Halfway between gourmet bistro and gourmet speakeasy, Orgueil restaurant in Paris has thought out its concept down to the last detail. As soon as you open the door, a mysterious, whimsical atmosphere sets the tone. The cosmic details painted on the ceiling immediately catch our eye, while the lion-head lamps hanging on the walls seem to watch over the room. Lovers of unusual experiences will not be disappointed here, and can push open the doors to a speakeasy, hidden at the back of the main room. Behind a two-way mirror, a confidential table overlooking the kitchen allows gourmets to indulge in a gastronomic interlude out of the ordinary…
Sharp, anti-gaspi cuisine
At the helm of the Orgueil kitchens is Eloi Spinnler. A graduate of the prestigious Ferrandi gastronomy school, the young chef has cut his teeth in Paris, London and Melbourne. Having worked in the kitchens of the Tour d’Argent and the Plaza Athénée, this culinary goldsmith reveals his full range of talent at Orgueil. Here, the passionate Eloi Spinnler presents his committed dishes, prepared with produce from small-scale producers. He also makes a point of producing zero-waste cuisine.
Orgueil Paris, the 7 deadly sins on your plate
As soon as we sit down at the bistro, the scent of our table-mates’ plates brings up our first sin of the evening: envy. Orgueil’s menu features splendid Tarot divinatory cards. Snack, Land, Sea, Vegetarian, Sweet… Shuffling the cards to browse the different dishes to be sampled makes the experience all the more exciting.
But which delicacies are we going to treat ourselves to once we’ve drawn the cards? If the choice is difficult, we follow our hosts’ advice and share 6 or 7 small plates. We opt for the refined Serrano ham from Maison Aïtana, which offers us a one-way ticket to Catalonia, and for the tasty duck, sesame & cream cheese croquetas. On the seaside, expect a culinary orgasm with Breton octopus, lemon & teriyaki. At Paris Secret, we tasted the most melt-in-the-mouth octopus we’ve ever tasted. If the cooking is mastered to perfection, the flavors promise an explosion on the palate.
Tarot cards as a menu andplates to share that are simply exquisite.
Then it’s on to Earth, with a Canette sur le coffre, sweet spice jus & celery à la flamme to die for, which we accompany with an excellent potato smoked with marinated egg yolk and elderberry. The beef confit in its jus, pomegranate and new turnips supports our feeling: at Orgueil, zero false notes. What’s more, the combinations of flavors are thought out to perfection, literally tantalizing our taste buds. And there’s no sin of greed here. Here we are, as full as we are delighted, ready to sample some sweet delights. To end on a high note, we opt for a sweet and salty chocolate brioche with labne ice cream, simply divine, and for the refreshing trou Normand, perfectly executed.
Editor’s note: With a concept as innovative and enchanting as its cuisine, Orgueil has it all. At Paris Secret, we warn you: expect to fall head over heels for this 11th arrondissement restaurant!
D’Orgueil à Colère: a 2nd restaurant for Eloi Spinnler
After Orgueil, Eloi Spinnler takes you to Paris’s 9th arrondissement with his new restaurant Colère. The decor has changed, but the quality of the dishes remains unchanged. The promise? A festival of flavors from appetizer to dessert, as promised by the talented chef. Don’t wait any longer: head for rue Richer.
Orgueil, 6 Rue Popincourt, 75011 Paris – Open 7/7 from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. – Information and reservations