Dining

French Fare | Fusion | French Bistros | World Food | Vegetarian-Friendly

Japanese Fusion

Installed on the first floor of a magnificent 1728 mansion in three salons with gorgeous parquet floors and mouldings, Ran is one of the chicest new addresses in Paris. Designed by interior designer Tristan Auer, the interiors of gun-metal grey banquettes and contemporary lighting fixtures create an edgy visual contrast to the historic setting, and chef Shuhei Yamashita signs a Franco-Japanese menu that’s fresh, healthy and delicious. Start off with baby clams sautéed in sake and soy sauce, Camembert tempura, California royal of shrimp tempura with spicy mayonnaise, or tuna tataki and then tuck into black cod cooked with miso, beef filet cooked on a robata grill or steamed sea bass with dashi and a spicy pepper sauce. – Alexander Lobrano

Ran 8 rue d’Anjou (8th), 01 40 17 04 77

Veggie-Friendly

Historically, the French have been a famously meat-loving people, but now the growing number of excellent vegetarian restaurants in Paris shows off the growing appeal of a meat-free diet to many Parisians and visitors to the city. Right in the heart of Saint-Germain des-Prés, the new Left Bank branch of the very popular Montmartre vegetarian table with a tongue-in-cheek name, L’Abattoir Végétal, (an abattoir, of course, is a slaughterhouse, but this one chops up only vegetables not meat) is the brainchild of Ava Farhang. Her menu is 80% vegan and 20% vegetarian and includes such delicious dishes as aubergine caviar with pomegranate seeds, kaho pad sapparot, a Thai preparation of rice fried with pineapple, tofu teriyaki, and roasted sweet potatoes with pita bread, salad, pistachios, and vegan yoghurt. There’s also a fun list of vegetarian cocktails, including the Frida, in honour of Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, a refreshing mix of tequila, pineapple, coriander, agave and chipotle. - A.L.