7.5 L’Agapé, 51, rue Jouffroy d'Abbans in the 17th, 01.42.27.20.18, closed weekends was chef'd by an ex-l'Arpege guy when my pal Pierre and I ate there in April 2008 and they've recently replaced him with an ex-l'Ambrosie person. The Spring menu is now 4 E less (but without a cheese choice) but the place has the same goofy symbol on the awning albeit terribly weather and pigeon-poop stained so I've reproduced it from the addition:
It continues to use those goofy designer, hand-blown carafes for wines at all prices, whose range is an improvement from 2 years ago. There are also menus at 90 and 120 E.
I went with a truly savvy food lady and we were impressed up until the bill (but I'll get to that later).
On the table as we sat down, appeared two nice cheese nummies before the delicious amuse bouche of sliced/marinated, sesame flavored, seche and cucumber was served.
Then we had a choice between the wild fish of the day and the meat: she chose the salmon with white asparagus which we both liked a lot and I had the carre of pork with roasted garlic - equally good.
Finally, we both had the (forced choice) lemon semifreddolike thing with a slice of grapefruit and vanilla ice cream which all played wonderfully together.
At this point the waitress said would you like coffee and (without showing us any prices) - we said sure, and she soon after brought ours. Fine. It and the bread BTW were great.
So far I'm ready to sing this new chef's praises to the sky and award him a very high number.
But the bill arrives - 14 E for the coffees, only a bit less than a bottle of fine, indeed very fine, wine. Ouch. But still only 102 E total.
*Now back to what it was it J.P. Morgan said about buying a yacht. Oh yah: If you have to ask how much something costs, you can't afford it. But I felt like a victim of Ryanair's CEO who wanted to charge to use the toilets, why reduce the menu by 4 E but make it back on the coffee?
Go? I think so, the meal, the food, the wine, the bread, etc., were all terrific, it's the deceptive part about the coffee that rankles. I learned my lesson though.
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