La Bauhinia at the new hotel Shangri-la Paris

The Shangri-La hotel Paris just opened few days ago the 17 december exactlly. The design of the Hotel is amazing, a mix of napoleon style with a touch of ming and chinese style, all in harmony executed by Pierre Yves Rochon, one of the best if not the best french designer.

Shangri-La will count 3 restaurants, La Bauhinia kind of luxury coffee shop that is open already, L'Abeille that will open on february and a chinese restaurant that will open around april/may.

I went last week to try La Bauhinia using again my favorite booking strategy Madonna PA ;-)

the service is perfect as in all the asian palaces, from the valet parking , passing by the hotesse to the waiters.... everything is perfect, pro, with smile, clean...

the ambiance is chic casual, more chic than casual

What about the food? the executive chef of Shangri-la is Philippe Labbé ( 2 stars at la Chevre d'or in Eze, côte d'azur)

the menu is supposed to be International, it's more french with 2 asian dishes...

we had first an Amuse bouche, kind of octopussy thai salad very good

I started with the Yam so O, a Thai pomello, shrimp and peanut salad that was not bad but not balanced, too much pomello for only 4/5 shrimps. but tasty nice hot sour and sour dressing.

mum asked for the salade maraichère de canard confit et oeuf poché, I was a bit disappointed by the presentation, really simple... as simple as at Flottes...

my friend ordered the salmon, oyster and yellowtail tartare in a fishy jelly...not really attractive or good...

Then I stayed on the asian mood and I tried the indonesian Curry Laksa, a big bowl of noodles with chicken, shrimp, tofu, soya beans and curry/coco sauce. this dish is really good.

my mum asked for the veal with salsifis gratin and preserved lemon cream. and this was really not well presented, not really delicious looking and not corresponding to the description on the menu, I never imagined that what I was reading about the veal will look like that. so simple, no design, no volume, no color...

another picture of the veal but it's more a picture of the waiter chinese jacket than a veal interest picture

my friend tried the salmon...same comment, really simple....so simple not at the level of Labbé at la chèvre d'or.

when we finished the dishes, we were asking ourselves if we should try the dessert or not? just ask for the bill and go to the plaza for the tea time, a true value....

We said let's make the experience complete.... and that was a good point for La Bauhinia because the pastries are delicious. We tried the Choco/ yuzu pie excellent.

and also the Millefeuille that is amazing, the feuilletage impressive. a very good balance between the cream and chocolate and the vanilla ice cream delicious.

We paid 242 euros with a diet coke and a bottle of water, La Bauhinia is an expensive restaurant...

I will go back for the tea time, but not sure at all for lunch or diner... maybe if I'm around a day at 3pm still not had lunch and want to eat noodles...otherwise No.

Labbé is a very good chef, an opening is never easy specially a parisian palace opening, pressure and stress should be at the maximum. will not stay on this so so experience but will certainly try L'Abeille at its opening.

Tested by Mimi.