La Cigale — now known as Le Récamier — is a 7th arrondissement institution built entirely around the soufflé. Chef Gérard Idoux, who once ran La Cigale on rue Chomel, has made this tucked-away spot near the Bon Marché a pilgrimage for anyone who takes their airy, risen dishes seriously. You'll find savory soufflés (escargot, cheese, seafood) alongside sweet ones, plus a traditional menu of meats and fish for the skeptics at the table. The peaceful terrace is a bonus in summer.
A Parisian institution where every course is a soufflé — savory, sweet, always impossibly airy — in a quiet Saint-Germain dining room.
Some soufflés take extra time to prepare — the menu warns you — so go when you can linger, not when you're in a hurry.
The soufflé temple of the 7th arrondissement
If you've never had a meal where every course is a soufflé, Le Récamier is where you fix that. Gérard Idoux's place — formerly La Cigale on rue Chomel — has been doing this for years, and the execution is seriously impressive. The escargot soufflé gets rave reviews from practically everyone who orders it, and the cheese soufflé is rich without being heavy. The sweet soufflés for dessert — chocolate, Grand Marnier, the works — are the real finale, though you'll want to pace yourself.
The dining room is small and elegant, with that quiet Saint-Germain refinement that feels a bit old-world in the best way. There's a lovely terrace for summer dining. Service is friendly and unhurried. The menu also includes traditional meat and fish dishes if someone in your party isn't soufflé-curious, but honestly, come for the soufflés — that's the whole point. Some soufflés take extra time to prepare, so don't come if you're in a rush. This is a place to linger.