Cobea, 75014 Paris, France

Another great discovery In the 14th arrondissement and in fact a new addition to the dining scene: Cobea.  The restaurant has only been open a few months  – the creation of Philippe Bellissent, the former chef of l’Hotel, a Michelin starred restaurant on the rue des Beaux Arts, and his equally experienced chef partner, Jerome Cobou.

The cadre is elegant and relaxing in tones of grey and white, a colour scheme reflected in the porcelain, and the staff is young and enthusiastic about the cuisine being served.  The owners are aiming at an affluent group of customers who are willing to pay a little more for excellent quality products, top-class cuisine and service, all in an elegant décor,  and I think their bet will pay off.

The  3 course lunch menu  at Euros 38 seems expensive at first glance, but in fact has so many extras thrown it that it is in fact good value.  We started with little fried balls of goat cheese in curry  powder, followed by  roasted crab, with the flesh sprinkled with sautéed onions.  Then came the official starter, cuttlefish roasted and served in its shell ,  decorated with sauted calamari  and a frothy white emulsion.  The other starter was  foie gras served in a pasta shell.  Main courses were a choice between cabillaud accompanied by a cauliflower puree, or saddle of deer in a wine sauce. The  dessert was a surprise prepared by the chef – a sweet pastry roll filled with toffee caramel cream – a real killer sugar- wise!  Followed by  a variety of petit-fours and succulent halved passion fruit, and  coffee.  A pretty comprehensive offering  all in all.

There are other menus available – four dishes Euros 55, six dishes Euros 75 and eight dishes Euros 95, though I don’t know how anyone could get through all that food on the last one!

Cobea is a really first-class restaurant and the perfect place for a special occasion or even when you just fancy an excellent meal.