Medhi "Le Restaurant"

Where Mehdi Djeghaba goes, the beautiful people follow. Something of a celebrity in his own right thanks to a starring role at Petit Yvan, a dining out fixture of Paris 8th for 16 years, the charismatic restaurateur now runs his own eponymous eaterie near the Champs Elysees. Expect a good show here. Rich purple and gold upholstery and fittings give a beautiful baroque visual performance; background music entertains the ear; while a third kind of magic seems to flow from a perfectly choreographed service by a brilliant waiting team gifted at making everyone who comes to Medhi feel special. An engaging but never showy French menu divides neatly into pasta, fish, and meat dishes.