From the owner: Baroque Tous les ingrédients d'un bon restaurant italien semblent avoir été réunis ici. Le décor,…read mored'abord : colonnes et fresques vivement colorées, un certain kitsch tout en trompe-l'oeil agrémenté de rococo, avec des chaises en velours rouge et des miroirs aux cadres décorés. Le service ensuite : pressé sans être empressé. La carte enfin. Une formule entrée, plat et dessert le midi vous permet de vous rassasier de ce que la cuisine italienne a inventé de meilleur : grandes pizzas fines et craquantes, pâtes les plus longues ou les plus tordues, mais aussi quelques viandes et poisson.

I will just come right out and say that the drinks are a little out of my price range. BUT it's…read moredefinitely a concession I'm willing to make from time to time, because in my opinion, Le Contretemps is EXACTLY what a neighborhood bar should be. Not quite a bar and not quite a pub, Le Contretemps manages to satisfy both cravings simultaneously. Depending upon the night of the week, the atmosphere can rocket from warm and decontracted to charged and festive. But somehow, it really works without feeling forced. The same can be said of the decor, which hits that sweet spot between comfy and hip. Although most people come for either wine or beer, they do have a full-service bar with a "cocktail of the moment" special. Lunch is served on weekdays (I haven't tried a burger yet, but they look pretty epic), and on most nights before 10 pm, you can order from their evening menu of hearty appetizers, paninis, and desserts. **As is the case everywhere in France, if you have a doubt about hours or whether the kitchen is still open, just call.** Antoine and Sam have a killer thing going on here at Le Contretemps, and it's not a secret. So my one piece of advice would be to be patient. When the bar is slammed, it might take a little longer to order your drink, or to get a freshly prepared gin tonic or veggie panini. But trust me, it's worth the wait to have a thing done right. Because that's just how Antoine and Sam work.