Takayuki Nameura, born and raised in Japan, arrived in Paris in 2016 and opened his own restaurant: Montée. And just like that, he received his first Michelin star in 2018!
Montée is a French restaurant located in a quiet street in the 14th arrondissement, close to the 6th and the Jardin de Luxembourg. The restaurant is quite narrow and divided into three parts. The front room that can accommodate 16 people is bright and calm. The bay windows at the front of the restaurant can be completely opened during summer time. The walls, napkins, and tablecloths are all white and the floor is made of light hardwood. A small contemporary piece of furniture stands in the middle of the back wall to accommodate water and wine bottles.
The second part of the restaurant – a more passage-like to the kitchen – is a cute private room with only two tables. The exposed brick wall and the slightly felted light give off a cozy atmosphere.
In the back, a small clean kitchen for chef Nameura and his assistant: a place where ideas and creativities fuse every day. The dishes that come out of that kitchen are a result of years of experience and a desire to seduce and to surprise us.
Takayuki Nameura didn’t just come out of the blue and immediately get a star from the most prestigious culinary guide. During his young age, he worked in several restaurants in Osaka and Kobe, had professional experience in France in 1999, and opened his first Montée in Kobe in 2006. Two years ago he decided that Paris would be his new challenge!
I was there for lunch and I let myself be tempted by the tasting menu. It was composed of seven dishes for the price of €40 – he increased the price since my last visit. Every dish was beautifully presented; the ingredients were well chosen and smartly combined. There was no faux pas in the flavors, everything was perfect and the Japanese waitress was adorable. The only downside I see is maybe the size of the portions: maybe a bit short for the men and women with big appetites.
We started with a cylinder of Pitaya, or dragon fruit, with radish, shaved on the top: remarkably fresh to start the tasting menu.
Salmon tartar with bacon cubes and quail egg perched on top of the lentils. Microgreen herbs to enhance the taste.
A beautiful dish to present a mix of Cod fish and potato.
A juicy John Dory served with grilled zucchini slices and a delicious fish sauce.
Lamb confit served with mint and herbs and a powerful Parmesan sauce.
A half meringue sphere filled with coconut ice cream and pineapple cream was our treat for dessert. As you can see in the picture, it looked fabulous.
Chocolate brittle with chocolate ganache was an ideal end for lunch at such a refined restaurant.
With Montée, Nameura-san has matched the décor of his restaurant to the spirit of his cuisine: pure, elegant, and refined.
Montée
9 rue Léopold Robert
75014 Paris
📞+33 1 43 25 57 63
Tuesday – Saturday: 12 – 2 pm, 7:30 – 9:30 pm
Sunday – Monday: Closed
Price: $$$
Subway:
Vavin line 4
Edgar Quinet: line 6
Raspail: line 4 & 6
Port-Royal: RER B
