Dame Augustine

Cuisine

Creative French contemporary cuisine celebrating seasonal products and short-circuit sourcing, crafted by Top Chef 2022 finalist Lilian Douchet.

The Vibe

A relaxed, modern atmosphere where contemporary design meets neighborhood warmth, perfect for both casual lunches and celebratory dinners.

Dame Augustine cultivates a decontracted yet refined atmosphere that reflects the restaurant's position as a contemporary neighborhood bistrot. The vibe strikes a careful balance between modern sophistication and approachable warmth, making it equally comfortable for a weekday lunch, a romantic dinner, or a gathering with friends.

The two-story layout creates distinct experiences within the same establishment. The interior dining spaces feature an intimate quality enhanced by natural materials and thoughtfully curated vintage décor pieces that add character without feeling cluttered or overly styled. The use of wood, plants, and organic textures creates a connection to the restaurant's farm-to-table philosophy, while the contemporary design elements keep the space feeling current and fresh.

The generous terrace extends the dining experience outdoors, offering a more casual, airy alternative during pleasant weather. This outdoor space contributes significantly to the restaurant's convivial character, particularly during lunch service when natural light floods the area. The vegetable-covered façade provides a green backdrop that reinforces the restaurant's commitment to natural, seasonal ingredients while creating a distinctive visual identity in the neighborhood.

The overall energy remains relaxed throughout service, with a pace that allows diners to savor their meals without feeling rushed. The atmosphere accommodates various dining occasions—from business lunches to family meals to date nights—without compromising its essential character. The service style complements this vibe, maintaining professionalism while avoiding stuffiness, which aligns perfectly with the restaurant's contemporary bistrot positioning. Whether you're settling in for a multi-course tasting menu or enjoying a quick lunch formula, the atmosphere at Dame Augustine makes you feel welcome and comfortable while still delivering a sense of occasion.

Decoration

Natural materials and vintage finds create an intimate, contemporary space where greenery and organic textures define the aesthetic.

The decoration at Dame Augustine immediately announces the restaurant's philosophy through its striking vegetable-covered façade, which transforms the building's exterior into a living, breathing element that changes with the seasons. This green wall serves as both a visual landmark in the neighborhood and a statement about the restaurant's commitment to natural, fresh ingredients.

Inside, the design embraces natural materials throughout the two-story space. Wood features prominently in the furniture and architectural details, creating warmth and texture that counterbalances the contemporary lines of the space. The choice of materials feels deliberate and cohesive, with each element contributing to an overall sense of organic sophistication.

The décor incorporates carefully selected vintage pieces—what the French call "chiné" or "hunted" items—that add personality and character to the dining rooms. These curated finds prevent the space from feeling too designed or impersonal, instead creating an environment that feels collected and thoughtful. The vintage elements coexist harmoniously with modern design features, achieving a balance between old and new that defines contemporary French bistrot style.

Plants and greenery appear throughout the interior, echoing the vegetable façade and reinforcing the connection between the dining experience and the natural world. These living elements add color, texture, and a sense of vitality to the space while maintaining the restaurant's commitment to showcasing the beauty of natural ingredients.

The lighting design supports the intimate atmosphere, with fixtures that provide warmth without being overly dramatic. The two-story configuration allows for different spatial experiences, with distinct areas that can accommodate various group sizes and dining occasions. The terrace area extends the design language outdoors, creating a seamless transition between interior and exterior dining spaces. Overall, the decoration at Dame Augustine achieves a contemporary aesthetic that feels warm, inviting, and authentically connected to the restaurant's culinary mission.

Uniqueness

A Top Chef finalist's first restaurant combining creative seasonal cuisine with neighborhood accessibility, housed in a distinctive green-façade building with privatizable spaces.

Dame Augustine stands out in Paris's dining landscape through several distinctive features that set it apart from typical neighborhood bistros. Most notably, it represents the first restaurant from Lilian Douchet following his appearance as a finalist on Top Chef 2022, bringing the visibility and culinary credibility of that platform to a residential area between the 5th and 13th arrondissements rather than a more obvious tourist or dining destination.

The restaurant's physical presence distinguishes it immediately through its vegetable-covered façade, a living architectural element that's relatively rare in Paris and serves as both a visual landmark and a statement of culinary philosophy. This green wall transforms throughout the seasons, creating a dynamic exterior that reflects the restaurant's commitment to seasonal cooking and natural ingredients.

The two-story configuration provides unusual flexibility for a restaurant of this size, with distinct spaces that can be privatized for events accommodating up to 26 guests. This feature makes Dame Augustine particularly valuable for private celebrations, business dinners, or other occasions requiring a semi-private or fully private setting, while maintaining the intimate scale that defines the overall dining experience.

The menu structure itself offers distinctive value, particularly at lunch where the 26€ and 34€ formulas make contemporary creative cuisine accessible at price points that encourage regular visits rather than reserving the restaurant solely for special occasions. This pricing strategy, combined with the extended hours (11:30 to 23:00, Tuesday through Sunday), creates unusual accessibility for a restaurant of this culinary ambition.

The commitment to vegetarian tasting menus that receive equal creative attention to their omnivorous counterparts represents another point of distinction. Rather than treating plant-based dining as an afterthought or simple accommodation, Douchet develops complete vegetarian experiences that stand on their own merits, reflecting the growing sophistication of vegetable-forward cuisine in contemporary French cooking.

Finally, the combination of creative cocktails alongside the food menu creates a more complete beverage experience than many bistros offer, positioning Dame Augustine as suitable for drinks and lighter bites as well as full meals. This versatility, combined with the terrace space and neighborhood location, makes the restaurant function as both a destination dining experience and a more casual neighborhood gathering spot, serving multiple roles within the local dining ecosystem.

Insider Tips

Book ahead through the website or TheFork, and consider lunch formulas for the best value on Douchet's creative cuisine.

To make the most of your experience at Dame Augustine, we recommend several practical strategies based on how the restaurant operates. First and most importantly, make reservations in advance through either the restaurant's website or TheFork, as this neighborhood gem has built a strong following since opening in May 2022, and walk-in availability can be limited, especially for dinner service and weekend meals.

For the best value, consider visiting at lunch when the 26€ and 34€ formulas offer access to Douchet's creative cuisine at significantly lower price points than the evening tasting menus. These lunch offerings change seasonally and provide an excellent introduction to the chef's style and the restaurant's commitment to quality ingredients. The lunch service runs from 11:30 to 14:00, Tuesday through Sunday, giving you flexibility in timing.

If you're interested in the full tasting menu experience, note that the signature 4 and 6-course menus are available only in the evening, with last orders at 21:25. Vegetarians should specifically request the vegetarian tasting menu when booking, as these receive the same creative attention as the standard menus and showcase Douchet's skill with plant-based preparations.

The restaurant's terrace provides a particularly pleasant experience during good weather, so if outdoor dining appeals to you, mention this preference when making your reservation or request terrace seating upon arrival if the weather cooperates. The terrace contributes significantly to the relaxed, convivial atmosphere, especially during lunch service.

For those interested in private events, Dame Augustine offers two distinct spaces that can accommodate up to 26 guests, making it an excellent option for celebrations, business dinners, or other occasions requiring a semi-private or private setting. Contact the restaurant directly to discuss privatization options and menus for groups.

Access is straightforward via metro, with Place d'Italie station (lines 5, 6, and 7) providing the most convenient connection. The location at 32 Avenue des Gobelins places you in a residential neighborhood rather than a tourist area, so the surrounding streets offer an authentic Parisian atmosphere before and after your meal.

Finally, if you're dining with children, ask about the children's menu (plat/dessert at 19€) when booking, as this demonstrates the restaurant's family-friendly approach while maintaining its culinary standards. The relaxed atmosphere and accommodating service style make Dame Augustine suitable for family meals without compromising the experience for other diners.

Must-try Dishes

Burrata Betterave, Généreusement maigre, Cheesecake fruité, Heirloom tomatoes with pesto and parmesan shortbread, Braised whiting fillet