La Scène
Paris, France
â2 Stars
The Experience
From Michelin Guide
StĂŠphanie Le Quellec has professed her aim to deconsecrate haute cuisine via her set menus comprising different numbers of courses or acts. The dishes may appear simple but every last detail has been carefully considered so that the bold flavours come through loud and clear. Happily, some of her signature dishes are reprised here, such as caviar, French toast and Pompadour apple. Tuck in to pastry chef Pierre Chirac's top-notch desserts â he creates cooked desserts with distinct tasting notes, like his dual-origin Tahiti vanilla in a crème brĂťlĂŠe and Madagascar vanilla in an ice cream. There is a fine choice of wines by the glass served from magnums and even jeroboams. It all comes together thanks to a well-coordinated team, from the kitchen to the front-of-house staff, who provide attentive and friendly service. At lunchtime, a tempting menu based on seasonal ingredients is served in the bistro.
Unique Things
From Visitor Experiences
Here are three unique or unconventional aspects of the Michelin-starred restaurant La Scène in Paris:
1. Menus Presented as Theatrical Acts
La Scène offers menus presented in several "acts," with up to ten courses depending on the mood, creating an immersive dining experience akin to a spectacle or performance rather than a traditional meal.
2. Female Chef StĂŠphanie Le Quellec's Personal and Regional Inspiration
The restaurant is led by StĂŠphanie Le Quellec, one of the few female chefs with two Michelin stars. Her cuisine is highly personal, inspired by her life as a chef and mother, and draws on diverse French regions such as Paris, Normandy, Brittany, and Provence. This blend of personal and regional storytelling through food is distinctive.
3. Unique Wine Service from Large Format Bottles
La Scène serves a fine selection of wines by the glass, uniquely poured from large format bottles like magnums and jeroboams, which is uncommon and adds a special touch to the wine experience.
Ingredient Stars
From Visitor Experiences
The most honored or signature ingredients at the Michelin-starred restaurant La Scène in Paris include:
Duck, Goose, and Foie Gras: These ingredients take center stage in the savory dishes, highlighting the restaurant's focus on rich, traditional French flavors.
Caviar: Featured in signature dishes, caviar adds luxury and refinement, reflecting the restaurant's haute cuisine approach.
Pompadour Apple: Used in signature preparations, this apple variety brings a distinctive fruitiness and balance to the menu.
French Toast: While not an ingredient per se, it is a signature dish that showcases the chef's skill in elevating simple components into refined creations.
Ingredients from Brittany: The chef sources many ingredients from the Brittany region, known for its high-quality produce, which underpins the restaurant's commitment to excellent seasonal products.
These ingredients are used thoughtfully to create dishes that balance bold flavors with careful technique, such as foie gras paired with complementary elements or caviar enhancing delicate preparations. The pastry chef also emphasizes quality ingredients like dual-origin vanilla in desserts, further underscoring the restaurantâs dedication to ingredient excellence.