Nomicos restaurant review - Paris, France

A Parisian favourite for eight years, Nomicos has just emerged from a complete overhaul, courtesy of local designer Marie Deroudilhe.

With a brief to ‘hint at the sun’ and chef Jean-Louis Nomicos’ Mediterranean origins, Deroudilhe has created a soothing, light-filled, abstract space. From the entrance, Corten arches change the perception of the restaurant, while unpolished oak flooring, Corian tables and wooden Muuto chairs convey a down-to-earth feel. ‘I wanted to force and artwork into the space’ explains the designer. ‘I chose a mobile by Calder to trial-test the idea. The result is even more sculptural than I anticipated – there is something very abstract about the way the arches fit into the space and partition it.’

On the walls, glass bubbles designed by Etienne Gillabert hint at the importance of the Mediterranean Sea in the chef’s cuisine. The same goes for the texturised and tinted bay windows, which create a watery feeling and add a natural glow to the incoming light. Produce driven, Nomicos’ cuisine travels south: every plate is a perfect interlude around artichoke or red mullet, bouillabaisse or bagna cauda.