Bonjour! Today I’m sharing a little more about Dandelion, one of the new additions to our updated list of 50 Favorite Restaurants in Paris.
Dandelion is my kind of place. It’s off the beaten path in a leafy corner of the 20th, just down the street from Paulownia. I felt, when approaching the entrance, that I was no longer in a big city.
The interior reminds me a bit of Septime - rough tabletops without linens, wide candles, exposed stone, simple flowers. Chef Antoine Villard used to work there.
The menu is compact and prices are typical of Paris these days, with entrées around 15€ and mains around 30€. The wine list (mostly but not entirely natural) contains some exciting stuff and the prices here are very reasonable. I can’t remember the last time I saw so many bottles priced in the 30s and 40s.
So far, Dandelion is filled with locals and flying a little under the radar. It’s is so much better than you expect it to be - from the friendly service to the thoughtful wine list to the stunningly beautiful plating.
This dish was crazy delicious. Petals of excellent bonite (tuna) from Saint-Jean de Luz (Basque country) composed a flower that was glazed with cherries and set to float in a pool of chili jam (15€).
Also wonderful: raw black mullet (fish) with fava beans and peas in a minty Raïta sauce with lots of fresh herbs (14€).
The raw fish parade continued with this bowl of homemade cavatelli with langoustines, tomatoes and breadcrumbs (30€). There was an incredible depth of flavor here - I loved every bite.
Guinea hen was served two ways - roasted and dressed with a simple lovage jus, and then fried and served on a bed of smoked Russian dressing (I wanted to take home a gallon of this). I loved the simplicity of roasted zucchini with fresh herbs as an accompaniment.
For dessert, we loved the honey semi-freddo with red fruits, and an orange blossom-scented choux puff à la Tropezienne.
In short, it was a modestly perfect meal. None of the dishes were too ambitious, everything was thoughtful and well-executed. Service was welcoming, the space was lovely, and the wine was affordable and fun. Between Dandelion and Paulownia, there are now two very compelling reasons to explore this corner of the 20th - especially for those who are already happy to leave the city center.
Dandelion is one our 50 Favorite Restaurants in Paris - find our other 49 favorites here:
DANDELION
46 Rue des Vignoles, 75020
Open Tuesday-Thursday for dinner only
Open Friday-Saturday for lunch & dinner
Closed Sunday & Monday
Reservations online or at +33 1 42 50 01 55
Also, I enjoy hearing about great eats off the main touristy heart of Paris path. Following your recent reviews Meg, my husband and I ventured into the 11th, 12th and 16th discovering spaces we never knew about. Thanks!
Thanks for sharing this delightful addition! Can’t wait to try when next in Paris ❤️