Passage 53 is one of several restaurants that our local friends (D & C) made a reservation for the four of us for our week in Paris.

The restaurant is quite difficult to find as it is hidden in the oldest arcade in Paris (Passage des Panoramas) among specialty shops that sell stamps and postcards. There will be a later post dedicated to them.

The windows near the entrance were covered with a semi-translucent white material. Tables were barely visible from the outside. There were no menu or hours on the door – just a piece of white paper laser-printed with the price of the set lunch and dinner.

The restaurant is just one long room, minimally decorated. We sat across from a very tight spiral staircase which led up to the kitchen and bathrooms. Apparently, that staircase dated back to the 1700’s and is a protected monument of the city.

All the diners had the same food – whatever that was available under the Degustation Menu Surprise.

The only option offered was whether we wanted to add a caviar course to the surprise menu. Yes, we added it.

The other option was the wine – we had a couple of Burgundy whites.

Because there was no menu, we cannot named the dishes as we cannot remember what we ate. Except that every thing was delicious, particularly the green pea soup.

The chef is Japanese, Shinichi Sato, apparently a Grand Chef Relais & Châteaux. He works with an all-Japanese kitchen staff and an all-French but English-friendly service.

We lost count of how many dishes we had, at the time.

It was a very satisfying dining experience.

It was unanimous in that we all thought Passage 53 outperformed a Michelin 3-star restaurant we went the night before. Less expensive, better tasting food and ambiance.

We did not know that it had received 2 Michelin stars   until just now when we looked them up online on viamichelin.

Dessert was similarly spectacular.

This is a restaurant that we would go back again.

= )