Ok, I have to confess that, after 10 days in Paris eating complex, rich, wonderful food, i was…read moreready for a hamburger. Do you hate me for that? I mean, I know it's Paris. How could I muck up the works with a friggin Hamburger? I don't know why or what came over me. I was just ready for something, well, basic. Little did I know what was in store!
We came upon this place whilst simply strolling (as one does in Paris) near the Bastille. The place looked good (whatever that means), so we gave it a try. The main attraction, if you must know, was this gorgeous, gleaming burger-and-fries on a plate that somebody ordered as we were walking by. Between that and my burger craving, I knew I had to try it.
So all four of us ordered a burger. a couple were "cheeseburgers" (because it sounded weird to say that in French). They came to the table and were just as glistening and gleaming as they were on the stranger's table where had first seen them.
Our waitress was a lovely girl from Iceland. In France, nobody will speak English to you (or they will and then curse behind their back), so we had been getting along fine with our "fairly conversational" French. Well, this girl picked up our probably lousy accent and jumped right into English, explaining that she had been dying to practice it. She had come to Paris to work and go to school, and she made the experience even nicer.
In Paris they don't just throw a frozen patty on the grill. Nope, this was freshly-ground sirloin or mignon, hand-formed and cooked to absolute perfection. It was almost transcendental to take that first bite: while I knew this WAS a hamburger, it didn't taste like the drivel from Carl's or In-and-Out. This was prime beef, fresh and perfect.
The cheese was typical French: fresh and full of flavor and bite. No American cheese here- thank heavens. Big ol honkin' buns, with lettuce, pickles and tomatoes on the side.
A quick word about the produce in France:
Forget what you've tasted. The produce in other countries tastes amazing. You know how tomatoes don't have much flavor? Well, they do everywhere else! So THAT'S what tomatoes are supposed to taste like! (the bulb went on). That added to the wonderful flavors mingling in our mouths like star-crossed lovers in an orgy of taste bud nirvana.
They topped this whole conflaguration with this velveeta-like stuff they termed "cheese fondue." Ok. But it worked! Great burger. Different than here, but just amazing.
One final word about the pommes-frites (french fries). French fries in France are to die for. I don't know how or why, but they are. You're just going to have to believe me on that one. I could eat these all day long. They're light, delicate, rich, potatoe-y, salty, thick, crunchy, soft, oily, flavorful, yummy creations from heaven.
This place hit it on all counts. What a great accident. If you're in Paris and need a burger fix, get yourself over here pronto. It's right across from the Bastille monument. Can't miss it. Thanks for the memories!