Talking of dining near the Eiffel Tower, first-time visitors may reminisce the abundant tourist traps around the 7th arrondissement. But don’t let such negative comments fool you out of the village atmosphere that does exist in Haussmannian façades, especially around the rue Cler. Among the excellent eateries here is Philippe Excoffier on the tiny Rue de l’Exposition, in between Rue Saint-Dominique and Rue de Grenelle, the one I highly recommend to you.
Excoffier had the 11-year experience of working as Head Chef at the American Embassy, having led a brigade of 20 cooks, with whom he created dazzling menus for both intimate dinners and grand receptions of 2000 attendees! A slight hiatus motivated Excoffier to open his eponymous restaurant in 2011, just a stone’s throw from the Eiffel Tower. The chic space and welcoming staff lure people in, while the chef’s classic French cuisine keeps them on their seats till the very end of the meal.
Growing up in the Savoy region, with a family proud of its potager, Excoffier makes use of seasonal vegetables for his inspired cuisine. He shows the great flair and fun of making menus out of what’s in the season the market: “It should be tasty and full of flavor”.
