In a discreet street in the Saint-Aubin neighborhood in Toulouse, Agapes has just earned its first Michelin star. A consecration for this intimate table with a bistro feel. Away from the spotlight, Arnaud Darbas and Virginie Béziaud cultivate a sensitive, precise cuisine deeply rooted in quality products.
In a somewhat confidential address, by its location and discretion, Agapes claims to have a counter-trend approach to the gastronomic hustle and bustle. Initially following a bistro trend, Arnaud Darbas and Virginie Béziaud eventually went where their hearts and experiences led them: gastronomy.
After starting at Mathieu Pacaud’s, Arnaud joined Jérémie Banctel’s team (La Réserve, 3 Michelin stars in Paris), where he would meet his future close friends from Auberge de la Forge (1 Michelin star in Lavalette). Then he moved to the South, first at Arnaud Faye’s La Chèvre d’Or (2 Michelin stars in Èze in the Alpes-Maritimes), where he met Virginie, his partner, and then at Arnaud Donckele’s in Saint-Tropez (3 Michelin stars) after a stint at K2 in Courchevel. They both landed in Toulouse and joined their friends Claire and Théo at Auberge de la Forge before finding a location in Toulouse, on Rue de l’Industrie, and setting up Agapes there in the summer of 2023.
A year ago, the restaurant changed course, closing at lunchtime and now offering a unique six-course menu for €64. “I realized that my fine dining habits were resurfacing, I had intentions that were not in line with what I was doing in the bistro.”
Still displayed on the facade, the gourmet bistro that Agapes was has truly become a Michelin-starred gastronomic table. This needs to be emphasized in this year’s Michelin Guide, where a star is supposed to be solely based on the cuisine and not on expensive tablecloths, sommeliers, or glassware. It was rare in the past, but it was observed in Paris with star chefs like Inaki Aizpitarte (Chateaubriand) or Bertrand Grébaut (Septime), but much less common in discreet and seemingly simple tables like Agapes.
Inspired cuisine that changes every month has been a hallmark of Agapes since the beginning. We felt the culinary exigency from the start, relishing a “simple” tomato tart that was remarkably exceptional, a true ode to simplicity. We also noticed the finesse in a saffron-infused marinade and the chef’s affinity with Mediterranean cuisine and seasonings.
The menu changes monthly, and with the recent star announcement, anticipation is higher than ever. So, arm yourself with patience; it’s worth it. Congratulations once again!
Agapes, 7 Rue de l’Industrie, Toulouse. Tel. 05 61 99 30 31.
