You have to arrive before 12:15 to beat the lunch crowd, but 116 is the best place to enjoy donburi bowls near the Champs Elysées.
I used to frequent this place when it first opened, and found the staff rude and impatient. My partner and I arrived one rainy day and were pointed to a table that we could claim once the occupants had finished (they were finishing their coffee and had asked for the bill). It was a two-minute wait, tops. Instead of allowing us to wait in the entryway during this time, the hostess pushed us outside in the rain. And so we left. Today, this hostess was not present, and it seemed as though the whole staff had been replaced. Thank goodness!
The menu changes daily, but they keep it simple: an assortment of "domburi" bowls for 15€ each (the bowls are large, and the ingredients elaborate), and the Wagyu burger. Today's choices included tuna tartare, tempura scampi, breaded pork cutlet, beef, and avocado. I selected the tuna tartare--my friend had the scampi--and I scraped the bowl clean. The amount of meat they give you is perfect, though this time around I would have preferred a little more seasoning. A starter soup is included, usually miso, but today it was a chilled tomato and some sort of fruit or berry (was it watermelon? Strawberry? Both?). I could have done without the soup, but it did make me feel as though I was getting more for my money.
Stone walls and wooden accents give 116 a trendy hipster vibe. The jazz music was on point today, but once the restaurant had filled up (with people standing in line in the entryway and down the block) you couldn't hear yourself think, let alone the music. read more