What delight this corner café is! This was my first meal I had, fresh off my flight from New York, and though I've been to Paris many times, I never tire of the bistro food that is so plentiful and so good across the city. Le Café du Coin's innovation is its daily-refreshed menu (they literally date stamp the paper menus each day, provide the exact day of service since they've opened, and use very seasonal ingredients); the laid-back, unfussy, but still-gourmet food elevates this restaurant as one of the gems in its genre.
On the late summer day I came, there were many tempting options on the menu, with the bounty of the summer produce available. I opted for one of their classic and much-lauded pizettes (a round flatbread), that day's version featuring a combination I adore: cacio e pepe. It was pillowy and crisp, with generous cheese and a wonderful savory flavor. Next, for my main, I opted for the grilled sardine with watermelon salad and a grilled Persian cucumber: this as a combination I'd never had before, and there was a salsa verde/pesto that tied all the elements together so well. I didn't mind the tiny bones in the 3 sardines because most of them were pretty soft, and it was wonderful to have such fresh fish. Lastly, for dessert, they were out of the apricot tart I wanted, but I was happy to try my second choice, a bounty of summer delight: peach sorbet, a shortbread cookie (sablé), and slices of the most exquisite red-skinned peaches I've ever had.
The natural wine list impressed me: it was tightly curated and clearly complemented the season/food. I had a crisp white of a grape and region I'd never heard of before, and wasn't disappointed! If you are willing to try new things and eat food that is truly authentic and reflective of Paris, now, Le Café du Coin is an excellent place to experience that. I truly felt incredulous about my lunch menu costing only €20 (the wines were all €6 or less a glass!) and the place being filled with mostly locals -- that's hard to find in Paris in August. Service was kind and helpful though they were a little slammed by the lunch crowd.
Don't miss out on this place; the tourists will swarm it soon! read more