Le Gramont Paris 2

The Setting

Le Gramont Paris 2 sits on Boulevard des Italiens in the 2nd arrondissement, one of the grand boulevards that cut through the heart of Paris. This is the district of the Opéra, of Haussmann's wide avenues and ornate facades, where the city hums with commerce and culture in equal measure. The restaurant occupies a corner of this boulevard with the quiet confidence of a place that has been feeding the neighborhood for years.

The Dish Examination

French Onion Soup

The French onion soup at Le Gramont is very good. Famous Chef Thomas approves. The broth was rich and deeply caramelized, the onions slow-cooked to a dark sweetness, the crouton firm beneath a thick cap of melted Gruyère. This is the standard by which onion soup should be measured, and Le Gramont met it.

Smoked Salmon

The smoked salmon at Le Gramont was excellent. Silky, fresh, and draped generously across the plate with triangles of toasted bread, a wedge of lemon, a pat of butter, and a small salad dressed in a whole-grain mustard vinaigrette. The salmon itself was the star: translucent coral, buttery in texture, with the delicate smokiness that separates the genuine article from the imitation.

The Famous Chef Thomas discovered smoked salmon a few years before on his first trip to Paris and fell in love with it ever since. It has become one of the dishes he seeks out at every Parisian brasserie, and Le Gramont's version ranks among the best he has encountered. Fresh, expertly cured, and served without pretension. This is smoked salmon done right.

The Service

The service at Le Gramont was very good. Attentive without being intrusive, professional without being cold. The staff understood timing, checked in at the right moments, and delivered each course with care. In a city where service is often debated, Le Gramont gets it right.

The Ruling