Address: 10 Port des Invalides, 75007 Paris, France
Entrance to the Riviera Fuga from Port des Invalides
Riviera Fuga, an Italian-Japanese gem on a Seine barge, offers an original fusion experience. Situated near the Grand Palais in Paris, it welcomes you to a waterfront haven open daily from noon to midnight. Ideal for romance, festive dinners, or terrace coffees, it bridges Italian and Japanese culinary delights. With a location at the heart of the 7th arrondissement, near the Alexandre III bridge, this unique restaurant promises a moment of escape, blending flavors and ambiance for an unforgettable dining experience.
Atmosphere and Interior:
Nautical place settings on the Riviera Fuga
Upon entering the boat, you are immediately greeted by a host. To your right, a stunning bar - vibrant yet not loud, painted with gold and blue shapes, that continued on the floor of the dining room. The theme of gold and blue is carried out the through all the interior spread throughout the length of the boat. The chairs were the foldable kind, made of a rich brown wood and blue and white striped canvas that were reminiscent of summers spent in along the Italian coast. The winders had small navy curtains with gold tassels and the tables each with a small hanging lantern.
There is a skylight that stretches across the ceiling allowing beautiful natural light in and gold and white striped walls helping to reflect the light throughout the boat. Despite is being a rather grey day during out visit, we were able to take vibrant photos of the inside and our food thanks to the help of the natural light. Each table top had a set of glasses already placed for each seat, and each plate had a unique nautical style or art painted onto the ceramic.
Dining room of the Riviera Fuga
We had original reserved seats on the back terrace or deck and found the day to be significantly chillier than what we had thought it to be. So, we asked if it would be possible to eat inside instead and the host was very accommodating. We sat towards the mid of the boat, not far from where a second bar sat and began to peruse their exciting menu. Upon opening the menu, we are introduced to the terms and the aspects of the menu that are Italian and those that are Japanese. Perfect for anyone that are new or unfamiliar with either of the cuisines.
Calamari Frits €18
Calamari Frits
First we ordered the Calamari, which is an Italian dish of fried squid in a light fluffy batter. These Calamari however were different, keeping with the fusion theme of the menu they were made to include gomadare, which is a Japanese sesame sauce and katsuobushi, s simmered, smoked and fermented skipjack tuna, more commonly known as bonito flakes. The calamari were delightful and light, the batter turned our perfectly fluffy.
Saffron Arancini €12
Arancini
We continued to try their Arancini next. An Italian rice ball or croquette coloured yellow from cooking the rice with saffron. Nori Tsukudani a roasted seaweed paste tops the rice ball adding a dimension and an explosion of flavour to the crisp outer and soft inner of the rice ball
Beef Tartare Cannoli €8
Placed on-top of a plate a black pebbles were 2 cannoli shells, which are a fried hollow cylindrical pastry, traditional stuffed with ricotta cheese and candied fruit. These shells were different, these were stuffed with beef tartare, ume kosho - a Japanese condiment made from ume plum and chili peppers and shiitake. It was a fun concept; however, not my favourite part of the course as the shell is quite hard, making it rather difficult and messy to eat
Beef Tartare Cannoli and Agnolotti
Homemade Agnolotti €19
Lastly, we enjoyed a plate of homemade agnolotti, an cylindrical Italian pasta. These were stuffed with kabocha squash - similar yet sweeter than a butternut squash, clementine and lemon balm. This was lovely and refreshing after the savoury dishes we had prior. It was incredibly light and very pleasant to eat. We decided to forego dessert as we were quite stuffed after all these dishes, but we definitely intend to come back to try more of their unique menu. With our meal we enjoyed a spritz each for €11, which went nicely with each course.
Overall Experience
Our culinary journey at Riviera Fuga was a symphony of flavors and creativity. The fusion of Italian and Japanese elements in dishes like Calamari Frits and Beef Tartare Cannoli showcased the chef's innovative prowess. The coastal-inspired interior, with its skylight and unique table settings, provided a serene backdrop for our dining experience. The homemade Agnolotti, bursting with kabocha squash and citrusy freshness, offered a delightful conclusion. Riviera Fuga is more than a restaurant; it's a destination for those seeking a unique blend of flavors in a chic and nautical setting. Our journey promises to continue as we look forward to exploring more of Riviera Fuga's distinctive menu.
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