Zebulon in the 1st: its new chef just brought it back up to the top places in my book.

 

7.4 Zebulon, 10, rue de Richelieu in the 1st, 01.42.36.49.44, closed Sundays (Metro: Palais Royal) was fantastic when it opened several years ago, seemed to slip off the gastronomic radar lately, but is back in fine form, if today's meal is any example.  A fellow blogger-friend noted there was a new chef from Osaka named Takashi Aoki, and suggested we go - what a great idea!  They have a 28€ 3-course "menu" which cost the same as my single dish, so a bargain is awaiting you.

She started off with a cold soup of melon, cucumber, basil and goat cheese on a small toast, then we both got a fantastic piece of langoustine that melted in your mouth, along with grilled asparagus and grapefruit, then the confined lamb with grilled eggplant and finished with an intriguing dessert made with pound cake, cherry halves and purée and a melting lemon sorbet.  I was most content with my lamb, cooked 2 ways;  a piece of a gigot and one of the confited shoulder, with chopped lotus and Granny Smiths, but the thing that made this dish sing was the intense brown sauce.  With our coffees came tiny cups of chocolate with a vanilla cream and strawberries, anise jelly and chocolate rounds.

 

Our bill, with no bottled water but a glass and bottle of red Loire and two coffees, was 93€.  DB's = 88.6.

Go back?  Answer: Next week.

Oh an just so you don't think the Spiderman, Naked man, etc. are New York Times Square scams only, here he is hitting on tourists in the First ;