A very sophisticated mix of tomatoes-pineapple, green melon and cherries with focaccia

When I saw the first course of tomato pineapple and melon being set on the table, its colorful beauty reminded me immediately of a starter, “The palette of vegetables” I had a few months ago at Laurent, the restaurant in the Elysées gardens. Well, little did I know that the creator of both dishes was the same! Alain Pégouret, who started with Monsieur Robuchon at Jamin,  and went on to work  with Christian Constant at the Crillon, has now opened his own restaurant, “Le Sergent Recruteur“, on rue Saint Louis en L’Ile.

Alain Pégouret relaxing after lunch

And it was absolutely delicious, light and fresh. Pégouret resigned from Laurent last spring, where he had worked for 18 years,  and took over this new adventure. He has managed to create a lovely atmosphere in this fairly small space for 35 guests, with a young manager who used to work at Quinsou and is charming and discreet. The food is out of this world, with a mix of traditional dishes (ris de veau, pigeon, lobster, foie gras) treated in a modern way with ginger, diverse herbs, sliced vegetable and refined peppers.

Quail roasted with Timut pepper, beets and foie gras gravy

Every dish on the lunch menu (at 49€) was beautiful to look at and a great surprise in the palate. The mix of quail and vegetable, was light and tasty. As a pre starter, we were offered a mussel in its cream and dessert was vacherin with fig ice cream and fresh figs. Service is not fussy, but efficient and kind. Sorry we did not drink any wine but there is a proper sommelier.

Vacherin, meringue  with fig ice cream and whipped cream

There are different menus at night from 85€ to 139€  with daurade ceviche, girolles on lasagne and poulette roasted with black garlic or vegetable plates. To tell you the truth, everything looks absolutely delicious and if you have something to celebrate, don’t hesitate to try this new restaurant. A first star will soon come to crown the chef, and then reservations will be impossible…

A mussel with cream as an teaser

Le Sergent Recruteur, 41 rue Saint Louis en l’Ile, tel :01 43 54 75 42