There is a particular kind of pleasure in finding a restaurant before the rest of the city catches on. Living in Paris, I am spoiled for choice when it comes to eating at some of the best restaurants in the world. So how could I gatekeep the goodness? I felt that at Leriche Restaurant.
Set just steps away from the Champs Élysées and near the Arc de Triomphe, in a pocket of Paris that can so easily feel polished and sometimes a bit touristy, is this gem. Leriche opens like a secret with Chef Jean-Rony Leriche.
On this particular day, we went to Le Riche Restaurant for lunch. As soon as we stepped in, we were greeted with a warm smile from the staff. You step inside, and the energy shifts; plants, fruits, and vegetables are displayed in plain sight. It’s as if feeling the natural energy of the ingredients. The crowd at lunch was a mix of corporate guests, neighborhood locals, and travelers seeking authentic food near the Arc de Triomphe.
And what unfolds here is not just a meal, but a conversation between places, the Caribbean and Paris. Richly and proadly told with remarkable clarity, warmth, and care.
I’ll try to do the dishes justice, but I must already preface by saying that some flavors were just too good to put into words 🙂
THE MENU AT LERICHE PARIS
The menu is seasonal and changes daily based on what the kitchen crew and the chef can get from the local markets.
The first bites arrive to open the tropical experience: amuse-bouches and spoons of different spicy sauces to try (my fave was the hibiscus!). It was very playful trying to figure out and remember what was what, but we ate joyfully, chatting and laughing about the mix of flavors and textures. The conch with cashew tiny tarte was very umami!
Next came the breadfruit veloutée enriched with smoked bacon, baokanée! Oh my gaaawwwd…
By the time the main dish arrived, we were already in 7th heaven (I had ordered a cocktail, which I can’t remember the name of, only that it was refreshing and delish, and my friend had a mocktail!). But take a look at the photos!
Leriche isn’t reinventing Caribbean cuisine, nor is it diluting it. It is honoring it, then refining it with a quiet, Parisian precision. As someone born in Jamaica and coming from New York, where we have a rich cultural tapestry of food, Le Riche deserves all its flowers!
The chicken was tender, paired with perfectly fried plantain and yummy Haitian rice.
How is it that they managed to bring it all together and make it so generous yet composed?
WHERE TO EAT NEAR ARC DE TRIOMPHE
Take a look at these beautiful photos, my loves!
It carries the warmth of home cooking, but with the hand of a chef who understands restraint. Nothing is overworked. Nothing is trying too hard. And that’s exactly why it works. This is why I feel so strongly in my statement that one day Le Riche will gain its Michelin star. You’ll see, you’ll be one of the first to say you’ve known from the get-go!
The dessert is like a Caribbean landscape: bold colors, small details, textures that invite curiosity, yet full of natural flavors. There’s a brightness from guava and passionfruit, a creaminess from coconut, and a June plum ice cream that surprised me! It was so refreshing, and I had never even thought of June plum in such an inventive way.
And then, chocolate, as deep, comforting, and familiar, yet elevated as the ancestral roots. A mousse with pieces of breadfruit, a perfectly balanced ice cream, and a gluten-free cake that feels indulgent rather than alternative.
It closes the meal with a sense of quiet satisfaction, not excess.
FRANCE MEETS THE CARIBBEAN REFINEMENT
The décor of the space is perfect for lunch or nighttime dining. I can only imagine the warm woods, soft light, and a certain intimacy that makes you lean closer for a date night 🙂 You feel taken care of here, but never overwhelmed. It’s the kind of space that allows the food and the feeling to lead.
And as we sat there, somewhere between the last spoonful of dessert and that reluctant moment of reaching for my coat, one thought stayed with me:
Leriche is not trying to impress, and we are already making plans to go back!
Address: 16 Rue Brey, 75017 Paris
Leriche Paris Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lericherestaurant/