Imagine this: a California restaurant in Paris, started by a three-Michelin-star French female chef renowned for her eponymous establishment in the US. That’s right, Dominique Crenn has returned to her native France and launched her first more casual dining venue in the heart of Paris: Golden Poppy.
What’s interesting is that this restaurant showcases Californian style and ingredients, complete with a charming rooftop garden and a spacious area for family gatherings. There's also a reasonably sized counter with plenty of counter seating, which is where we chose to sit to catch all the culinary action up close.
TL;DR - A Summary of Our Thoughts
We absolutely loved our experience here. Perhaps it’s because it was a Sunday evening and the restaurant wasn't as crowded. Our server was exceptionally warm and extremely knowledgeable about the menu.
We also relished the "theater" of observing the kitchen staff meticulously preparing various dishes.
Bryan remarked that it certainly brought back memories of America, evoking a sense of nostalgia for the type of "farm-to-table" creativity we find less frequently in Hong Kong. It's the emphasis on local, creatively crafted ingredients, with a menu that's constantly evolving.
Our Favorite Dishes
Cornbread "madeleines"
Oyster "special N° 2 Cadoret" with aguachile, parsnip milk, and oyster leaf (24 euros)
Citrus Kakigori (shaved ice), which was amazingly refreshing, yet also had a lovely balance from just a bit of cream.
The Food
Parker House rolls with condiments (21 euros) were highly recommended by our server, who claimed it as her favorite dish.
According to her, the French appreciate their bread, hence locals particularly enjoy this offering. While delicious, it was quite filling, and I might skip it next time to explore other dishes.
Gluten-Free Rice Noodles
Bryan was intrigued by the rice noodles with wakame seaweed butter and smoked trout roe (29 EUROS). The texture of the noodles was great, though I couldn’t quite wrap my head around the combination of butter sauce with rice noodles—a dish I typically associate with Asian cuisine.
I laud the efforts; it’s a great gluten-free option. Bryan loved it, and I must concede that the technique and execution was top notch.
We also ordered the "Whole Sea Bream, 'ikejime & dry-aged', with beetroot salad and condiments" (95 euros), a dish designed for sharing.
Dominique Crenn adopts a Japanese method of aging her fish, a practice somewhat at odds with traditional French culinary wisdom (which values fresh fish!).
The fresh salad plus an array of pickles reminded me of a Korean-style bo ssam.
Creating lettuce wraps was an ideal way to pair the robustly flavored grilled fish with the crisp lettuce, beets, and pickles.
It was delicious, though we were quite full by the end, perhaps due to ordering the equivalent of three entrées(!).
Dessert
We declined dessert (we were genuinely too full!), yet they still sent over a citrus kakigori, served with Japonese citron yuzu "ice cream" and cédrat confit (11 euros).
This (seemingly) simple dessert consisted of yuzu shaved ice topped with a rich whipped cream. It was refreshing light and a perfect way to end the meal. In fact, the dessert briefly transported me back to my Ohio childhood, reminding me of a slushie topped with soft-serve ice cream—a nostalgic yet elevated twist.
General Thoughts - Golden Poppy Dominique Crenn (Paris)
In conclusion, I can’t say enough nice things about this restaurant. I’ve never had the opportunity to dine at Dominique Crenn’s three Michelin star restaurant in California, but I can deeply sense her personal expression in these dishes, an innovative approach to combining California’s creative and bold style with Japanese artistry and precision, and (of course) lots of edible flowers.
The service was exceptional, and our server, a university student working part-time, was particularly warm, friendly, and made us feel exceptionally welcome.
I’d happily come back again if I’m ever in Paris, despite the fact that it’s not French food!
Golden Poppy Paris - Dominique Crenn
Hotel La Fantaisie
24 Rue Cadet, 75009
Paris, France
