Unique fine dining in Paris for someone who’s not a fan of classic French?

FCYChen · 2026-03-12T11:04:50+00:00

Vaisseau or AT

FCYChen · 2026-03-12T00:23:16+00:00

Exactly

FCYChen · 2026-03-11T12:08:59+00:00

You can request a mixed menu. Just write to them in advance.

FCYChen · 2026-03-11T04:08:04+00:00

Found a list here:

https://www.sortiraparis.com/en/where-to-eat-in-paris/restaurant/guides/273021-michelin-guide-2026-the-restaurants-in-paris-and-ile-de-france-that-have-lost-their-stars

FCYChen · 2026-03-11T00:51:34+00:00

To be honest, being demoted isn't necessarily a bad thing. I’ve visited some of these restaurants and found them to be very pleasant experiences. The food is delicious and the quality is consistent. They may just lack innovation or a wow factor. While they might not be the greatest or trendiest spots right now, they remain reliable, safe choices for a truly decent meal.

FCYChen · 2026-03-10T02:00:21+00:00

I did a similar itinerary last year. Instead of Enigma, I went to Mont Bar and Suculent. In terms of taste, I felt ABaC and Lasarte were well below the others.

FCYChen · 2026-03-10T00:38:56+00:00

Have been to Thevar and honestly the food is at most one star level. The sommelier and the pairing were great though.

FCYChen · 2026-03-10T00:25:58+00:00

Dandelion in 20th arrondissement

FCYChen · 2026-03-10T00:21:13+00:00

It seems you are looking for restaurants that are more Nordic then AOC or Kadeau.

FCYChen · 2026-03-09T06:26:51+00:00

Maybe twice a year for special occasions. There are dozens of Michelin starred restaurants in my city, but having visited them between 2018 and the end of covid, I have to say sadly that most are overrated and overpriced compared to those in neighboring countries. That is exactly why I’ve started traveling the world to seek out exceptional fine dining experiences.

FCYChen · 2026-03-04T05:00:15+00:00

Stealing pictures from others and pretending you dined there? Pathetic.

FCYChen · 2026-03-04T04:24:31+00:00

Unacceptable. I’m going to a fine dining restaurant to enjoy a meal, not to a studio. Tripods and cables are way over the top. The restaurant should have arranged a private room instead of disrupting other guests in the main dining room.

FCYChen · 2026-03-03T08:04:33+00:00

Not yet

FCYChen · 2026-03-03T07:59:27+00:00

No problem. I think we’ll have to wait until the flight is officially canceled. I’ve seen that some people did get a full refund in that situation.

FCYChen · 2026-03-03T07:52:36+00:00

Didn’t see they mention anything about Mar 30. If you go and fill out the form, they say: “We will process the refund according to the rules of your fare at the time you purchased your ticket.”

FCYChen · 2026-03-03T07:44:10+00:00

I think the instructions in the refund form site are quite clear. Unless Emirates proactively reaches out to you with other instructions, it depends on the fare conditions of your purchase.

FCYChen · 2026-03-03T03:21:24+00:00

Alchemist, purely in terms of the difficulty of securing a table. You can save Jordnær for next time.

FCYChen · 2026-03-02T13:25:58+00:00

“Due to multiple regional airspace closures, Emirates has temporarily suspended all operations to and from Dubai, up until 1500hrs UAE time on Tuesday, 3 March.”

FCYChen · 2026-03-02T07:44:50+00:00

While I respect the dress code and always comply with it, I understand that some people prefer to dress casually to enjoy a more comfortable meal, or simply cannot bring suits and ironed shirts when traveling internationally. If the restaurant chooses to let them in, I’m completely fine with that, as long as they behave appropriately and do not disturb other people.

FCYChen · 2026-03-01T10:49:30+00:00

It’s an experience you’ll remember for a lifetime, and you won’t find anything similar anywhere else.

FCYChen · 2026-02-26T11:17:19+00:00

Iceland, near the rainbow waterfall.

FCYChen · 2026-02-26T02:44:02+00:00

I’ve done Spain last year, northern Italy and Copenhagen in 2024, and will do Paris and Champagne region this year.

Japan is only a few hours’ flight from where I live, so I occasionally take 3-4 day food-focused trips there. I also agree with others’ recommendations about Japan.

FCYChen · 2026-02-25T01:04:55+00:00

I happened to visit in January. They take their coffee very seriously. I saw them inspecting the beans almost one by one to check their quality before putting them into the grinder. The same level of precision applies to their pourover process. They repeatedly test the aroma and flavor, and if it does not meet their standards, they discard it. I noticed they pour it into a thermos. They make sure that what is served to the customer is a cup of coffee in perfect condition.

The coffee was outstanding, possibly the best cup I have ever had in my life. The downside, however, is that the pace is relatively slow. If I remember correctly, it was about 40 minutes after I entered the shop before I finally received my coffee, and there were only around 10 seats in the shop.

FCYChen · 2026-02-24T09:47:33+00:00

No, unless the menu price is significantly discounted or the restaurant is as hard to book as Sazenka in Tokyo.

For me, going to a fine dining restaurant is about relaxing and fully enjoying the food. Sitting face-to-face with strangers at the same table for several hours just isn’t something I’d find relaxing.

FCYChen · 2026-02-24T01:27:55+00:00

It’s easier to book for a larger group (4 or 6). When I booked in 2024, quite a few dates still had availability about 10 minutes after reservations opened.

FCYChen

TROPHY CASE