L'Assiette

The story

L'Assiette Paris: Chef David Rathgeber's Classic French Cuisine

At 181 rue du Château in the 14th arrondissement, L'Assiette is the domain of chef David Rathgeber. A native of Clermont-Ferrand, Rathgeber left his Auvergne home at 18 to pursue a culinary career, eventually training under the legendary Alain Ducasse. It was Ducasse who entrusted him with the reins of this mythic establishment, a place where the chef’s dream was to create “a palace inn.”

The kitchen delivers what Rathgeber calls "cuisine canaille, chic & champêtre"—a style that is rustic, elegant, and grounded in classic French technique. The experience begins with a generous slice of ham carved from the bone, a simple offering that sets the tone. From there, a meal might move to escargots in a pot with a golden crouton, the snails elevated by a creamy garlic and tomato sauce. The menu changes with the seasons, but recent specialties include croquettes of pig's feet with tartare sauce, a golden pork chop with mashed potatoes and charcutière sauce, and roasted figs with port wine and fromage blanc ice cream.

The atmosphere is one of warmth and tradition, where the chef’s reverence for his roots and his mentor’s legacy is felt in every dish. L'Assiette has earned a Michelin recommendation, a recognition that confirms the kitchen's commitment to honest, high-quality cooking. Here, classic French cuisine is not a museum piece but a living, breathing tradition.