Comice: A Not-to-Miss New Restaurant in Paris

We are not prone to superlatives but in the case of Comice, we can’t help but pen an effusive recommendation. This new fine dining restaurant is glorious and we’re convinced it will quickly score a Michelin star. Comice was opened in September by a talented Canadian husband and wife team: a chef-sommelier duo who have worked in prestigious establishments. (Chef Noam Gedalo at Le Sergent Recruteur* and The French Laundry***; Etheliya Hananova at Le Sergent Recruteur* and Le Club Chasse et Pêche, Lawrence.) Already they have scored rave reviews and garnered the loyalty of a happy local clientele who keep returning for the excellent fare and warm welcome. Indeed you’ll find a genuine warmth and hospitality here. Sometimes visitors can be intimidated by the classic Parisian fine-dining experience; the Comice team is adept at providing gastronomic excellence à la française, but with the flexibility and cultural understanding that years of working across continents has taught them. During a recent lunch, we found that even a simple carrot velouté (amuse bouche) is rendered sublime with a sprinkling of almond and hazelnut oil. Everything is made on the premises— from the bread and the butter to the sigh-inducing ice cream and yuzu macarons. If you try just one thing at Comice, make it the chou fleur à la grenobloise: a signature cauliflower dish prepared with lemon zest, capers, and almonds. Other stand-out dishes include the scallop carpaccio thinly sliced with buddha’s hand and confit lemon; followed by an exquisite roast chicken dish, paired with braised endives, confit quince, and roasted sage. The chicken is sourced from a top-notch supplier near Toulouse who grows his own organic grains to feed his poultry. Don’t miss the mini soufflés topped with a dollop of ice cream. This is a residential corner of the tony 16th arrondissement— is it worth the trip, you ask? Absolutely. Nothing in Paris is very far from the center (the entire city, in fact, fits into the equivalent of London’s Zone 1) and we made it in about 20 minutes from the Left Bank. (On the metro line 10, we got off at Javel – André Citroën, then enjoyed a nice walk across the Pont Mirabeau bridge, from where you can see the mini Statue of Liberty on the île aux Cygnes and the Eiffel Tower beyond. Metro stop Jasmin, on the line 9, is also convenient.) Open for lunch on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Open for dinner Tuesday evening-Saturday evening. Closed Sunday and Monday. Lunch menu appetizers start at 12 euros, and mains from 26 euros. The multi-course “Comice” dinner is 80 euros. For dinner, appetizers start from 14 euros, main plates from 36 euros, and the nightly “Comice” tasting menu is 120 euros. The excellent wine list features many small artisan winemakers. 31, avenue de Versailles 75016, Tel: +33 (0)1 42 15 55 70, Website: www.comice.paris, Email: [email protected]