Marais Soir Eat like a God in München's West End

Something French? Again?? Absolutely! I am very open about my love for France. The country, the language, style, and savoir vivre of her people, and above all else: the French food culture- which is why I’m always incredibly excited when I can take part of it back to München. And it’s quite obvious that visiting a French restaurant is one prime method, especially if it’s a prime restaurant you’re visiting. Marais Soir is one of these.

Riccardo Asti reigns as cook her, an Italian whose skill can match that of any "real" French Maître de Cuisine. His wife, Alexandra Baumann, runs the wonderful Café Marais across the street. Similarly to the cafe, the mix of antique and new furniture in Marais Soir gives the restaurant a special flair.

During this visit we’re drawn to the rear area of the restaurant, nearly completely decked in black, to see what surprises wait for us within the menu.

We kick things off with a bubbly glass of Crémant, accompanied by a gift from the kitchen: salmon tartar on mini potatoes. A perfect start! The roasted octopus served next is just as decadent. Often chewy elsewhere, here it is perfectly tender and bedded on a mix of quinoa and wild lettuce. Notes of calamonden and light celery toques round the whole thing off.

Prawns with seasonally matched buckwheat-salmon risotto and bacon froth along with canola blossom ravioli with brown butter and roasted pine nuts follow as an intermediate course. Our verdict could be seen reflecting off our meticulously cleaned plates, our faces grinning in satisfaction.

We’re already technically at the limit of our stomach capacity before the main course arrives, but our mood has skyrocketed, so we can’t resist the beef duet with a viscid “Marchand de Vin” sauce. Speaking of Marchand de Vin: We’d decided on the wine accompaniment with the menu so with each dish our glasses are filled with its carefully-considered pairing. At this point we’re enjoying a wonderful, velvety Côte du Rhône.

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The crowning highlight is the dessert and I’m glad that I went with the fixed menu. I probably would’ve chosen a classic myself, perhaps a chocolate fondant or crème-brûlée, which I’m sure are both also fantastic here. But as I taste the artistically arranged Tarte au Fromage Blanc with pineapple sorbet and compote, I resolve to be more open-minded in the future. This dish is dangerously addictive!

This visit is guaranteed not to be my last to Marais Soir, and after our dinner I can rest assured knowing that as a Münchner, even in times of acute French wanderlust I have a way to bridge the time to my next holiday.