Nestled in the heart of Le Narcisse Blanc hotel and spa, a 5-star luxury hotel on the Left Bank in the 7th arrondissement, Cléo, a gourmet restaurant, offers a secret corner, a tree-lined patio and delicate cuisine. Bruno Aubin, a former Top Chef who trained with Éric Fréchon at the Bristol, takes great care with his dishes.
A play of textures, a skilful blend of flavours… we appreciate this culinary universe full of spices and condiments hidden beneath an apparent simplicity. The chef’s strong point: his sauces.
We arrive at this intimate address, in a sober, luminous setting, and ask for a table on the pretty, leafy patio.
The menu is subtle and delicate, presenting dishes with daring combinations.
We start with the “Perle Blanche” oysters, plum vinegar, yuzu and Vanuatu pepper, a discreet but powerful seasoning. Also, one of our signature dishes, crispy artichoke with Caesar sauce, basil pesto and tomato confit, a real delight on the palate. The artichoke is cooked to perfection, and the surprising basil pesto is a real treat for the taste buds.
Then come the main courses: snacked octopus, tomato confit with chorizo, nasturtium flower broth and Sichuan pepper, a sauce that’s a little too rich but perfectly executed, and remarkable octopus cooking.
The cod, roasted with spices, pineapple tomatoes, Green Zebra soup with lemon thyme and Timut pepper is simply divine. This gentle blend of spices stirs our taste buds and takes us on a voyage of discovery of Mediterranean dishes. A culinary journey in a single bite.
We end our tasting with one of the house desserts, a creamy rice pudding with puffed rice, roasted hazelnuts and citrus caramel, simply delicious.
This boudoir was named Cléo in honour of the divine Cléo de Mérode, a model and dancer who made headlines during the Belle Époque, whose beauty was immortalised by Degas.
It’s easy to understand why so much care has gone into the beautifully presented plates and the subtle, delicate dishes.
A discreet address to discover without delay.
19, boulevard de la Tour-Maubourg, Paris 7e