Spy shot from Le Soufflé taken with camera phone
There are few things more quintessentially French than the soufflé. So, when in Paris…eat lots of them! You will find this particularly easy if you make a dinner reservation at Le Soufflé, a cozy, unpretentious nook on a tiny street in the first arrondissement. This is a feast for the eyes as well as the stomach; one gets the sense that the waiters enjoy parading past carrying soufflé after puffy soufflé, incorporating an element of performance into grandly delivering and preparing the dishes at the table.
Although they offer plenty of non-soufflé items à la carte, you are really missing out if you don’t order from the prix-fixe, three-course soufflé menu (also a real bargain, at 30 euros). As an appetizer, you can’t go wrong with a classic cheese soufflé, but I would recommend the white asparagus version: pale, delicate, and rushed from the oven to the table. With typical stoicism, the waiter unceremoniously jabs a spoon into its center, creating a crevasse into which he pours a rich and creamy sauce that both melds with and calls attention to the delicate flavor of the asparagus.
Before the main course arrives, a perfectly dressed, leafy green salad appears on the table, cleansing the palate and breaking up the potential monotony of two consecutive savory soufflés. The morille main soufflé is earthy and distinctly mushroom-y, yet remains astonishingly light. Also rewarding is the soufflé of jambon et fromage; so French, and unequivocally delicious.
Of course, the most important part of the meal is dessert, and the kitchen sends out some impressive confections. The Grand Marnier soufflé is so much fun to receive: again, after setting it down, the waiter jabs holes in it, then douses it with more of the liqueur. It arrives so perfectly puffed and golden, it almost seems like a shame to touch it. That sentiment is easily overcome when you taste it. Similarly, the dark chocolate version is accompanied by a white chocolate sauce, while the cafe flavor is simply dusted with powdered sugar. Perhaps the most impressive of the lot, though, is the raspberry soufflé: who wouldn’t be over the moon to tuck into a towering, hot pink, sweet-tart dessert?
Don’t come to Le Soufflé expecting the super-glamorous, dimly-lit, sexy Parisian restaurant experience; its charm is in the absence of all that. The unassuming facade, bright (read: rather unflattering) lighting, and paintings of soufflés adorning the walls belie the treasures at the table. This is a place for enjoying the warm atmosphere, the pleasure of the other diners (many of them locals), and sharing wine and soufflés with friends.
Le Soufflé
36 rue Mont Thabor
75001 Paris
+33 01 42 60 27 19
http://lesouffle.fr/
Comments 13
Wonderful! I imagine it the same Le Souffle I visited about (oh dear) 25 years ago, and it was wonderful then, too. I’m jealous.
Posted 25 Apr 2008 at 12:04 pm ¶you know what i do enough of? traveling to paris.
Posted 26 Apr 2008 at 10:41 pm ¶whoa, that should say “DON’T do enough of.”
heh.
Posted 26 Apr 2008 at 10:41 pm ¶I really wanted to go there last week but I got to the door just too late for lunch. Such a shame! Really looking forward to going there next time.
Posted 28 Apr 2008 at 1:42 pm ¶i waaaaaaaana goooooooooo
Posted 01 May 2008 at 8:36 pm ¶I’ve been to Le Soufflé about six times over the past 30 years and enjoyed it immensely each time. Gena, you captured the restaurant perfectly. Unpretentious, with very good food delivered by professional servers who care. I can still taste the Soufflé aux Grand Marnier. I can’t wait to go back!!
Posted 20 Sep 2008 at 7:27 pm ¶We just got back from a week in Paris, and we had dinner at Le Souffle on Wednesday night. My husband had the prix-fixe souffle menu, and I had the traditional prix-fixe menu (which did include a small souffle with the main course, served with a delicious chicken and mushroom sauce). It was all very charming, and our waiter was exceedingly helpful and friendly. The presentation was wonderful, including a velvety lobster bisque served in a highball glass, with frothy creme fraiche (flavored with fresh dill) and a dollop of caviar on top, and a straw! This dinner was definitely the highlight, food-wise, of our trip.
Posted 30 Nov 2008 at 1:24 pm ¶My husband and I first went to Le Souffle in 1985 and loved it. We have been back over the years once and recommended it to several friends and it has always been a hit.
Posted 09 May 2009 at 7:35 pm ¶We had the chicken and Mushroom souffle and the chocolate souffle. It was delicious.
Sounds great! It has been on my Paris To Do List and finally during the week of June 8th I will make it a must do!
Posted 30 May 2009 at 10:44 pm ¶Just returned from Paris and had dinner one evening at Le Souffle’. I highly recommend trying this restaurant. I started with the tomato-basil souffle. A wonderful tomato flavor with just the right amount of basil. My main course was the ham and cheese souffle. Delicious! For dessert I opted for the Grand Marnier. They leave the huge bottle of Grand Marnier on the table for you to pour as much as you please over your souffle. What a treat the evening was.
Posted 16 Sep 2009 at 3:48 pm ¶I took my daughter there for the 3 course souffle dinner – it was fabulous. I had been there 25 years ago and it was just as good now as it was then. A very special dinner or lunch. I’m only sorry that we didn’t have a chance to go back. Can’t decide if the chocolate or Grand Marnier is my favorite. I’ll just have to get back for another taste!
Posted 02 Apr 2010 at 9:20 pm ¶Le Souffle is ALWAYS a delight – have been with husband, friends and lovers – and it never disappoints! Can’t wait to go again this month, whilst visiting the French Open. Favourite fro me has to be the fruits de mer, but I always want to try every flavour! and the Grand Marnier deserves a special mention….
Posted 06 May 2010 at 8:06 am ¶Le Souffle is reason enough to travel to Paris…we always call for reservations before we leave home. Not sure if its my southern accent, or the fact that we call internationally, but it works. We always get a prime table.
Posted 06 May 2010 at 10:37 am ¶Trackbacks & Pingbacks 1
[...] activities that day included lunch at Le Souffle restaurant, a trip to the Musée National Picasso, more walking, a little shopping, and still more [...]
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