Le Clarence

Don’t come here if you’re looking for a bargain… Everything was impeccable. Food was exquisite, well executed, tasty and beautiful. Some dishes came with fresh white truffle which smelled divine. Staff was friendly and professional. The room and ambiance was first class- a very classic French experience. The wine was outstanding. The sommelier did a great job. All do this comes at a hefty cost- not unusual at this level but something to be aware of. We declined the offer of extra truffle-which would have added €110 pp to the bill. Two glasses of champagne were the same price as our (excellent) bottle of Chablis (the wine pairing option was a bit steep at €180). As is often the case, lunch is more reasonable. We knew the chef from his pre-Michelin days, when he ran a small restaurant in our neighbourhood. He’s come a long way!

I don't understand how this restaurant has two Michelin stars. While the service was excellent, the presentation and taste were disappointing. Just take a look at the pictures—the epitome of this was the mousse au chocolat, which looked like something else... It feels more like a tourist spot where visitors want the experience of dining at a Michelin-starred restaurant in Paris, rather than truly exceptional cuisine.

A month in and I still think about the gazpacho with langoustine from Le Clarence. Bright, briny, melt in your mouth, it was magic, along with everything else we experienced in their 5 course tasting (which was more like 20 dishes!). Mind blowing experience, no exaggeration. This meal will be hard to top.

Le Clarence offers a dining experience that is both luxurious and welcoming. The beautifully restored townhouse provides an elegant backdrop for the refined French cuisine. The menu is inventive, with each dish showcasing impeccable technique and bold flavors. The sommelier’s expertise adds another layer to this exceptional experience

I have to write this review because 6 months after I dined here, I am still thinking about how disappointing my experience was. I have been living in Paris for over 2 years and had the privilege of dining at dozens of "étoilé" restaurants across the city. I had high expectations for Le Clarence. And overall, the experience was pretty good - the food was delicious (though sadly overshadowed by my memory of the final moments) and the staff were quite friendly and unpretentious, asking where my husband and I were from and commenting on our countries of origin. But what stands out in my memory is the interaction regarding the bill. My husband and I had glasses of champagne to start, a wine pairing with the meal, and the final bill was around £1200. That's more expensive than many Michelin-starred menus in the city with matched quality, but not unexpected. I offered my credit card and was asked what I would like to tip. I had been planning to leave a tip in cash, even though it is not required in France and even though service is always included in Paris, particularly in Michelin-awarded restaurants. Had it ended there, I would have thought, that was a bit presumptuous, but not a big deal. However, when I said I would not be adding tip to the card, he asked, flippantly "Oh, so I guess you do not believe in tips then?". I would be shocked to hear this kind of comment from any waiter in France, but was particularly surprised in a restaurant of this supposed standard. I am not someone who tends to complain at restaurants, so I did what I thought to be the respectful thing - pay my bill, left a tip in cash anyway, thanked the staff, and left. Remembering this exchange still leaves me angry and disappointed. I wish I had commented about it at the time, and I wish I hadn't been offended by someone who ruined an otherwise pleasant evening by making me feel like I was cheap with no reason for doing so. There are many other fantastic restaurants in this city - which offer a great experience and excellent food, without the offense. I will continue to recommend those places over Le Clarence.

Absolutely amazing, top 5 best meal ever candidate. We have been around the world and enjoy fine dining on every continent. Le Clarence ranks at the top in food, service and ambiance. The experience was exquisite and included an unplanned visit to the kitchen to meet with the chefs and discuss one of the amazing dishes we sampled. Cannot stress enough how wonderful this experience was, 3.5 hours for lunch if that tells the story. Highly recommend.

Blown away by the playful flavors at Le Clarence. We each had the 3 course menu which was plenty! Predominantly seafood dishes and the chef added interesting and playful touches such as xo sauce on the tuna belly. Not your typical French food for sure. Service was very professional and efficient. Clearly very well trained team at the restaurant

Absolute perfection, from the beautifully decorated rooms, to the kind excellent service, and of course the most delicious dishes. Dietary requirements were carefully taken into account and options at least as delicious as the standard ones. The wine pairing was perfect, and the reception at the Grand Salon an absolute highlight.

Don’t come here if you’re looking for a bargain… Everything was impeccable. Food was exquisite, well executed, tasty and beautiful. Some dishes came with fresh white truffle which smelled divine. Staff was friendly and professional. The room and ambiance was first class- a very classic French experience. The wine was outstanding. The sommelier did a great job. All do this comes at a hefty cost- not unusual at this level but something to be aware of. We declined the offer of extra truffle-which would have added €110 pp to the bill. Two glasses of champagne were the same price as our (excellent) bottle of Chablis (the wine pairing option was a bit steep at €180). As is often the case, lunch is more reasonable. We knew the chef from his pre-Michelin days, when he ran a small restaurant in our neighbourhood. He’s come a long way!

I don't understand how this restaurant has two Michelin stars. While the service was excellent, the presentation and taste were disappointing. Just take a look at the pictures—the epitome of this was the mousse au chocolat, which looked like something else... It feels more like a tourist spot where visitors want the experience of dining at a Michelin-starred restaurant in Paris, rather than truly exceptional cuisine.

A month in and I still think about the gazpacho with langoustine from Le Clarence. Bright, briny, melt in your mouth, it was magic, along with everything else we experienced in their 5 course tasting (which was more like 20 dishes!). Mind blowing experience, no exaggeration. This meal will be hard to top.

Le Clarence offers a dining experience that is both luxurious and welcoming. The beautifully restored townhouse provides an elegant backdrop for the refined French cuisine. The menu is inventive, with each dish showcasing impeccable technique and bold flavors. The sommelier’s expertise adds another layer to this exceptional experience

I have to write this review because 6 months after I dined here, I am still thinking about how disappointing my experience was. I have been living in Paris for over 2 years and had the privilege of dining at dozens of "étoilé" restaurants across the city. I had high expectations for Le Clarence. And overall, the experience was pretty good - the food was delicious (though sadly overshadowed by my memory of the final moments) and the staff were quite friendly and unpretentious, asking where my husband and I were from and commenting on our countries of origin. But what stands out in my memory is the interaction regarding the bill. My husband and I had glasses of champagne to start, a wine pairing with the meal, and the final bill was around £1200. That's more expensive than many Michelin-starred menus in the city with matched quality, but not unexpected. I offered my credit card and was asked what I would like to tip. I had been planning to leave a tip in cash, even though it is not required in France and even though service is always included in Paris, particularly in Michelin-awarded restaurants. Had it ended there, I would have thought, that was a bit presumptuous, but not a big deal. However, when I said I would not be adding tip to the card, he asked, flippantly "Oh, so I guess you do not believe in tips then?". I would be shocked to hear this kind of comment from any waiter in France, but was particularly surprised in a restaurant of this supposed standard. I am not someone who tends to complain at restaurants, so I did what I thought to be the respectful thing - pay my bill, left a tip in cash anyway, thanked the staff, and left. Remembering this exchange still leaves me angry and disappointed. I wish I had commented about it at the time, and I wish I hadn't been offended by someone who ruined an otherwise pleasant evening by making me feel like I was cheap with no reason for doing so. There are many other fantastic restaurants in this city - which offer a great experience and excellent food, without the offense. I will continue to recommend those places over Le Clarence.

Absolutely amazing, top 5 best meal ever candidate. We have been around the world and enjoy fine dining on every continent. Le Clarence ranks at the top in food, service and ambiance. The experience was exquisite and included an unplanned visit to the kitchen to meet with the chefs and discuss one of the amazing dishes we sampled. Cannot stress enough how wonderful this experience was, 3.5 hours for lunch if that tells the story. Highly recommend.

Blown away by the playful flavors at Le Clarence. We each had the 3 course menu which was plenty! Predominantly seafood dishes and the chef added interesting and playful touches such as xo sauce on the tuna belly. Not your typical French food for sure. Service was very professional and efficient. Clearly very well trained team at the restaurant

Absolute perfection, from the beautifully decorated rooms, to the kind excellent service, and of course the most delicious dishes. Dietary requirements were carefully taken into account and options at least as delicious as the standard ones. The wine pairing was perfect, and the reception at the Grand Salon an absolute highlight.

My favorite dining experience during our week long trip to Paris. Le Clarence was beautiful and provided such great service. The food was meticulously prepared and so delicious. Some of the highlights were the nodoguro,, foie gras, wagyu with caviar and the white truffle pasta. Thinking of it is making me drool. The cheese cart near the end was a bit overwhelming trying to choose which flavors we wanted while we were so full. The desserts also seemed like a start of another tasting course. Fortunately, like the rest of the meal, everything was very yummy and satisfied our sweet tooth. At the end of the meal, we were surprised with the most memorable dish of the night, the grand marnier souffle topped with shavings of black truffle. OMG! I'll just leave it at that. Definitely worth a trip if you can secure reservations to this devine restaurant!

For our second planned meal of our two-week visit to Paris, my wife and I had dinner with my cousin at Le Clarence. We arrived at the restaurant 15 minutes early and were met by the host outside. Once again, I was relieved that she (and the rest of the staff) very kindly spoke English with us. When she tried to show us into the restaurant, she discovered that a co-worker had exited behind her and locked her out. April Fool! We all shared a good laugh as she left us to make her way around the back and let us in through the front door. Since we were a little bit early and the rest of the staff was still having its pre-service meeting, we were invited to wait in the restaurant's "living room" upstairs. I've never been happier to wait for my table. The room is spectacular. After only a short wait, we were offered a glass of Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé champagne, which is one of our favorites. And shortly after that, we were offered some "snacks"; a selection of cheese puffs and then bulots (whelks), which were more than the simple, undressed variety that you usually receive with a plateau de fruits de mer. When our table was ready, we were led down to another beautiful room with fabric-covered walls and a very high ceiling. Although there were several other tables, I only remember one other being occupied and it really felt as if we had the whole room to ourselves. We all decided to order the Le Clarence Menu in 5 Sequences. We also continued our new tradition of having champagne with every meal. When we mentioned the Duval-Leroy champagne that we had previously enjoyed to the sommelier, he enthusiastically recommended Duval-Leroy Femme de Champagne Brut Grand Cru. Coincidentally, he had recently visited the Duval-Leroy champagne house and told us all about it. The "5 sequences" consisted of many more than five dishes. Each sequence was one to four separate dishes. I will post photos of some of them, but they were all beautifully composed and presented, and were, without exception, quite delicious. We ended up lingering over our meal for the better part of five hours. Yes, FIVE HOURS! But it was truly one of the best, most enjoyable meals that I have ever experienced and we really didn't want it to end. We even visited the kitchen, where we watched a dish being prepared for us and got to enjoy it at the counter. We met Chef Christophe Pelé, who doesn't speak English but could not have been more friendly and gracious. I wasn't surprised, because every other member of the restaurant staff was equally friendly and gracious. If you gather your friends and family to have a meal at Le Clarence, you will enjoy the best meal of your life.

Fun dining experience, beautiful setting, exquisite rooms and a ton of food. The meal can be long, it's a typical French style, but overall was a very strong menu and experience. They could speed up the ending a bit (tons of desserts followed by a lot of sitting, we had to flag down multiple captains to close out our check and it was a 4+ hour long meal on a weekday). The food was very good, favorite bites were the uni custard, king crab pasta, and some of the opening bites. They offer takes on traditional French dishes as well as some more modern presentations and bites which is very nice. Good techniques and execution, great flavors and presentation. The brioche was some of the best bread I've ever eaten, I regret not asking for additional servings. Overall a very nice experience and would return if I had time - would ask them upfront to keep up the pace though so I don't fall asleep at the table after midnight.

I was lucky to land a lunch reservation in a Friday. I booked about a month in advanced. For 110 euros, you get a "3 course meal" which actually ends up being about 21 small plates/bites. We'll worth the money. There wasn't a dish that I didn't like. Sure some didn't have the wow factor that others had, but everything was good and the stand out dishes were phenomenal! Our top three would be the eggplant, caviar, and escargot. The service was attentive and friendly and it didn't feel so uptight. The setting was gorgeous!! See my picture of my hubbie sitting in our dining room. So why minus one star? We're used to European restaurants charging and arm and a leg for still water, which is why we usually ask for tap water. I think my husband might have been a little embarrassed to ask for tap water at an establishment like this, so he opted for still. Well, I wasn't surprised to see that still water was 10 euros when the bill came. That's our fault for ordering it. But what I am upset about is that they open a second bottle of still water without even asking if we wanted it or not (we did NOT want it as we were so full already from all the food). And then they charged us for it. So yes. We spent a whopping 20 euros on water that's basically 20% the cost of one person's meal. Otherwise it was a great meal.

Even though we had 1 small issue, I'm still giving 5 stars. Even though it's not the BEST meal I've ever had, this Michelin 2-star still was top notch. From the minute you are buzzed into this palatial mansion, you are treated like royalty. There are always people waiting on you - waiter, host, sommelier, server. Unreal. Dining rooms are elegant and our table had a view of the kitchen with 8-10 chefs. They offer a 3, 5 or 7 course tasting. After debating between the 3 or 5, and reading other Yelpers, we decided on the 3-course, which was a good decision. As other Yelpers have pointed out, the 5 course can take 4-5 hours. Our 3-course clocked in at 2.5 hours, which was perfect. And worth noting that it's not really 3 courses. After the amuse bouche(s?), each of the 3 courses contained 4-5 small dishes, each brought out separately, with explanations in English. So in all, we probably had 16-17 dishes! I lost count. Near the end, we contemplated adding the cheese cart which looked amazing, but opted out and glad we did. We were stuffed to the gills. All of the dishes were expertly crafted, artistic and delicious. Our only issue was the pacing for courses 1 & 2. We actually had to tell them to slow down as, at one point, we each had 3-4 plates on our table and we wanted to savor the flavors, rather than eat everything quickly. When the host/Maître d' asked us near the end of the 2nd course if everything was OK, we let him know about this, he apologized profusely and we tried to let him know we weren't upset, just trying to give constructive criticism ('cause he asked!). Not sure if he took it well or just smiled and hated us, but we couldn't not say something. Anyway, all of that said, I still give them 5 stars. They even let us go back to the kitchen and watch it in action for 2-3 minutes. Overall, a memorable dining experience. Highly recommend. (maybe book 3-4 weeks out, minimum, FYI)

Tres magnifique experience. The service is exceptional and the food was delicious (although very filling, there is no way I'd survive the 4 course). I made reservations for lunch about 6 months prior to our visit to Paris, and there were no dinner times available. Which is actually a blessing in disguise! It turns out when you attend lunch, expect to be done by dinner time. Yes this is a whole fanciful experience not a fast casual meal. So come very hungry and prepared to dine for 4 hours. The building alone is spectacular inside and out. Everything from the table setting to the little stool they bring for your purse, is exquisite. There is no menu, they ask if you want the 3 course or the 4 course chef offering. They ask if you have any allergies or any food aversions, my advice (given you aren't allergic to anything) is to try it all. They do a wonderful job of pleasing your palette. We started with some champagne our waiter suggested & it was beyond delicious. Next they come around and showed us fresh truffles in a fancy wooden box, and offer it for your seafood, meat or both. If you have some added to your meat, also be prepared to spend an extra 90€ for it. The seafood was fantastic. I especially loved these little tiny clams they gave us in a chili broth. The scallop on a waffle was out of this world. I really enjoyed our meal and had fun trying all the delicious inventive eats they brought to us. It was like eating art. Bravo Le Clarence.

For a splurge lunch, the 90 Euro degustation menu served at the two Michelin star Le Clarence, may be the best deal in Paris. Located in an over the top, opulent nineteenth century townhouse, Le Clarence is the epitome of old school, "white glove" dining. I wouldn't want to dine like this often, but once a year, it is a treat. The formality begins at the entrance, when diners are led upstairs the winding staircase to one of the dining rooms. This is Napoleonic, in every sense of the word. Table linens, heavy cutlery, and sparkling crystal complete the picture. An army of servers are at your beck and call, dressed up and formally trained. You will never know their name. Le Clarence is not part of the "Hello my name is Cindi, and I'm your server today" school of thought. Chef Christophe Pele, no relation to the Brazilian footballer, reinvents classical French cooking in an innovative, but well, classic manner. The dishes keep coming during the set menu lunch, most are incredible. There are a couple of misses, depending on your tastes. Yet, I applaud the creativity. Chefs must take chances. Food is very personal. Unfortunately, we fell into a Parisian trap at La Clarence. The set menu is 90 Euros, but we had wine, cocktails, a truffle supplement, and that caused the bill to raise to an uncomfortable stratosphere. Thus, be pre-warned, and order smartly. Le Clarence can be an unforgettable experience.

Great meal, we were in Paris celebrating our babymoon and it was such a memorable experience. Great service, cooking, beautiful tables. One of my favorite tasting menus I have ever done.

Luxurious and sophisticated décor, multistory stunningly ornate restaurant, relaxed atmosphere, attentive service, top quality food. We picked their smallest offered lunch menu, however we still ended up with at least 20 incredible food items. Make sure to visit the third-floor lounge - it's a delight for the eyes.

Pure class! Very well balanced and amazing dishes! Beautiful ambience. Fantastic service. Top of the top restaurant.

After a week in Paris, I thought I am Michelin out but tonight at Le Clarence I am for it again. First, the mansion looked stunning, the service was impeccable. I ordered a bottle of the La Chapelle de Mission 2010 which was drinking nicely. The bottle was highly rated but on the wine list it was surprising reasonably priced (about 200 euro, which is the suggested retail price of the bottle, score!). Opt for the 3 courses. Amuse bouches were all point on - the chilled clam dish was refreshing. The first course was a seared scallops covered with a more than generous portion of caviar. The second course was a veal sweet bread in a perfect puff pastry. Amazing amazing amazing! Super creative with the texture of the sweet bread melted into the puff pastry and the contrasting texture of the beet root... hmmmm.... My main was a rack of lamb that was perfectly cooked as well. All the desserts were delish. We asked to go up to the bar cocktail lounge level to finish off our beautiful wine. 5 Stars experience. My three top restaurants in Paris would be: Le Barritan (no michelin Stars) Le Clarence (2 Michelin Stars) L'Aprege (3 Michelin Stars) Grand Cocuer

Classic Paris restaurant. 2* Michelin. Special place. Come hungry! The wine, the setting and the food were memorable.

Back on March 10th my wife and I celebrated our tenth anniversary in Paris, and I looked at all the top three Michelin star restaurants in Paris, before deciding on Le Clarence based on the descriptions I'd heard about the overall experience. And what an experience it was...starting with the entry up a flight of stairs to the salon for champagne and an amuse bouche. Gorgeous room that sets the tone for the evening. It is here that you are asked about your palatte, what flavors you prefer, and then using that information Chef Pele creates a one of a kind menu based on what he has found fresh that day. There are no set menus, no signature dishes that have been around for years and years, it all has a wonderful feeling of modernity set in a classical atmosphere. The feeling that your meal tonight will be unique, designed just for you. We chose the five course meal, which included poached Normandy oysters Kadaif style, a scallop dish served two ways (roasted and raw), a spectacular John Dory with squid ink, and milk lamb with anchovy and black truffle. Indescribably delicious! Then comes a beautiful cheese cart where we each made three choices, and finally, the cascade of five desserts. We began with a bottle of white (a 2000 Haut-Brion) and then our lovely sommelier paired a glass of red with the lamb, and selected another pairing for the desserts. Of course they have many different price points on their extensive wine list, but they kept the glasses they chose for us at the same price point as the bottle we ordered, which we found to be thoughtful and considerate service. And all the selections were just perfect. With impeccably attentive, yet friendly service, Le Clarence manages to be old school and cutting edge at the same time, a rarity in the high end world of Paris restaurants. We have been lucky enough to have enjoyed dining in three star Michelin restaurants around the world, and the Le Clarence experience was equal to or in some cases, surpassed those previous dining experiences. This is a restaurant enjoying a swift rise considering how long they have been operating, and it is only a matter of time until Chef Pele and the entire staff receives that third star. We will never forget our evening at Le Clarence, and we cannot recommend it enough. We wish the best of luck to all associated with this amazing restaurant.