"Septime's no-booking seafood bar on rue de Charonne, all oysters and natural wine. Walk in early for an easy first date."
About Clamato
Bertrand Grébaut and Théo Pourriat opened Clamato in 2013, in the room beside their tasting-menu flagship Septime at 80 rue de Charonne in the 11th. The idea was the opposite of Septime: no reservations, no set menu, no weeks-long wait. You walk in, take a stool, and eat seafood that changes with the day's catch. It quickly became one of the easiest ways to taste the talent behind a kitchen that has spent years near the top of the World's 50 Best list. See the rest of the Paris dining guide for the wider scene.
The Kitchen
The kitchen works only with seafood, and the produce is the headline. Fish and shellfish arrive daily from Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Concarneau and the Île d'Yeu, and the short menu is rewritten around them. Raw plates run to oysters by the piece and a clean bonito carpaccio; the warm side leans on the silky crab fritters, the accras the room is known for. Dessert is the maple syrup pie that never leaves the card. Small plates run about €9 to €22, and four or five shared between two lands at €40 to €60 a head before the all-natural wine list. Grébaut and Pourriat run it as the relaxed sibling to Septime, the same sourcing without the formality. For the wider field, see the best seafood restaurants worldwide.
The Room
Clamato is small and counter-led, a single narrow room of stools, tile and tightly packed two-tops. Lighting is warm and low in the evening, the sound climbs to a lively buzz once it fills, and tables are close enough that you will hear your neighbour's order. There is no dress code: the crowd is young, local and dressed down. Seating is limited, perhaps thirty covers, which is why the no-reservations policy produces a queue. Sit at the counter if you are solo and watch the shucking.
Best for a First Date
Clamato is one of the better low-stakes first-date rooms in eastern Paris for three reasons. Sharing small plates of seafood gives you something to do and something to talk about, so the conversation never stalls. The all-natural wine list is a built-in topic, easy to explore a glass at a time. And the walk-in format keeps the evening from feeling like a heavy commitment booked a month out. Arrive at opening to beat the queue, take two stools at the counter, and order as you go. For more rooms that keep a date easy, see our first date guide.
Not for
Not for a planned celebration or a group: there are no reservations, the room seats about thirty, and a party of six will be split up or left waiting on the pavement while couples take the counter.
Frequently Asked
Is Clamato worth it?
Yes, for some of the best seafood in eastern Paris with none of the formality of its neighbour. Clamato is the walk-in seafood bar from Bertrand Grébaut and Théo Pourriat, the pair behind Septime next door, which has spent years near the top of the World's 50 Best list. The plates are small, the produce arrives daily from the Atlantic coast, and the wine list is all natural. Go for the oysters, the crab fritters and the maple syrup pie.
How much does Clamato cost?
Plan on roughly €40 to €60 per person before wine. Small plates run about €9 to €22 each, and a meal is built from four or five shared between two, plus oysters by the piece. It is far cheaper and easier than Septime next door, while drawing on the same kitchen's sourcing. Natural wines by the glass and bottle push the total up. See our Paris dining guide for more of the city's tables.
Does Clamato take reservations?
No. Unlike Septime next door, which books weeks ahead, Clamato is walk-in only. Arrive when the doors open at noon or seven in the evening, or expect to wait, especially on weekends when the kitchen runs non-stop from midday. A weekday lunch is the calmest way in. Put your name down and have a glass of wine at the bar while you wait.
What should I order at Clamato?
Start with oysters and the silky crab fritters, the accras the kitchen is known for. From there the menu splits into raw plates such as bonito carpaccio and warm dishes that change with the daily catch from Saint-Jean-de-Luz and the Île d'Yeu. Finish with the maple syrup pie, the one dessert that never leaves. Order four or five plates between two and keep the natural wine flowing.
Is Clamato good for a first date?
Yes, it is one of the better low-pressure first-date rooms in the 11th. Sharing small plates of seafood gives you something to do with your hands and plenty to talk about, the natural wine list is a conversation in itself, and the walk-in format keeps the night from feeling like a formal commitment. Arrive early to skip the wait. See our first date guide for more rooms that keep the conversation going.
Visit
See Clamato
Walk-in only, no reservations. Arrive at opening to beat the queue.
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
Practical Information
Address80 rue de Charonne, 75011 Paris
NeighbourhoodCharonne / Bastille (11th)
CuisineSeafood, small plates
Price€40–60 pp; plates €9–22
Dress CodeNo dress code
Seating~30 covers, counter and two-tops
ReservationWalk-in only; phone +33 1 43 72 74 53
DietarySeafood-led; ask for raw or cooked plates
