This prestigious Parisian institution housed in an elegant building set in the Jardins des Champs-Élysées has huge windows looking out onto the most beautiful avenue in the world. It is the very epitome of the great French restaurant: the luxurious setting, the culture of beautifully dressed tables, the seamlessly orchestrated service – it all makes for a unique backdrop, fit to showcase gastronomy in all its glory. Chef Yannick Alléno has achieved a real tour de force by stamping his hallmark on the menu from the outset. His cuisine is dazzling and technical, and his jus and sauces (what the chef calls "the verb of French cuisine"), enhanced by skilful extractions, deserve a special mention. This is what happens when the avant-garde puts itself at the service of the great French culinary tradition.