© Maison Jaune Paris
Nestled on a houseboat facing the Parc de l’île Saint-Germain, in the almost therapeutic calm of the Seine, Maison Jaune is the promising new houseboat in Boulogne, brilliantly balancing its dual role as a chic dining spot and a lively terrace.
House with character
In a calm and dimly lit atmosphere, the Maison Jaune houseboat reveals two floors with very different functions. On the ground floor, the restaurant, spacious and warm with a “home-like” spirit featuring a wooden piano and vintage carpet, offers a view of the Eiffel Tower directly from the Seine. Scattered throughout this charming place are beautiful antique furniture, retro armchairs, mismatched chairs, and artisanal lighting fixtures in a woodsy 50’s spirit.
A few steps lead to the boat's roof, where a terrace with lovely green canvas chairs welcomes groups of friends for loooong aperitifs. Cocktails in hand and platters on the table, hours fly by. The cherry on top : every evening, a DJ energizes the night with old-school disco funk, house, disco house, or French songs.
An impressive menu
Chef Vincent Ressel (formerly of Kong) presents a well-crafted menu featuring French cuisine classics enhanced by unexpected emulsions, sauces, juices, and condiments. A touch of boldness perfects the menu with some notes of Latin America and Asia. The result ? As starters, one can savor the insane Wagyu Al Pastor croquettes with herb mayonnaise and pickled jalapeños (€17) or a shallot and pear tarte tatin entirely covered with a generous cloud of stracciatella foam (€18).
For the main course, the Wagyu beef flank steak (cooked to perfection) served with shoestring fries, rich jus, and new-style béarnaise sauce (€37) will be remembered. Another perfection on this menu is the seven-hour lamb with olives and kumquat, broad beans, and bay leaf emulsion : worth waking up for at night (€27) ! At the end of the meal, one cannot resist devouring a legendary dessert : pecan nut brownie with orange notes, vanilla ice cream, and hot chocolate (€12) or fruit carpaccio with sake granita and Timut pepper gel for the healthy team (€13). The owner Thomas Landowski’s tip : pair them with a glass of orange wine from his Domaine de Font Neuve - 3 jours chez ma mère 2020.
The extra touch : Alexis Lebrun’s ultra-sophisticated cocktails, to be sipped at the table or directly from the terrace, such as Les Lilas (anae gin, violet liqueur, lychee juice, peach bitters - €15) and our favorite, the Basilic Smash (fair vodka, raspberry purée, basil cordial, and lime juice - €16).
Restaurant open Tuesday to Saturday for lunch and dinner. Terrace open Wednesday to Saturday from 5 pm to 2 am. Reservations online or by phone.
Also discover Le Marquis, a must-visit spot for friends and Tekés launching a sensational vegetarian brunch.
