How about choosing a restaurant based on music? A stone’s throw from the Centre Pompidou, a new wine bar, Donna, delights our taste buds and our ears. This trendy address boasts of a cutting-edge selection of beverages and music. You can also enjoy small plates created by Japanese chef Masahide Ikuta.
The interior architecture was designed by the Cécile Derrien studio, using ecological, handcrafted and reused materials. The furniture is second-hand, such as the rare Amérique armchairs by Pierre Guariche and the Moonlight floor lamp by Sottsass.
The first floor, brightly lit thanks to a large bay window, is organised around the bar, the space’s focal point, spotlighting the cook and sommelier. The second floor offers a more intimate space and a more subdued atmosphere.
The wine list has been concocted by Marc Le Berre, manager of the Rouge ou Blanc cellar in the 6th arrondissement of Paris and Caves Tissandier in Clermont-Ferrand. A perfect selection for amateurs and the curious.
To begin our discovery, we let ourselves be tempted by the caponata with smoked paprika and Cantabrian anchovies; the spices bring a suave, spicy and highly aromatic note to the dish. Then there’s Galician octopus, chimichurri, crunchy to the bite, whose slightly acidic sauce offers a delicate explosion on the palate.
The colourful plates move to the rhythm of the music. For the main course, we share the buttery pollack and the red tuna toro ventrèche. The butter sauce delicately flavours the fish, giving it a creamy texture.
Finally, we finish with orange blossom cream and vinegar-marinated strawberries. The delicate, fragrant scent of orange blossom takes us to the Mediterranean sunshine, and adds a note of freshness to the dish.
Throughout our tasting of wines and small plates, we are accompanied by eclectic sounds that lend a warm, lively atmosphere to the place.
What better way to start the new school year?
Donna
157, rue Saint-Martin, Paris 3e