Eating at Les Chouettes in the Marais

Having read several reviews for Les Chouettes - which I thought to be the adjective, meaning fantastic or terrific , but when I saw the logo realised they meant the noun, meaning owl. Either way, it is a relatively new hip and cool addition to the Marais dining scene. I made reservations for a Saturday lunch and we ventured out for a family lunch. One thing I absolutely loved was the set-up of the restaurant. From the outside, it is fairly nondescript - nothing about the exterior warns of the nautical feel within. Once inside it looks like you're on a cruise liner. It has three levels: the ground floor has the main restaurant with its own bar, the first floor has another bar and more seating, on the third floor are quite reading corners and couches. I could definitely see it as a perfect place for a meet-up for drinks with friends.

The food was creative and tasty. Flavours that are familiar, but cooked and presented

Mushrooms and gnocchi 

differently. Portions that were perfectly-sized, and all this with good service. Reservations are a must as the restaurant is not that big - the seating in the heart of the restaurant is limited but there is more seating in the front end of the restaurant, which does not have the same lively ambiance.
The menu is limited to three starters, three mains and just four desserts. The starter of morel mushrooms and gnocchi was a hit, then there was the melange of smoked haddock with cucumber and beans - messy looking and fairly average-tasting. For mains we ordered the roasted rabbit- which was very tasty, and the grilled prawns with fennel and spinach - also quite good, if a bit light.
The desserts were even better, but the order of the day was definitely the roasted sesame seed mousse, with salted caramel and flax seed ice-cream - a mix of ingredients that was definitely unusual but absolutely delicious together.
I will definitely return to Les Chouettes, but this time to get a bit of what the evening atmosphere offers.

Les Chouettes
32 Rue de Picardie
75003 Paris

Roasted sesame seed mousse with salted caramel and flax seed ice-cream.