Table of Contents
- A Seafood Dish That Stands Out in a Land of Steak Frites
- What Makes This Prawn Dish So Special?
- A Dish Designed for Sharing (or Not)
- Pair It With the Right Drink
- An Indo-French Story Told Through Shellfish
- Final Thoughts
A Seafood Dish That Stands Out in a Land of Steak Frites
Paris isn’t known for its seafood-forward Indian cuisine. But at Seeklo, a dish of grilled tiger prawns with spiced butter and garlic is creating quiet waves. Equal parts indulgent and precise, it bridges the richness of Indian coastal flavors with the buttery finesse of French technique—a match made not in Goa or Marseille, but right here in Oberkampf.
At a glance, it looks simple. But one bite in, and it’s obvious why regulars are calling it a new essential at the best Indian restaurant in Paris.
What Makes This Prawn Dish So Special?
First, the prawns. Tiger prawns, chosen for their plumpness and clean bite, are marinated in a mix of garlic paste, Kashmiri chili, smoked paprika, and salt. No heavy sauces. No overpowering flavors. Just enough to deepen the natural sweetness of the shellfish.
Then comes the finish. Once grilled to a tender char, the prawns are tossed in a spiced butter emulsion made with clarified butter, mustard seeds, black pepper, and slow-roasted garlic. A finishing drizzle of lemon balances the richness. The plate is garnished with micro coriander and a whisper of chili oil for heat.
It smells like coastal India. It tastes like Paris on vacation.
A Dish Designed for Sharing (or Not)
Like many items at Seeklo, the tiger prawns blur the line between starter and main. Order them as a shared plate with friends over cocktails, or pair with a cumin pilaf and grilled greens for a light but bold dinner.
The prawns arrive still sizzling, nestled into a shallow plate that begs to be dipped into. Every bite delivers snap, smoke, and silk.
Chef’s note:
Prawns need heat, not complexity. We just get out of their way and let the butter do the talking.
Pair It With the Right Drink
Few dishes pair as well with cocktails as this one. The Sutra (gin, edible camphor syrup, citric acid, tonic) is a perfect pre-dinner sip to cleanse the palate before the prawns arrive. For those craving bolder contrast, the Ancient City (gin, rose jam, mint syrup) offers a refreshing, floral counterpoint to the garlic richness.
Don’t overlook Seeklo’s white wine list either. A glass of chilled Muscadet or a minerally Sancerre lifts the dish to sunset-on-the-Riviera levels of elegance.
An Indo-French Story Told Through Shellfish
What makes this dish more than just tasty is its narrative. Prawns are loved across Indian coastlines – from Kerala to Bengal. Butter and garlic? A French essential. But it’s Seeklo’s refusal to overdo it that stands out. There’s restraint. There’s clarity. And there’s an elegance that surprises you.
It doesn’t feel fusion. It feels fluent.
And in a city where seafood is usually reserved for high-end bistros or oyster counters, this bold Indian bar-plate offers something new: charcoal-grilled indulgence without pretense.
Final Thoughts
If you’re searching for seafood in Paris that goes beyond buttered escargot or salmon tartare, make your way to Seeklo. The grilled tiger prawns with spiced butter and garlic are smoky, juicy, and unapologetically flavorful.
Whether you’re here for a full Indian dinner or just winding down with a cocktail at the bar, this dish will find its way to your table. And likely back again.
That’s what happens when the best Indian restaurant in Paris serves a prawn dish worth writing home about.
