Just a hop from the Palais Royal gardens, behind an engaging pale blue façade, Pantagruel is depicted by an eclectic interior of terracotta red, electric blue and Directoire chairs. Jason Gouzy, who hails from Rennes and trained at Ferrandi, l’Assiette Champenoise, Le Bristol and Le Baudelaire, crafts fun-loving, modern fare. A ‘gargantuan egg’ with a play on textures of rice and leeks, a croq’homard (lobster toastie), mousseline and bisque of Breton lobster illustrate the bang-on, crisp approach of this virtuoso chef. Slick, youthful, front-of-house team and a colourful mood set the scene in this venue that pays tribute to Rabelais, a famous French foodie!