Crusty egg yoke with smoked haddock and vegetables

Dessert, a banana soufflé was out of this world but I really don’t know why they served coconut sherbet with it. It doesn’t add anything. Our neighbor was happy with his tarte au citron which looked extremely pretty.

The atmosphere is relaxed, some people are celebrating their first date, others, their 20 th anniversary. I just thought that all waiters were incredibly gracious, customers are unpretentious and young for most.

And we both had a fantastic evening with a good Pouilly fumé and a kir royal (too small) to start.
The restaurant is across the street from the famous “Fontaine de Mars” where Obama had dinner with his family. It is a nice part of the rue St Dominique near the Eiffel tower where you can choose your scene. Meat or fish, all is good. (lunch menu for 25€, dinner is closer to 80€ depending on wines)

Tarte au citron culminates for dessert