Le Gentil

The story

Le Gentil – Modern French-Asian Cuisine in Paris, Recommended by Michelin

A small restaurant with a big personality, Le Gentil sits quietly on rue Surcouf in the 7th arrondissement. Its motto — "Mangez! Buvez! Profitez!" — sets the tone: this is a place built for enjoyment, not ceremony.

The kitchen draws on French tradition while weaving in Asian accents. A bavette de boeuf comes with a Japanese-style sauce; the beef tartare is prepared à l'asiatique, with peppers, oyster sauce and sesame. The evening carte moves from a daurade carpaccio with shiso to a duck filet with vegetables, or a quasi de veau with mustard cream. For the more adventurous, there is octopus and mussels in garlic butter with risotto. Desserts stay bright and clean: a mango panna cotta with tapioca and coconut milk, a creamy vanilla cheesecake, or an almond tofu.

At lunch, the menu changes daily and is fixed — a single price for a velouté, plat and dessert, or just plat alone. A recent example: chilled celery root velouté with croutons, followed by bavette with Japanese sauce, and mango panna cotta.

The wine list leans heavily on Burgundy, with a thoughtful selection of reds and whites from David Moreau, Alexandre Parigot, and others. There are also bottles from the Jura, Rhône, Bordeaux, and a handful of natural wines from Greece, Beaujolais, and Auvergne.

The atmosphere is cosy and relaxed — the kind of place where you settle in and let the evening unfold. The dining room is air-conditioned. Groups of five or more are asked to choose a five-step "carte blanche" tasting menu at 60 euros per person, rather than ordering à la carte.

Le Gentil was recognised in the 2026 Michelin guide, a nod to its consistent, personal cooking. It is one of those Paris addresses that does not try to impress with flourishes — it impresses by getting the fundamentals right, every time.