In 2009, Jean-François Piège—the highly-acclaimed chef of such Michelin-starred restaurants as Les Ambassadeurs at the Crillon– opened a buzzy brasserie called Thoumieux. Located in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower in the 7th arrondissement of Paris, Thoumieux is a stylish address to see and be seen. Upstairs is Piège’s gastronomic restaurant, where guests are instructed to choose from a list of the freshest, seasonal ingredients for the chef to prepare a multi-course tasting menu. In 2010, Top Chef was launched in France, with Piège one of the presiding judges. The show’s enormous popularity has catapulted Piège to stardom.
Recently we went back to Thoumieux to see how it’s weathered these last four years. What we found: Every table was taken at the brasserie; the glam crowd, dressed to the nines, made for fun people-watching; the wine list was excellent and affordable, as was the classic French fare. Surrounded by black marble tables, walls of mirrors, and lots of brass fittings, we tucked into steak and fish platters, followed by the chef’s own take on the profiterole for dessert. The beauty of Thoumieux is that it manages to be incredibly fashionable while serving quality cuisine that doesn’t break the bank. Tip: Because of the happy chatter of the packed restaurant, this is not the spot for a romantic, quiet date. For more information, visit www.thoumieux.fr.