We stumbled on this place returning to our temporary apartment while we are vacationing In Paris…read more It is on a small side street near the Place de Clichy. If you want to eat where locals eat, this is one of those places.
It is small, with seating outside (remember, this is where the smokers will be!) and inside. The tables, about 6 inside, are closely packed, and don't be surprised if you get seated next to others at the 5-top tables inside.
Service is efficient. We were there for lunch, and both the young waiter and the bartender spoke English. The menu, however, is purely French. At lunch, most of the selections are some kind of an open-faced sandwich, called tartines gourmandes (after 6 pm, it's a tapas menu).
Both of our tartines were delicious. The tranche of bread was thin and toasted, and quite large. I had grilled eggplant, Spanish ham, roasted tomato and St Moret cheese for my toppings. My wife had a vegetarian tartine with eggplant, red bell pepper, tomato and artichoke, all grilled, with a light kind of EVOO dressing on top. Both were simply delicious and €6.90. Each tartine comes with a salad with very fresh greens. The tartine and salad are plenty of food to hold you for hours.
We had a simple by-the-glass Bourgogne rouge that complemented the tartines. Actually, we each had two glasses!
The place was filled with a mix of French people. Lots of workers came in for a quick espresso at the bar. A couple of older gentlemen spent the whole time we were there drinking wine and reading their newspapers. There was a couple and a group of friends, some banker looking types, so a real cross section of French society. What was not there, at least while we lunched, was anyone else like us who was obviously a tourist.
We will definitely eat here again before we leave Paris. Oh. The menu is not particularly kid friendly. No fries. No burgers. So keep that in mind.
