Meet Wilfried Romain, one of the most likable contestants from Season 13 of Top Chef. He had already won us over at the Grand Quartier, and now he's just opened his first restaurant, smack in the heart of the Latin Quarter, sharing the venture with sommelier Rémi Badjoint. Spoiler alert: we loved it.
A Rustic-Themed Table
Upon entering, the restaurant sets a dark mood (matching its volcanic theme, hence the name). The textured black walls and shades of gray underscore a thematic focus that continues through to dessert. There's even a separate room that can be reserved for birthdays or other private events. The two partners behind the scenes, not big on decoration, put their efforts into creating a robust wine list to complement a menu sure to please meat lovers and fans of rich sauces. Wilfried's globe-trotting infuses his dishes with influences from Australia, South America, and Thailand (his favorite).
Cooking with Fire and Flames
Forget steaming and galantines—Wilfried is all about flame-grilled cooking. One of our favorites from the menu: the barbecue-cooked Axuria beef fillet with smoked mousseline and green asparagus that's also kissed by the grill (30€), or the white asparagus (grilled, of course) topped with a miso sabayon made from rye bread and wild garlic (21€).
On the raw side, the Black Ceviche comes in style with leche de tigre, black sesame rice cream, and merken (a chili-based condiment), priced at 19€. There's also a delightful chimichurri veal tartare with pecorino and voatsiperifery pepper (18€). For dessert, indulge in chocolate, green cardamom, and sesame praline, or confit rhubarb with mezcal, Greek yogurt sorbet, and chipotle chili (14€). Deliciousness guaranteed.
Cheers!
Behind the bar, Rémi Badjoint offers an extensive wine list with over 250 references, including volcanic wines! Just ask him for details. You can order wines like Mâcon Fuissé (17€), Pouilly Fumé (13€), or Madiran (15€) by the glass. If you're looking to relax after work, from 4 PM to 7 PM, Lava offers a fun wine bar concept.
Open Tuesday to Saturday evenings and for lunch from Thursday to Saturday. The wine bar is open from Tuesday to Saturday, 4 PM to 7 PM.
© Julien Antunes
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