When a salad is too big for me to finish, well, that's pretty exciting. The vegetarian salad at Le…read moreJardin de Berthe is huge, fresh, crisp, and delicious. Mine consisted of greens, radicchio, carrots, green beans, asparagus, tomatoes, scallions, chives, and something I couldn't identify that was flat, white, round, kind of tasted like water chestnuts, and had the consistency of a firm mozarella. (Anyone know what this is? Please enlighten me!) I would have asked but the waitstaff seemed a bit busy...
Which brings me to the downsides. My husband and I had intended to sup at another restaurant that ended up being closed for congé annuel. We crossed the river, got caught in a rainstorm, and took refuge under an awning. When I realized we were close to Le Jardin de Berthe (which I keep hearing rave reviews about from vegans on facebook), I suggested we try it. We rolled in (literally - we were pushing a stroller), half-dripping wet and looking a bit confused at the layout of what I thought was going to be a casual cafe. The waitress who approached us asked if we had a reservation. (Oops, no we did not.) After some logistical discussion between three of the staff, they decided they could seat us. (Hooray!)
Our waiter (thankfully not the girl, who was visibly frustrated that we A) did not have a reservation and B) were obviously not native French speakers) helped me carry the stroller down some steep steps and showed us to a table for two. It was against the wall and the only place to put the stroller was directly in front of the table, blocking the waiter from getting very close. I didn't see any highchairs and we weren't offered one so maybe this isn't the best place for kids. The waiter was nice enough but obviously in a bit of a hurry so we felt rushed. I don't know if it was because we had a baby in a stroller, because we didn't have a reservation, or both. (Or maybe it was just the self-consciousness of new parents adjusting to eating with a baby who makes noise? Lots of variables.)
Anywho, I ordered the salad and my husband ordered a ravioli dish with cream and bacon and - seriously - a quarter of a wheel of what we think was reblochon. He couldn't finish his either because it was so heavy but he enjoyed it! The rest of the vegetarian menu was not very impressive but I suppose the fact that they have a vegetarian menu at all should impress me. (And it does!) Other options were the ravioli dish sans bacon, a soy "steak", and a veggie burger (which sounded like the soy "steak" on a bun with some veggies.) I definitely recommend the salad, as the vegetables were high quality, in season, and super tasty. The dressing was good too - not the usual yellow French dressing but something a little fancier. (It definitely included mustard though, as usual.)
We'll probably go back (with a reservation) and give the waitstaff and the other items on the menu a second chance. I'll update my review then.
