Birthday dining in Strasbourg
Birthday dining in Strasbourg
The little girl was nine years old and had only one requirement: no candles in front of everyone. Her mother had warned us at the time of the reservation. We brought the dessert without singing, without applauding, just with a candle lit placed in front of it. She blew out the candle, she laughed, and her mother looked at me as if we had just saved the evening. A birthday restaurant in Strasbourg, This isn’t a room with balloons: it’s a team that listens to what the person being celebrated really wants. Here’s how we celebrate, at 9 rue de Berne.
A map where no one is left behind
An anniversary rarely brings together people who eat the same thing. Grandparents, cousins, childhood friends, children. The menu is entirely halal — meats like poultry charcuterie — which saves the organizer this tedious exercise of checking what everyone can order.
We do not see this requirement as a limitation. It forces us to know our process from start to finish, and that knowledge is tasted in the food itself.
The dish that makes the event
There is a moment in the dining room that systematically triggers a turning of heads: the arrival of the whole Charolais beef tenderloin, the bone protruding, the steam rising. It is cut in front of you. This is the dish I recommend for a birthday party, because it creates a scene without the need to stage it.
All meat served at L’Épicurien is halal-certified. The Angus beef comes from Ireland. L’Épicurien does not serve aged meat.
Start with the carpaccio à volonté
At a birthday party, the entrance should be free to move, not to be confined. Our à la carte carpaccio plays exactly this role: a fillet of Charolais cut to order, red cherry, translucent, 24-month-old DOP Parmesan in large shavings, wild rocket, capers from Pantelleria, Guérande fleur de sel, Tuscan oil with a hint of pepper.
It was invented in 1950 in Harry’s Bar in Venice for a client to whom cooked meat was forbidden. A constraint transformed into a classic — a story that pleasantly occupies the first ten minutes of a meal.
The children, and the question of the blue cord
A birthday with children often revolves around a detail: is there anything they will actually eat? Our cordon bleu with smoked turkey ham is prepared here, including the breading. This is not a quick fix dish that came out of a box: it is a homemade recipe, and it is not uncommon for an adult to order it after having tried a piece.
Drinks: Celebrating without alcohol, really
Drinking is part of the party. You have to have something in the glass that’s worth it. We make cold infusions, pressed juices, and homemade flavored waters — an acidic hibiscus, a slightly smoky iced black tea — served in real glasses, not in a coaster cup.
For those who wish, the card offers Wines of Alsace. To organize the meal, consult the current map and specify the number of guests when booking.
What we do — and what we don't do
We deliver the dessert at the agreed time, with or without a candle, with or without an announcement. We accept that you bring a cake, provided that you tell us in advance. We note any allergies, seating arrangements, and late arrivals.
What we don’t do: decorate the room, make the staff sing, turn a dinner into an entertainment. Our conviction, after many evenings: the best party is the one where you forget that there is an organization involved.
Can I bring my own cake?
Yes, by reporting it when booking. We keep it and release it at the right time.
How much time in advance should I book?
A few days for a small table, a week for a large weekend feast. Stop by Online booking or call +33 9 79 01 28 81.
Where exactly are you?
At 9 rue de Berne, a few minutes from Gutenberg Square and Place d'Austerlitz, in the heart of Strasbourg.
The little girl of nine came back the following year. This time, she asked for the candle in front of everyone. Anniversaries are like that: the same table, one person has changed. We will be there for the next one. Book your table and just tell us what the person being celebrated would like — or would especially not like.
Warning: The information in this article is provided for informational purposes and is based on referenced culinary traditions. It does not replace personalized medical or nutritional advice. In case of allergies or specific dietary restrictions, consult a healthcare professional before consumption.
