Restaurant F

The story

Restaurant F: Chef Francisco Merino’s Intimate Modern French Cuisine in Paris

Chef Francisco Merino and his vision

At Restaurant F, chef Francisco Merino draws on his deep Parisian experience – having worked with Hélène Darroze, Eric Frechon, and Eric Briffard – to create a cuisine that is both refined and personal. Originally from Burgos, Spain, he brings a subtle Mediterranean inflection to classic French technique. The result is a menu that changes weekly, built around rigorously selected seasonal products, presented with precision and colour. The Michelin guide has recognised this approach, awarding the restaurant a Recommended status in 2026.

An intimate dining room

The restaurant occupies a quiet street in the 16th arrondissement, moments from the Trocadéro and the Arc de Triomphe. Step through the door and you are met by an open kitchen where chef Merino works at his piano. The dining room is deliberately small – a “cocoon” of pale armchairs, olive-green walls, and polished floorboards. It feels like a private dining room, convivial rather than formal. Every detail, from the table linen to the olive trees that recall the chef’s childhood, has been chosen to create a space that is both elegant and welcoming.

The weekly menu and seasonal approach

The lunch menu offers a choice of two or three courses at 45€ or 55€, while the evening sees a Discovery menu (80€) and an Evasion menu (100€) with multiple courses. The carte itself is renewed every week, meaning the dishes reflect whatever is at its peak. The chef’s signature is a balance of French rigour and Mediterranean brightness – clean flavours, vivid colours, and a constant search for excellence. For special occasions, the restaurant also proposes a Valentine’s dinner featuring a seven-course menu with wine or soft pairings, where the pastry work is handled by a young Japanese chef, Rina, whose delicate touch adds a poetic finish.