Le Diamant de Paris -- Restaurant Review

 

For logistics, time etc. check their website: https://lediamantdeparis.com/fr/services

Rating Standards: 5-Stars = Extraordinary; 4-Stars = Excellent; 3-Stars = Average; 2-Stars = Fair; 1-Star = Poor 

€ = Inexpensive: 30€ and under; €€ = Moderate: 31€-49€; €€€ = Expensive: €50 -75; €€€€ = Very Expensive: more than €76 (prices based on minimum 2-courses)

1-Bell = Pleasantly quiet (less than 65 decibels); 2-Bells = Can talk easily (65-70); 3-Bells = Talking normally gets difficult (70-80); 4-Bells = Can talk only in raised voices (75-90); BOMB = Too noisy for normal conversation (90+)

4.85 - Star........................................€€................................... 2 - Bell

A close friend recommended this restaurant. It truly is a "hole-in-the-wall", located in the 11eme. Not an easy place to get to if you're not staying in the area, but well worth it. 

The restaurant only seats 23-people. There are also seating for 4 outside the entrance. It's a tight squeeze, but very cozy. 

As an aside, I was waiting for friends who had troubles getting to restaurant from the Seine, metro and traffic was all backed up. In fact, they were almost an hour late from our 8 pm reservation. But the restaurant was very nice and I was able to have a few kirs while waiting.

NOTE: A clearer version can be scene on their website; however, the menu can change depending on seasonality of food

The menu is not extensive, so I was happy about that. I think you know how I feel about menus that have too many choices; you wonder, how do they make anything good. "Less is more". 

NOTE: I reviewed the dishes I had, and will give general commentaries for the dishes others had. 

ENTRÉES

Piperade, oeuf parfait et chorizo. (Piperade, poached egg and chorizo)

Piperade, is a Basque dish prepared with onion, green peppers, akin to Shakshuka. 

I loved this dish. Unlike shakshuka it wasn't "soupy"  so held up its form better.  

The sweetness from the peppers with the perfectly poached egg was quite delightful. What brought it to the next level was the chorizo. It was crispy, sort of like bacon. So, the dish delivered on the taste, texture and presentation was simple. I loved this dish. 

Fiesta de Tomates (Fiesta of tomatoes).

JJ had this appetizer. He liked it. It was served with an interesting pasta that look like white beans. You might be saying it's probably orzo, but it was actually pasta, shaped as round beans. Only minor issue for me I thought it was too al dente. The melange of tomatoes highlighted with the dressing served at room temperature was a hit. 

Chèvre fraise aux herbes, legumes croquantes de saison, sarrasin grille (Fresh goat cheese with herbs, crunchy seasonal vegetables, grilled buckwheat).

 What a great summer appetizer. Our friend Beth got this dish, the vegetables were fresh enveloped in a wonderful dressing. The goat cheese was creamy a little tart characteristic of goat cheese. Another hit. 

PLATS

Noix d’entrecôte grillée au poivre rouge de kampot, beurre de truffe (Grilled rib steak with red kampot pepper, truffle butter)

I haven't had steak in a very long time and decided to order this dish. It doesn't look like a lot, but it was more than enough. In fact, I couldn't even finish it. 

I ordered the steak medium rare (a point). Whoever their butcher is, chapeau. The steak was so tender and juicy. The truffle butter made it even more moist, and the truffle added a layer of sophistication. What brought it to the next level was the kampot pepper. You got an unexpected little "spice-hit" which was a blast in your mouth, which I quite enjoyed. Oh yeah, the potatoes were good too. 

Pavé de cabillaud roti, beurre monté au yuzu et herbes fraîches (Roasted cod steak, whipped butter with yuzu and fresh herbs)

Beth ordered this dish, she loved it. I had a bite of the cabillaud and it was perfectly cooked. It looked like a complicated dish, but the flavors came together perfectly. 

Saumon mi-cuit, jus coco galangal, petits légumes (Medium-rare cooked salmon, galangal coconut juice, baby vegetables)

JJ ordered this dish. I also had a taste of the salmon. It was perfectly cooked. Sometimes salmon can be raw in the center if not cooked right, but the chef knows how to cook seafood. The center was medium warm and not raw, a hard feat for many. The accompanying vegetables with the galangal and coco water, brought the dish to the next level. Delicious. 

DESSERTS

Clafoutis pêche-poire-abricot (Peach-pear-apricot clafoutis)

JJ and Joey ordered the Clafoutis. I don't eat dessert as most of my readers know, but I took a taste. It was quite good, not too sweet at all.

Crème brûlée au citron (Crème brûlée with lemon)

Beth ordered this dish. Nothing extraordinary, but the infusion of lemon did make it more interesting. It too was good. 

WINES

TASTING NOTES:

"Endowed with gorgeous pale gold colour, Les Jamelles Viognier is rich and extremely fragrant, with notes of apricot and white peach, along with floral nuances (acacia blossom).

This wine is round on the palate, with remarkable freshness and exceptional balance between richness and acidity. The tasting experience concludes with nougat on the finish." ~~  (SOURCE LES JAMELLES)

S U M M A R Y 

Our friend Beth had gone 2-weeks before, introduced by a local woman. She insisted we must go because I would love it. She was right. Talk about a hole-in-the-wall find in a hidden area of the 11eme. This is a local neighborhood restaurant unknown to most people outside of the area.  It had a very homey feel because of its size. But we decided to invade it, lucky us. 

It is a small restaurant, so if you go, you must make reservations. In summary, the restaurant uses the freshest of products and the flavor combinations were spot on. Protein was cooked perfectly. Only minor complaint is I found Jack's pasta beans a bit too al-dente. Otherwise excellent.

We had 3-entrées, 4-plats, 3-desserts, 2-kirs, 1-bottle of wine and 1-glass of red wine for a total of €147.25 for 4-people. Or €37 per person. Please note we got 50% off our plats because we made reservations at "La Fourchette -- The Fork".  You can do the same.

Would we go back, even if it's out of our way, ABSOLUTELY!