What if we told you that the best kebab in Paris could be found… in a restaurant, at the heart of the largest (and most upscale) all-you-can-eat buffet? Here, forget the sandwich stuffed with spit-roasted meat: make way for a chicken kebab served on a plate, accompanied by a cream cheese sauce and a homemade Samurai sauce that’s to die for… A chef’s kebab—and not just any chef…
Éloi, or the meteoric rise of the chef with a knack for knives
He’s come a long way since our first meeting, at the opening of his restaurant Orgueil in Paris’s 11th arrondissement. Since then, Éloi Spinnler has been shining in the kitchen and on social media, and celebrities are lining up to create dishes alongside him—from Michel Sarran to Camille Combal, and even Squeezie. Last February, to mark the release of the film *Wuthering Heights*, Éloi Spinnler even created a dish inspired by the movie, which was sampled by international star Margot Robbie herself.
Two restaurants later (Colère and Envie Le Banquet), everything has changed… but nothing has really changed. The success is phenomenal and well-deserved, but the knife-wielding chef has managed to stay humble. And it’s here, at the heart ofEnvie, the largest all-you-can-eat buffet in Paris, that we’re undoubtedly tasting the best kebab in the capital: a true “chef’s kebab.”
A chicken kebab served on a plate, at the heart of a 500-square-meter all-you-can-eat buffet
In the Marais, at 143 Rue du Temple, Envie Le Banquet draws crowds, to the point of being fully booked and requiring reservations several weeks in advance. On the buffet tables, an all-you-can-eat selection of cold appetizers fills the plates and is enough to make your head spin. The buffet is locally sourced, zero-waste, and the quality of the ingredients is remarkable.
“L’Écailler” and its fine selection of seafood, “La Boulangerie” and its classic and specialty breads, “Le Maraîcher” and its incredibly tasty salads and raw vegetables, “La Charcuterie” and its selection of hams, pâtés, and pâtés en croûte (special mention for the wild boar one)… everything is mouthwatering, and there’s something for everyone. Éloi is particularly proud of this: here, everything is delicious and incredibly varied.
We try, however, to save a little room for the grand finale: the massive cheese buffet (undoubtedly one of the most varied in Paris) and the gargantuan dessert buffet, which all of Paris is talking about. As for the hot dishes, head to the “Cuisinier” counter: two dishes per round and per person, but all-you-can-eat, with as many rounds as you’d like.
The dishes change with the seasons, and you can even sample the dish of the moment, created in collaboration with a celebrity. Right now, it’s Waterzoï, a hearty soup from Ghent, Belgium, which Éloi Spinnler concocted alongside actress Virginie Efira. And for every plate ordered at Bonaloi restaurants (Orgueil, Colère, and Envie), €5 is donated to the CAMELEON association, which is dedicated to child protection—a choice championed by Virginie Efira.
The “craving” to taste the best kebab in Paris is making our mouths water
That evening, we dined in the heart of La Chapelle, one of the dining rooms at Envie Le Banquet: an intimate setting bathed in the light of a stained-glass window, giving the impression of a royal feast. And the house’s signature dish won us over: the chicken kebab.
For over a year now, this signature dish has been a staple on the menu. The chef even prepared it live with influencer Michou in a YouTube video. The result: melt-in-your-mouth chicken, a homemade samurai sauce, and an irresistible cream cheese sauce… It captures all the flavors of a classic spit-roasted kebab, with an added touch of sophistication.
Its highlights? The lightness of the chicken glazed with meat juices, the perfectly crispy fries, and that perfect balance between the heat of the Samurai sauce and the creaminess of the cheese. One thing is certain: this might be the first (and last) time you’ll enjoy a kebab… with a fork and knife.
The height of indulgence? Finishing at the dessert buffet with a generous scoop of all-you-can-eat chocolate mousse. Because here, desire and indulgence are far from being sins.
Will Éloi Spinnler have more culinary surprises in store for us in the coming months? In any case, nothing seems to be stopping this talented young chef, and for us, it’s a real pleasure to follow his brilliant journey…
📍Envie le Banquet, 148 rue du Temple, 75003 Paris